More than three in four notes and coins are contaminated with bugs that can cause meningitis, sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, miscarriage and food poisoning.
It's prompted experts to call for cash to be scrapped.
The boffins say moving to a cashless society would be best for the nation’s health.
They examined three of each denomination of note and coin in circulation in the UK.
They found 28 of the 36 – or 78 per cent – were coated with a variety of 19 different bacteria.
Two are antibiotic resistant superbugs named by the World Health Organisation as a major threat.
Another is found in poo – indicating people are not washing their hands after going to the toilet.
Some 13.1billion cash payments were made in the UK last year, accounting for 22 per cent of transactions.
Prof Paul Matewele, from London Metropolitan University, said his results were “very concerning”.
He added: “The notes and coins currently circulating in the UK are a health hazard.
“I try to use my phone or card to pay whenever possible to avoid touching cash.
“We should consider moving to a cashless society to help reduce the spread of these bugs.
“If people pay for a sandwich with coins they should definitely wash their hands before eating it.
“If you fail to wash your hands after touching cash, you are asking for trouble.”
MRSA, which can kill, was found on 2p, 5p, 10p, £1 and £2 coins and £10, £20 and £50 notes. The antibiotic resistant bug can also cause food poisoning, cellulitis and toxic shock syndrome.
Listeria, which causes miscarriage and septicaemia, was found on 20p, 50p and £1 coins and £5, £10 and £20 notes.
And enterococcus faecium, which can cause neonatal meningitis, as well as infections of the abdomen, skin, urinary tract and blood, was found on the 2p, 5p and 10p coins as well as the £10 note.
Hannah Maundrell, from price comparison website money.co.uk, which commissioned the study, urged cash users to wash their hands more often.
She added: “These findings could reinforce the argument for moving towards a cashless society and might be the nail in the coffin for our filthy coppers.
“I suspect people may think twice before choosing to pay with cash knowing they could be handed back change laced with superbugs.”
Bank of England governor Mark Carney has said a cashless society is not coming “anytime soon”.
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