A journey to teach English in Hungary will take you to one of the steppingstones between eastern and western Europe. A vast country of rolling plains and low hills, cut through the middle by the snaking Danube, it’s become a major political and economic player in the region since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Now a paid-up member of the EU and with a global city at its heart (hello, Budapest!), the old land of the Magyar kings and queens is once again a top place for international travelers and expats.
Why? Well, it’s got an attractively low cost of living, a rich history and culture, and gorgeous cities like Budapest, where sleepless backpacker bars mingle with soaring Gothic castles dating back several centuries. If that’s still not enough to tempt you, Hungary also comes with a thriving jobs market and some of the more relaxed TEFL requirements on the continent.
This guide can help you make sense of it all. It offers an insight into what it means to teach English in Hungary, along with some suggestions on the best locations. Let’s begin…
What's in this guide?
The TEFL jobs market in Hungary
We’ll make it simple: The TEFL scene in Hungary is booming. We’d even go as far as to say that demand for teachers has never been this high in this part of Europe. There are lots of reasons for that. One is that the government made it a legal requirement that every one of the state-run bilingual schools (gimnazia) hire their own in-house native speaker. A second is that Hungary is rising as one of the economic powerhouses among the old European Communist states, something that’s fueling a surge in business English teaching and second-language learning.
But that’s not it. Hungary recently soared up the rankings of the world’s digital nomad meccas. Nomad List put it in the top 10 destinations in the world for remote workers back in 2019. It’s since slipped a little, but the facts remain – strong internet, cheap cost of living, relaxed visa restrictions. Ever thought of making Budapest your base as an online English teacher? You wouldn’t be alone.
- Population: 7 million
- Language(s): Hungarian – and it’s not easy!
- Currency: Forint (Ft, HUF)
- Capital city: Budapest
Types of TEFL jobs in Hungary
There’s a whole goulash pot’s worth of different sorts of TEFL jobs out there for those who want to teach English in Hungary. Here’s a glimpse at the most common employers:
- Private language school – There are over 30 private language schools in Budapest alone. They offer courses in English for all ages, from young learners right the way up to business English for adults. Pay can vary from school to school, as can the style of teaching and the content of the curriculum.
- Private tutor – Private tutoring rarely makes up the bulk of work for teachers in Hungary. However, it’s a great way to top up monthly pay packets, and it’s in very high demand from teenage and adult learners all across the country, especially in Budapest.
- State school – Every bilingual school in Hungary has to have a native speaker on the staff by law. These positions tend to be tricky to come by, but there are international programs like CETP that can help you score one.
- Online English teacher – Hungary is now up there with Canggu and Chiang Mai as one of the planet’s undisputed digital nomad hubs. Fast internet (the 16th fastest in the world, apparently!) and a low cost of living have made that the case, but the buzzing nightlife and abundance of medium-term flat rentals in the capital of Budapest have also helped.
TEFL teacher salary in Hungary
If we had to pick one downside of teaching English in Hungary, it would have to be the wages. The truth is, they tend to be a little on the low side when you weigh them up against comparative countries in the region – Poland, Austria. That’s not to say that you can’t make a good living here. You can. What’s more, native teachers with some good experience can negotiate pretty generous contracts that will usually put their salaries above the national average. Just don’t expect to make the moolah you would in the UAE or Japan, for example.
The average wage for an English teacher in Hungary today is 350,000 HUF ($1,180)/month. You can expect that to drop a little, to around 280,000 HUF ($950), outside of the capital. The going rate for a one-on-one private tutoring session is something like 6,000 HUF ($20)/hour, so you can see how they’re a good way to increase those earnings.
Visas for teaching in Hungary
EU nationals don’t have to apply for any visa to work or live in Hungary. However, they will need to get an official work permit, which most TEFL schools are happy to help with.
The process is far more drawn out for anyone coming in from outside the union, although those heading to teach English in Hungary in recent years have said it’s now a lot easier than it once was. Still, be prepared for some pretty gnarly bureaucracy if you do decide to go it alone. It will involve some liaison between the school where you’re going to be working and the national Hungarian Labor Office. You’ll also need to present certified copies of your qualifications, prove you have full-coverage health insurance for the duration of your stay, and provide a valid address in in the country.
It doesn’t have to be a headache, though. In fact, most US, Canada, and UK TEFL graduates will opt to go through the official CETP program. That involves a fee of up to $2,700 USD per application but does make everything a whole load easier on the visa front.
Requirements to teach English in Hungary
The basic things you’ll need to teach English in Hungary are:
- University degree – It’s very common for language schools in Hungary to ask for a university degree and it’s also a requirement for the working visa. This isn’t really somewhere where you can teach without one.
- TEFL qualification – A must. Get yourself a good 120-hour TEFL qualification from a recognized, industry-accredited provider.
One thing to add: Hungary is a non-native-friendly destination. Private school employers typically ask that candidates have native-level English, but it’s rare to demand that English be the mother tongue.
Term times and working hours in Hungary
Although most teachers end up working in private language schools in Hungary, the courses in those still tend to run parallel to the normal academic year. That means holidays match up, but it also means you’ll probably be asked to work unsociable hours in the evening and potentially on the weekend. Most teaching terms start in September and end in June, with two-week breaks at Christmas, in the midwinter, and at Easter. A normal teaching contract in Hungary will be up to 30 hours a week.
Cost of living in Hungary
Hungary isn’t a pricy place to live. In fact, we’d say it’s among the cheaper of the spots in Central Europe, even if costs have been creeping up recently. The most expensive place you can go is Budapest, where everything from rent to the cost of a beer in a bar has shot up in the last few decades. Here are some examples of what you can expect to spend in the vibrant and historic capital:
- Room to rent in downtown Budapest: 80,000 HUF ($270)
- Winter heating bills: 30,000 HUF ($101) – it gets cold!
- Cost of a beer in a backpacker bar: 500 HUF ($1.70)
- Liter of milk: 250 HUF ($0.85)
Where to teach English in Hungary?
Hungary has no shortage of enticing destinations for would-be TEFL teachers. Here are just a few of the places worth considering…
Budapest
Destination numero uno in Hungary: Budapest. This fizzing, vibrant capital is a joy to explore. Old synagogues rise high above tram-rattling plazas, while the soaring outline of Buda Castle (a onetime stronghold of the Habsburg dynasty) score the skyline to the west. Then you get the baths – Budapest is famed for its hot springs and spa houses. The nightlife is also pretty awesome, and there are more TEFL jobs than you can shake a bowl of goulash at!
Debrecen
Debrecen might only be a tenth of the size of Budapest, but it’s still Hungary’s second largest city. Nicknamed the Capital City of the Great Hungarian Plain, it sits out on the eastern fringes of the country, closer to Romania than to Austria. It’s got a smattering of fantastic museums and famous festivals throughout the year, and is perfect for folk who want to strike a balance between nature and city living.
Szeged
Completely encompassed by the Southern Great Plain of Hungary, Szeged is a lively university city with a cool demeanor. The student crowd keeps demand for TEFL teachers ticking over and brings a happening nightlife scene and plenty of café culture. We also love the grand Old Town palaces and the open-air hot baths beside the riverbanks. Come here to get a bit more off the beaten path than Budapest but still enjoy the mod cons of city living.
Balaton
Lake Balaton is one of the largest volcanic lakes in Central Europe; a dash of shimmering turquoise water between hills all clad in vineyards. The area surrounding the lake is a major tourist hotspot that’s known for its historic spas. It’s also very popular with summertime language camps.
Pécs
Almost midway between Budapest and Zagreb, in Croatia, Pécs is a fun and charming little town that becomes very popular in the summer months. It’s hemmed in by dense woodlands and hills – the Mecsek – that are perfect for hikers no matter the time of year. In the center, you get a range of pretty Turkish mosques and early-Christian structures.
Teach English in Hungary: Where to begin?
The first step to teaching English in Hungary has to be a TEFL qualification. Our 120-hour Professional Course is the perfect option. It’s industry accredited and accepted in schools all around the globe.
Hiring in Hungary typically begins in the late summer, but there are also lots of jobs going around Christmas and at Easter, as some teachers vacate their posts during the holidays. Summer camp work is usually between June and August.