Keeping in Touch in Hungary

Though you may be far from home, you will be pleased to know that keeping in touch in Hungary is easy and convenient. There are many reliable and affordable ways of contacting family and friends, and keeping up to date with local and international news.

Internet in Hungary

In the past, the internet in Hungary has been a bit pricey. That said, major internet service providers such as Magyar Telekom are having to contend with the low prices offered by newcomers to the industry, leading to an overall price reduction.

Although fibre connections are more ubiquitous these days, many service providers still offer useful broadband internet, cable television, and landline telephone service bundles. These bundles are often cheaper than purchasing each service separately.

Useful links

• Telekom
• Yettel

Mobile phones in Hungary

Several mobile operators operate in Hungary, including Yettel, One Hungary, and Digimobil, a relative newcomer. Mobile reception is usually good in the cities but often patchy in rural areas, particularly for 4G and 5G mobile internet.

You can choose between prepaid and postpaid plans. Although postpaid plans frequently offer the most attractive packages, you will need numerous documents to sign up. Typically, mobile companies require expat customers to present at least a passport, residence permit, address card and bank card. Expats who pick a prepaid plan will have to do an annual data reconciliation in person. 

Useful links

• One Hungary
• Digimobil

Postal services in Hungary

The national postal service is Magyar Posta. It is considered reliable but can be painfully slow, and international shipping services are costly. While at the post office, you can also pay bills or buy lottery tickets.

Expats have reported with amusement that post offices in Hungary typically sell all sorts of interesting things, from fridge magnets and beaded necklaces to keyrings and stuffed animals.

English-language media in Hungary

If you're in search of English-language newspapers, you can pick up a copy of The Budapest Times once a week to get their fix of local news. Funzine, published once every two weeks, targets expats and is ideal if you want to explore Hungary's culture and entertainment scene.

Magyar Televízió (MTV) is run by the state. It airs a few channels and, while expats may be lucky enough to catch the occasional news broadcast in English, all programming is usually in Hungarian. This network is not to be confused with MTV Hungary, the music channel owned by American network, MTV Music Television.

Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max are a great way to access international TV programmes at a fraction of the price of cable television services.