<p>This research explores the operationalization of the circular economy at the district level, focusing on the roles of local service providers as “circular lifestyle enablers”. By comparing two diverse districts of Budapest—Budafok-Tétény (District XXII), a residential “town within a city”, and Újbuda (District XI), an intellectual and cultural hub — the study investigates how urban structure and community identity influence the transition from linear to circular consumption. The methodology utilizes a comparative analysis of municipal documents, the mapping of circular lifestyle enablers through desk research, and original interview data from eight local entities. These include organizations engaged in specialized commercial activities for mainstreaming circular lifestyles, a charity shop, service providers (repair, refurbishing, and product-as-a-service), a package-free store, and a local basket community. The findings reveal that District XXII is a functional enabler, where circularity is driven by pragmatic needs (such as machinery rentals and local food supply chains) often surfacing as a “meaningful by-product” of social solidarity rather than explicit environmentalism. In contrast, District XI acts as a systemic enabler, leveraging university partnerships and municipal funding schemes to mainstream circularity through education and professional networks. The study identifies “trust capital” and community cohesion as the primary catalysts for sustainable behaviour. However, significant barriers remain, including the “human factor” in sharing services and a lack of synergy between district-level strategies. The research concludes that for circularity to move beyond niche markets, local governance must transition from a regulator to a catalyst by supporting bottom-up initiatives that facilitate daily value retention.</p>