Rental rates in the capital were up 16.5%, with rates in the central districts of Pest rising by 19.2% and in the outskirts of the city climbing by 9.6%.

In a month-on-month comparison, home rental rates rose 2% countrywide and were up 1.5% in Budapest in February.

The monthly rental rate for a flat in the capital averaged HUF 164,000 in the second half of last year. In the west of the country, a flat could be rented for HUF 126,000 per month.