Here are the districts in Hungary where you can earn the most and the least

The highest average gross earnings are typically found in the elite districts of Budapest and the western agglomeration. Districts 2 and 12 stand out on the income map of the whole country.

These areas boast good public services, green spaces and high property prices.

These districts have the highest proportion of people with a tertiary education who work in management positions or for international companies. Therefore, income inequality is a sociological phenomenon as well as an economic one.

Businesses in the hillside districts often have a high added value, whether they are law firms, premium healthcare providers or consultancies. Unsurprisingly, District 2 of the capital topped the list at the beginning of this year, with an average gross monthly wage of over HUF 1.15 million.

The 5th and 1st districts also rank among the highest-paying. Jobs in public administration, finance, and premium tourism are concentrated in the city centre.

The catching up of Districts 11 and 13 is not a recent phenomenon, but has continued to strengthen. District 1 has become one of Budapest's economic and innovation centres, while District 13 has become a centre for office buildings housing a large number of SSCs, banking centres, and multinational service providers.

The fact the the Budakeszi district made it to the top 10 highlights the growing importance of the more affluent agglomeration ring around the capital. Its proximity to Districts 2 and 12 is a major advantage for high-income commuters and businesses. It is not only popular as a residential area, but also home to a number of prestigious schools, private medical services and companies.

The disparities in earnings across different regions are not only due to differences in economic development, but also to significant socio-structural differences. The factors that most influence the income map are:

• Earnings are determined by the concentration of high-value, intellectual jobs.
• The presence of SSCs, consultancies and international offices in Budapest is skewing the national picture.
• The proportion of people with tertiary education also affects earnings levels.
• More expensive, developed neighbourhoods tend to have a higher presence of 'high-paying' firms.

Overall, income inequality in Hungary is highly concentrated geographically, with the capital and its western suburbs operating in a different economic league to the rest of the country.

In the poorest districts of the country, the average income is just HUF 420,000–480,000. The list shows that parts of Northern Hungary, the Northern Great Plain and Southern Transdanubia are still at the bottom of the wage scale. These regions have long struggled with persistent economic, social and demographic issues.

• The lowest-earning districts are usually small, rural areas with poor transport links and no major economic centres.
• In these areas, the proportion of people with tertiary education is much lower than in Budapest or Western Hungary.
• Many regions have a high proportion of people living in extreme poverty, including Roma populations, who often have severely limited labour market opportunities.
• In these districts, there are few capital-intensive enterprises. In many municipalities, the main employers are the public sector or local authorities.

The wage gap cannot be explained by the current economic situation; rather, it is a structural problem. A combination of deindustrialisation in the 1990s, low investment rates, emigration, and a lack of labour market mobility has prevented these regions from catching up. They are not benefiting from overall GDP growth either, since economic activity is not concentrated there.

The full list / ranking is as follows:

A címlapkép illusztráció. Címlapkép forrása: Getty Images