Program costs for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011
The tuition for 2009-2010 is $7,575 for one semester or $15,150 for a full year.
The tuition for 2010-2011 is $8,195 for one semester or $16,390 for a full year.
Lodging, meals, transportation, and textbooks are not included in the tuition; estimates for these costs can be found below. Please note: Tuition does not increase significantly from semester to semester or year to year. If you are applying for a semester not listed in this material, please keep that in mind.
A small student medical insurance fee is collected in Budapest, but like all student insurance, benefits are limited so it's a good idea to maintain an independent policy.
Textbooks will be available at a rate below U.S. university bookstore prices. Each student should expect to spend at most $350 on textbooks.
Renting an apartment or living with a family costs approximately the same. A refundable $400 housing/damage deposit must be made to the American Office independent of which option is chosen. (In the absence of any outstanding bills, the housing deposit will be refunded by March 30 for fall participants and September 30 for spring participants.)
Apart from housing, living costs in Budapest are modest.
A monthly pass, permitting unlimited use of all means of public transportation (subway, bus, streetcar), costs $55.00. Essentially all points of the city can be reached by public transportation. A taxi will take passengers between any two points in town for less than $25.00.
A three-course meal in some of the finest restaurants in Budapest costs between $25 and $75.
Budapest offers a variety of programs in music and theater.
The following estimated costs of living in Budapest for 5 months are in the table below:
| Expense Description | Cost |
|---|---|
| Rent (including utilities) | $2,500 |
| Meals (eating out liberally) | $2,250 |
| Utilities, DSL, and phone | $450 |
| Local transportation | $270 |
| Entertainment, miscellaneous | $550 |
| Optional language course | 80,000 HUF |
| Hungarian medical insurance | 30,000 HUF |
| textbooks | $350 |
Overseas calls will also add to the budget. Buying a phone card or a Hungarian cell phone with rechargeable phone cards is the most economical way to call North America.
Some apartments furnish cell phones for the duration of your stay.
Two more items must be added to these figures: transportation to and from Budapest, and travel within Europe.
Please note that air fares change frequently and that significant discounts can be found with a bit of shopping around. Responsibility for the transatlantic transportation lies with the student.