Hungary’s rental market paused in May after months of movement, with asking rents unchanged nationwide and down slightly in Budapest, the latest KSH–Ingatlan.com rent index shows.
The more striking development is on the demand side. May brought the highest level of rental interest so far in 2026, with more than 98,000 phone inquiries for homes and houses for rent.
Rents stop moving
Nationally, rents were flat month on month in May, while Budapest saw a 0.2% decline. That followed a period of stronger increases earlier in the year. Even so, annual growth remains meaningful. Across Hungary, rents were up 5.6% year on year, while Budapest posted a 4.9% increase.
What makes the May data unusual is that demand usually peaks later in the summer rental season. This year, however, May was the strongest month of the first five, beating even January’s opening spike.
Supply is expanding
The supply picture is more mixed. In county seats and other major cities, the number of rental listings was down 13.4% year on year, but the broader trend over longer periods is sharply upward.
Compared with two years ago, supply was up 24.5%, and over four years it had increased by 76.3%. In total, large-city rental supply now exceeds 4,000 homes and houses, giving tenants more choice than in the past even if the market remains tight.
