No, you don’t need Ape coins to buy a Bored Ape NFTs. If you want to buy one of these collectibles, the cryptocurrency you need to hold is Ethereum ETH. So if you’re just getting into the scene, make sure you buy ETH at the exchange.
The original BAYC NFTs aren’t cheap. NFT prices are very volatile, but a BAYC NFT can set you back a couple of hundred grand. The Bored Ape Kennel Club (BAKC) NFTs are a spinoff from BAYC and tend to be more affordable.