To make a budget for your trip to Budapest you have to know the prices. So, here we give you information about Hungarian currency and some prices for things usually required by any traveler.
Hungarian currency is forint (abbreviated as Ft. or HUF). Banknotes come in denominations of 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000 and 20000 HUF, coins in circulation are 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100.
You may change money upon arrival in the airport or in exchange offices throughout the city. Please note that some exchange offices charge a commission of up to 10%.
Major credit cards are accepted by most restaurants, shops and supermarkets. Euros are accepted in some shops and supermarkets, but the rate there is usually lower than that of exchange offices.
Tip:
Ticket vending machines in metro stations accept coins of any denomination, from 1 to 100 forints. If you have a lot of coins and do not know what to do with them, buy public transport tickets – the machine will not scowl at you when you feed it with 1-forint coins.
Prices:
| Single public transport ticket | HUF160 |
| Pack of cigarettes | HUF400-650 |
| Bottle of water | HUF80-300 |
| Salami | HUF1700-3000/kg |
| Fruit | HUF80 (apples)-800/kg |
| Beer in a shop | HUF150-300 |
| Wine in a shop | HUF300-2000 |
| Beer in a cafe | HUF300-800 |
| Wine in a cafe | HUF150-500 |
| Meal in an average restaurant | HUF1000-3000/person |
| Meal in a fastfood | HUF500-1000/person |
| Museum admission fee | HUF200-3000/person |
| Club admission fee | HUF500-2500/person |
| Thermal bath admission fee | HUF1100-2900/person (depending on bath and bathing time) |
Exchange rate as of July 04, 2005:
1 Euro is 246.85 Ft.
1 US dollar is 204.75 Ft.
1 GB pound is 363.96 Ft.