First, it is important to know that French and Hungarian barrels can use the same species of oak,
Quercus robur or Quercus petraea. So don't expect much differences based on the type of wood and barrel between location, but within species (but see below). But there is a difference between species. So first ask what species is used to make the barrel you want to buy. Some consider different oak species better for different grape varieties.
Quercus robur is considered to give fuller body and more tannin structure while
Quercus petraea is considered to give more aromatics and lighter tannins
. Hungarian barrels tend to be more likely
Quercus petraea, but not always (which is why you should ask)
.
Ideally Hungarian oak barrels should be cheaper than French due to labor costs of production. A major reason for its popularity (even in France). I know, as I actually live in Hungary and the hourly wage is not even close to what someone in France can get. If the importer is charging a similar price, I suspect a markup (tariff?) that may not be warranted.
There was for some time a quality of wood difference, based on the age of the trees being harvested, in that central European oak forests were more old growth (tighter grained wood) than western Europe. But that distinction has declined. There is really little difference now in forest age for average barrels. But still, in Europe at lest, Hungarian oak barrels are cheaper.
Some may say that local micro-climate factors affect the wood. Well, that may be true. There are certainly different climates between different parts of western and eastern Europe. But I have not seen much in the way of empirical studies confirming this affect on wine, so hard to say how much of that is fact, or just wine maker opinion and/or marketing.
So if the local price is for some reason similar, agree with
@Johnd -- trying something different may be fine, as long at that oak will create the type of wine you want to make. i assume you already have American oak, which is why you are looking at European barrels as something different, else, American oak is also to consider..
