The article examines how urban development in the Budapest Metropolitan Region has shifted towards a polycentric pattern since the fall of socialism. By analyzing commuting data from 1990 to 2011, the researchers found that the city and its surrounding areas have become more interconnected, with new centers of activity emerging in the suburbs. This shift has led to growing disparities in the metropolitan periphery, as advantages of location have become more important. Overall, the region has seen increased cooperation, interdependence, and physical connections between Budapest and its surrounding areas, reflecting a European-style post-suburbanization trend.