Szentendre is the most ideal city near Budapest for hybrid working

Hybrid working has now become a defining element of the modern world of work. Accordingly, when choosing a place to live, an increasingly important aspect for employees is how well they can do their work in a professional environment, close to their home. Many people are already rejecting long commutes and are looking for flexible working models that support well-being, increase productivity and facilitate work-life balance.

With this in mind, the IWG’s new Commuter City Index examines how cities in the Budapest agglomeration are adapting to the spread of hybrid working and which settlements are able to simultaneously provide excellent transport, high quality of life and professional working conditions.

Top 5 commuter cities in the Budapest region in 2026*

1. Szentendre
2. Budaörs
3. Érd
4. Gödöllő
5. Dunakeszi  

* The Commuter City Index evaluated the settlements on a 90-point scale, taking into account, among other things, transport, commute time, green environment, services, housing costs, digital infrastructure, cultural life, and the availability of flexible workspaces. The total score shows how well a given settlement is able to create a balance between work, commuting and quality of life.

Szentendre is at the top (73.0 points)

Szentendre’s outstanding cultural life, impressive natural environment, direct HÉV connection to Budapest, and the Regus center operating in the city combined to make it the top of the ranking. The latter, with nearly 1,000 sqm of office space, is easily accessible and located next to the highway leading to the capital, on which commuters from more than 10 small towns in the agglomeration pass every day. The settlement uniquely combines quality of life and the infrastructure necessary for hybrid working, thus offering a balanced alternative to the daily commute to the capital.

Budaörs in second place (68.5)

Budaörs came in second place in the ranking with its excellent connections to Budapest, strong local service and commercial offer, reliable infrastructure, and quick access to the nearby Regus center in Biatorbágy. The city may be particularly attractive to professionals who are looking for a residential environment close to the capital, yet more relaxed, with a high quality of life.

In response to the growing demand for hybrid working, IWG supports flexible working in the Budapest area with its centers in Szentendre and Biatorbágy. The company’s global network is expanding dynamically, with around 1,000 new locations joining in the past year and achieving the highest revenue in the company’s history – more new locations were signed and opened in 2025 than in their first 15 years of operation. The network now includes more than one million workspaces in 121 countries.

The newly released index reflects the results of recent IWG research, which shows that employees value more flexible working options and that their availability is an important consideration for them when choosing a place to live. Globally, only 4% of people are willing to travel more than an hour to work each day, while 88% say it is important to be able to work in a professional environment close to home.</