Europe

Money, cards and tipping in Hungary

Capital: BudapestHungarianUpdated October 2026

HUFForint

Money in Hungary

Cards almost everywhere Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; carry some forints for markets, small bakeries and public toilets. Euros are accepted at poor rates. US$1 ≈ Ft327.47 (03 Oct 2026).

Key facts

Tipping: 10–15% in restaurants, but check the bill first: many Budapest places already add a 10–15% service charge (szervizdíj).
ATMs: Avoid Euronet ATMs (fees, bad conversion); use OTP or other bank ATMs and always decline conversion.
Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted; contactless is standard.
Price level: about 52% of US prices (World Bank PPP).

Cash or card, by place

Place	Cards	Notes
Budapest	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere; carry forints for markets, small bakeries and public toilets.
Lake Balaton	Cards almost everywhere	Cards are accepted in hotels and most restaurants; carry forints for kiosks, beach entry, market stalls and lángos stands.
Eger	Cards almost everywhere	Cards are widely accepted; carry forints for wine cellars, small bakeries and market stalls.
Pécs	Cards almost everywhere	Cards are widely accepted; carry forints for markets and small bakeries.

Quick answers

Do you tip in Hungary?

10–15% in restaurants, but check the bill first: many Budapest places already add a 10–15% service charge (szervizdíj).

Is Hungary cashless?

Cards almost everywhere. Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; carry some forints for markets, small bakeries and public toilets. Euros are accepted at poor rates.

What currency does Hungary use?

The Forint (HUF). US$1 ≈ Ft327.47 (03 Oct 2026).

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.