France or Hungary
Two countries side by side across the same rows as the full comparison. A dash means the value is missing: fields are not filled with guesses. about the data
| France | Hungary | |
|---|---|---|
| Salary in IT | $ 79 660 | — |
| Citizenship | 5 years | 8 years |
| Partner can work | yes | yes |
| Parents | difficult | difficult |
| Pets | no trouble | no trouble |
| Pet limit | 5 | 5 |
| Quarantine | no | no |
| Residence permit fee | — | — |
| Rent, 2 bedrooms | $ 1 707 | $ 1 172 · estimate |
| Basket | $ 51,8 | $ 33,2 |
| Life expectancy | 82.98 | 76.72 |
| Homicides/100k | 1.33 | 0.7 |
| Natural hazards, 0–10 | 4 | 2.8 |
How the two sets of routes differ
Long-stay routes in this reference: France — 94, Hungary — 30. Types present in both: work, study, family, investment, startup, job seeking and working holiday. France adds: talent and retirement. Hungary adds: remote work.
Fees, thresholds and deadlines
France: fees range from 50 to 350 EUR. Routes with no fee: 23. Routes stating an income threshold: 21; the lowest is 615 EUR a month. Routes with a published decision deadline: 73; the shortest is 60 days. Hungary: the fee is 110 EUR wherever it is published. Routes stating an income threshold: 1; the lowest is 3,000 EUR a month. Routes with a published decision deadline: 27; the shortest is 21 days.
Beyond the first permit
Permanent status: both after 5 years. Citizenship: France after 5 years, Hungary after 8 years. Both allow a second citizenship.
France in brief
A large EU economy with a developed tech market in Paris, Lyon and Toulouse, universal healthcare and dual citizenship allowed. Entry and settling in are held back by French at B2 for naturalisation, the absence of a separate simplified route for parents, the need to reissue the Passeport Talent when changing employer in the first two years, plus marked regional differences in crime (Marseille) and recurring summer heatwaves.
Hungary in brief
An EU country with a low cost of living and low violent crime. Held back by a difficult language and 8 years to citizenship, IT salaries below Western European levels, the EU's worst corruption perception score, and flood and drought risks on the plain.
Other comparisons
More on each: France · Hungary. Build your own comparison — up to four countries
This material is for reference and is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax thresholds and prices change. Before deciding anything, check the official sources and consult a licensed professional in the relevant country.