An Expat Talks about Living in Balatonfured, Hungary

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Balatonfured

Describe how you "dreamed" expat life would be before you moved overseas. Please provide as much detail as possible.

We were looking for a western style country with 4 seasons in the heart of Europe with a good standard of living so we could enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. We also were looking for a moderate government in a fully democratic country with good medical plus fully functional and modern infrastructure.

How has your expat experience met the expectations you dreamed about before you moved abroad?

We have a wonderful life in Hungary and are enjoying things more or less as we planned. The medical system is more than adequate as are all of the other things such as utilities and shopping.

How has your expat experience NOT met the expectations you dreamed about before you moved abroad?

Hungary has suffered terribly since the election of the Fidez government and imminent collapse of the economy here. For us that is a mixed bag as our dollar is worth 30% more but prices have risen an average of 30% at the same time. Utilities have become extremely expensive at roughly 5 times higher than the US but food is much cheaper. The problem with a failing economy is that crime is soaring so we are more on guard than we would have liked. There is no end in sight so this is becoming a more or less permanent condition the same as in Greece and Italy. On the other hand we now have extremely loyal and happy staff as we pay generously and are compassionate employers.

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