Budapest – City Performance, Brand Strength and Reputation

Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is an international melting pot of sub-cultures. The city self-identifies as one of the richest European capitals in terms of its public transportation system. But what do international rankings and indices say about how Budapest performs in terms of economic strength, livability, urban sustainability, and city brand appeal?

Let’s take a closer look at:

• Economic competitiveness and financial performance
• City brand strength and global reputation
• How appealing it is for talent, visitors, and locals

Economic Competitiveness

The Global Financial Centres Index 34 ranks Budapest 107^th, jumping 16 positions from the previous ranking—currently between São Paulo (106^th) and Bermuda (108^th). It ranks 10^th in the Eastern European and Central Asian region.

According to 2thinknow’s Innovation Cities Index 2022-2023, Budapest ranks 78^th, a jump of 19 positions from the previous ranking. The city now sits between Auckland (77^th) and Porto (79^th).

City Brand Strength and Reputation

According to Brand Finance’s City Index 2023, Budapest ranks 51^st globally, comparable with Helsinki (50^th) and Perth (52^nd).

Resonance’s 2023 World’s Best Cities Report ranks Budapest 26^th, sitting between Abu Dhabi (25^th) and São Paulo (27^th). It scores 9^th in Attractions and 15^th for Nightlife.

Kearney’s 2023 Global Cities Report ranks Budapest 69^th, a drop of seven positions from the previous ranking. Additionally, the city ranks 83^rd in the same firm’s Global Cities Outlook, a drop of 24 positions since the previous ranking.

How Attractive Is It as a Place to Live, Work, and Study?

The Mercer Quality of Living City Ranking places Budapest 80^th, sitting between Dubai (79^th) and Seoul (81^st). The same company’s Cost of Living Ranking puts it at 161^st.

According to the Best Urban Cities for Digital Nomads ranking by Spot a Home, Budapest ranks 43^rd out of 56 cities globally, almost on par with Seoul (42^nd) and Osaka (44^th).

Urban Sustainability

The Arcadis Sustainability City Index 2022 ranks Budapest 61^st overall, sitting between Melbourne (60^th) and Warsaw (62^nd). Its sustainability pillar rankings are: Planet 40^th, People 47^th, and Profit 75^th. Its strength is affordability, while economic development, employment, green finance, job quality, and transport infrastructure could all be improved.

Last updated in January 2024. Explore more city benchmarking insights, profiles, and reports in our City Observatory.

Enjoyed our summary of global rankings and indices on Budapest’s city performance, its sustainability, attractiveness for investors and talent, its brand strength and reputation? Spread the word!

Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of Budapest’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, we are not responsible for any typographical errors or inaccuracies. The data is provided ‘as is’ without warranty of any kind. Users should verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.