Local Tip
ICE lists four exchange counters at IAH, in Terminals C, D and E, one of them in Terminal E arrivals. METRO buses and trains take a tapped bank card or phone for the $1.25 fare, so you needn't buy a transit card.
Where to change money in Houston
ICE (International Currency Exchange) lists four exchange counters at George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), shown below with the daily hours it publishes; hours can change, and the airport notes that rates and fees apply.
- ICE, IAH Terminal E The main counter, across from the United Club, sits between Gates E11 and E12 (7am to 8pm); a second desk in the Terminal E arrivals area, next to the information booth, opens 10am to 8pm.
- ICE, IAH Terminals C and D Terminal C-South, where Terminals C and D meet, beside Sunglass Hut (7:30am to 6:30pm), and the D-E hallway counter, across from the Skyway (7:30am to 7:30pm).
Changing money at the airport
IAH's services page says exchange desks are in Terminals B to E and that ATMs are spread across the airport, with any fee depending on your own bank. At Hobby (HOU), the airport lists ATMs on Level 1 in the baggage claim area and on Level 2 in the pre-security main lobby and near Gates 1 and 21, but no exchange counter, so arrive with a card that works in US cash machines.
ATMs and cards in Houston
A card from abroad can attract two charges at a Houston cash machine: a surcharge from the bank that owns it and a fee from your own bank. Bankrate's survey, published in September 2025, put the average US surcharge at $3.22. Houston card readers and cash machines sometimes display a sterling amount next to the dollar one; settle in US dollars, since MoneySavingExpert says your card issuer's own conversion is hard to beat.
Paying for transport in Houston
METRO charges $1.25 for a local bus or METRORail ride. Tap a Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover contactless card, or a phone or watch with Apple Pay or Google Pay, on the fare validator; the RideMETRO app can also hold a virtual RideMETRO Fare Card at no cost, and the physical card costs $2 at RideStores, participating retailers and ticket machines. Keep tapping the same card and transfers to services of equal or lesser value are free for up to three hours (a physical card and its phone-wallet copy count as different cards). Bus fareboxes take cash but give no change and no free transfer, and ticket machines refuse pennies and bills over $20. Fares can change.
Good to know
- Texas sales tax is 6.25% at state level on most goods and taxable services, and local taxes can add up to 2%, for a combined maximum of 8.25%.
- Older guides may mention METRO's Q Card. Mass Transit Magazine reported in January 2026 that a new fare system would replace it, with the old system's shutdown planned for 5 April 2026, and the Q Card no longer appears on METRO's fares page.
Key Areas in Houston
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Exchange bureaux, banks and cash machines, as mapped by OpenStreetMap. The map loads only when you ask for it.
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Houston travel money FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Houston?
At George Bush Intercontinental (IAH), ICE has four counters in Terminals C, D and E, and the airport lists a further exchange service in Terminal B. Exiap's IAH guide says airport exchange typically costs more than using a card or ATM, so weigh any quote against a withdrawal.
Can I get a sales tax refund when I leave Houston?
Possibly. IAH offers sales tax rebates to qualifying international passengers flying out, from a desk in Terminal D before security, open 7am to 7pm daily. The airport refers you to TaxFree Shopping for the rules, so keep your receipts.
Do I need cash to ride METRO buses and trains?
No. A tapped contactless bank card, a phone with Apple Pay or Google Pay, or a RideMETRO Fare Card pays the $1.25 fare; cash works on buses, but without change or a free transfer.
Checked September 2026. Fees, fares and opening times change, so check locally before relying on them. Sources: Fly2Houston (official airport site) · ICE (International Currency Exchange) · METRO (Houston, official) · Mass Transit Magazine · Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (official) · Bankrate
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