Money in Hungary: cash, cards and tipping
What holds for the whole country, in one place: where a card is enough and where it is not, where to change money, whether to tip, and the taxes nobody mentions until the bill.
The currency is the Hungarian Forint (HUF). $1 ≈ Ft 324 · rate of October 6, 2026
Where a card is enough
Only the places a source speaks about. Where it says nothing, neither do we.
| Where | How you pay |
|---|---|
| In general | Card From the source |
| Small shops | Card or cash, it depends From the source |
| Taxis | Card From the source |
| Trains and subway, short rides | Card or cash, it depends From the source |
From the source means we read it where it is set: the operator, the bank, the city or the statistics office. Reported means a guide or the press says so and we have not seen the original. Where sources disagree we show both figures and leave the price out of every sum.
Where to change money
The cheapest route is usually an ATM and a card that does not charge for converting; whether yours does is up to your bank. These are the places that change cash.
- Airports
- Banks
- Exchange counters
- Some hotels
Airport exchange desks give the worst rates: change only what you need on arrival.
Never change money on the street, however good the rate someone offers.
Tipping
| Restaurants | Customary |
|---|---|
| Taxis | Customary |
Taxes and charges
- Consumption tax: 27%, and 5% on restaurant food.
- Lodging tax varies from city to city: each city page has its own rule.
What each city costs
Per person per day, mid-range, for two travelling together. Without accommodation, flights or the airport transfer, so the cities can be compared.
| City | Per person per day |
|---|---|
| Budapest | Ft 24,000–38,000 |
If something goes wrong
The numbers and where to go, as the official source publishes them.
- Police
- 112
- Fire and ambulance
- 112
What applies to any trip: before you go, and if you lose your card
SourcesWhere every figure comes from
Every fact on this page carries its source. Reviewed: October 2026.
This page tells you how much to take. The app keeps count of what you spend.
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