My husband and I have been offered the option of moving to Budapest. Has anyone lived there long-term (likethree years)? I've been many, many times and loved it, but visiting a city can be quite different from actually living there. I'd love some feedback from expats or others. Thanks!

Budapest is a wonderful city in which to live, though it is not "home". I was there for 2 1/2 years, most but not all with my family.<BR><BR>Assuming you are American, you will likely like to join the Americn Club -- there is a physical club. (Some other nationalities may have similar clubs, though I don't know.) There is also an American Women's Club and International Women's Club, neither of which have club properties, but both of which brought us many acquaintances, some of whom became friends!<BR><BR>You will find everything you need there, though not necessarily everything you would be buying in the states. Cost of living is comparatively low, and extended residence offers certain tax benefits for US citizens, though Hungarian income tax makes the US' tax rate seem a bargain -- and if your salary is subject to Hungarian tax, consider the economics carefully.<BR><BR>You'll need residence permits, which is not difficult but needs to be done. The best way is to use a service to help you -- it is much easier, though there is a cost.<BR><BR>If school is a concern, there are good options, but again, cost -- and who is paying -- needs to be considered. <BR><BR>I was quite cautious about the assignment that took me there, but found my apprehension about living in a place where I didn't speak the language (and all the other issues) to have passed more quickly than one might think.<BR><BR>If looking for a place to live, there are good and not-so-good services. If you'll be finding your own place, I can make suggestions. We had no car; some spots argue strongly for having a car.<BR><BR>Good luck.

Rod, <BR><BR>Thanks for the feedback! We'd be with the US embassy, so our basic care and feeding (housing, permits, moving logistics etc) would all be taken care of. I'm lucky since supposedly embassy spouses get work permits without too much hassle (though finding a job without fluent Hungarian might be a challenge....). Is it tough to find work as an expat? And did you spend a lot of time exploring Hungary or did you do most of your traveling outside the country? Thanks again for the help!

There are many areas to visit in Hungary. Pecs is a charming city to the south that tourists have not found yet. They have a very nice wine festival in September. Lake Balaton is the largest lake in central Europe. It has an average depth of only 8 feet and gets nice and warm in the summer. Just south of Lake Balaton is a natural mineral fed lake where the temp stays at 103 F all year. You could visit Egre where Bulls Blood wine is made. You are only 1 1/2 hours flight to Prague with Malov airlines. There are over 50 museums in Budapest alone. The food is very good and quite inexpensive. You are only about 2 hours drive from Bratislava Slovakia. You could even get to Transylvania, Romania for a long weekend. Vienna is also doable in a weekend. You will not run out of places to go or things to see. What a wonderful experience that you could have. Budapest is a beautiful city.

Since you'll be with the embassy, you will be sure to have good advice available. I'm not sure about getting work as an ex-pat; my job there was under contract on a USAID project. I was able to take advantage of the US income tax exemption on income earned by citizens living abroad, which is something you may not be able to do (a recollection of a discussion with my primary USAID contact, though that may not be accurate) and by treaty was exempt from Hungarian tax, which surely should apply on USGovernment earnings but probably not on local earnings. I didn't need a work permit, but did get a residence permit, so can't address the work permit either.<BR><BR>My sense generally is that jobs for ex-pats are limited -- teaching English, or teaching in an international school, etc.. Many non-Hungarian companies that started operations with "their own" staff long since replaced many or most with local staff as they learned the company's "ways". That said, there may be something, but I wouldn't count on it, and certainly wouldn't count on making a lot of money. However, you need not lack for something to do either as there is a good and good-sized ex-pat community.<BR><BR>When living there, I chose to be near good public transportation, and was able to get a very nice, good-sized apartment near Moskva ter -- fully furnished (including towels and bed linens), with utilities, for comfortably under the USAID allowance (which I think is the standard USGov. allowance). Kim Maly was the agent I used -- Kimaly Real Estate. She/they specialize in serving ex-pats, and could not have been better. (I did try three other places, and if looking again in Budapest would consider others only if Kim Maly was not there any more.) Most ex-pats, I believe, live farther out, and most live in Buda vs. Pest.<BR><BR>Since you've been there, you should start out better prepared than I was. It is a wonderfully liveable place, especially if you do things on its (Hungarian) terms and don't impose your own. Actually, the differences, apart from washing machines, are more of style, with "their" way more patient and respectful of the other person. For example, the answer to a question typically incorporates a key element of the question to assure understanding. Also, the words used by a Hungarian child in greeting an adult translate to "I kiss your hand" -- respect for their elders! I should do so well with my teenagers. One can go on. <BR><BR>I did some travel within the country, but not as mych as my wife did, nor as much as either of us might have preferred, certainly in retrospect. We got to London, Vienna, Tunesia, Cyprus. You'll find air fare purchased there can be much cheaper than if purchased in the US, and "last minute" travel packages can be amazingly cheap, though truly knowledgable travel agents are not easily found, and I think less so there than here.<BR><BR>Unless you need to be working full-time, join the International Women's Club. We met a number of people through my wife's membership. We also met a few through the church we attended. Just don't limit yourself to an overwhelmingly-American circle. We found so much more that way.<BR><BR>Rod

We lived in Budapest for 2 1/2 years as well. I enjoyed our stay there tremendously and appreciated many aspects of it only after we left. We were there from 1998-2000. It is not an easy transition to become an Ex-pat. Would this be your first assignment abroad? Being with the Embassy is incredibly helpful.<BR><BR>We lived in the 2ndA district which is about 30 minutes (7 kms) from the center of the city...in the burbs of Buda. It is a good area with quite a mix of foreigners and Hungarians. Lots of green space, fabulous walking trails and tons of barking dogs. Most of the Americans lived in the 12th, also a good area. <BR><BR>Some of the good things about living there (from an Ex_pat perspective):<BR>Great social life--join the International Women's Club. I also joined the American Women's Club but it wasn't necessary. We had a wide circle of friends and didn't limit ourselves to Americans.<BR>Good, inexpensive Babysitters - Hungarians adore children and look at them like a national treasure. When we were there, a babysitter was about 20,000 forints/week (40 hours).<BR>New, exciting culture--You KNOW you are not in Western Europe. Attitude, food, culture, everything is different.<BR>Good Restaurants and cultural activities-Lots of entertainment from Ballets to Operas and Balls--very inexpensive.<BR><BR>Frustrations:<BR>The number one frustration was the graft and scams that were everywhere. This is a country where people had to SCAM the system to live. Bribes were everywhere and it is tiring.<BR>Really scary drivers - Hungarian men are aggressive drivers--esp. if you are a woman in a nicer car than they!<BR>Difficulty in communication - getting better all the time with more people learning English. I recommend trying to learn Hungarian (at least grocery store Hungarian) though it is difficult.<BR>Medical care is iffy...Another huge plus with being with the Embassy! I opted to go to back to the States for the birth of my son. 50% of my friend's had unnecessary problems. Vienna is an alternative also.<BR>Property crime--esp. car theft and home break-ins. You must use an alarm. The positive side is that things are rarely violent.<BR><BR>As far as travel, we did most of our traveling outside of Hungary. We would do daytrips to Vienna monthly. We needed to restock wine b/c we could only buy Hungarian wine in Bp. Wien Wine co.--super place. We did Balaton (ick!), We toured through Western Hungary but never Eastern Hungary (which I regret). I thought Bratislava was nice and Prague (5 hours N by car) is great!<BR><BR>I recommend it. Budapest is a beautiful city and an adventure to live in.<BR>Cheers!<BR>Jan<BR><BR>BTW, we live in Switzerland now and it is polar opposite! I am glad that Budapest was first.<BR>

Thanks Rod, Art and Jan for such helpful feedback! <BR><BR>I think we'll definitely "bid" on Budapest now, having heard the pros and cons. We've lived abroad for the better part of the last ten years (South/Central America, Russia and Serbia, now in the Netherlands) so we've pretty much adjusted to the expat life. It's great to hear that there's a strong expat community and they like kids, since starting a family is on the agenda. Part of me can't imagine not having a full-time job, but one of the luxuries of being in a place like Budapest is that the low cost of living enables one to be a stay at home mom, I guess. Anyway, thanks again!

Panvan,<BR>After being an Ex Pat in those places, you will have NO PROBLEM in Budapest. Enjoy it! I was a new Mom when I moved there (6 week old) and it is a blast for new parents. The help that you will have from other ex-pats and from babysitters makes the transition very easy! The American Clinic has some good Drs.<BR>good luck,<BR>Jan