The Hungarian unit of currency is the Forint (HUF or Ft). Coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 Ft and banknotes in denominations of 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000 Ft. The Euro is to be introduced as Hungary's official currency in 2010.

The cost of living in Hungary is relatively low, with groceries costing about the same or less than in other parts of Europe if bought in supermarkets, and cheaper products available at local markets and some small shops. Many expatriates working for foreign companies or diplomatic missions live very comfortably in Hungary as their salaries are usually higher than those of local workers.

Typical costs include:

Litre of milk Ft160.00
Loaf of bread Ft160.00
Small bottle of beer Ft130.00
Litre of bottled water Ft150.00
Bottle table wine Ft384.00
Litre of petrol Ft265.00
Restaurant meal Between Ft500 and Ft2500