In This Article
Most people think Paris is outrageously expensive. They're wrong — and right at the same time.
Here's the truth: Paris has a wide range. You can spend €60 a day or €600 a day, and both experiences are real. The problem is most travel guides either describe the budget end in a way that sounds miserable, or the mid-range in a way that sounds unaffordable.
This guide cuts through that. It gives you the actual numbers — not estimates padded with qualifiers — so you can plan a trip that fits your budget without surprises.
And there's one category of Paris spending that almost nobody talks about. I'll get to that near the end.
1. Flights to Paris
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) is one of Europe's busiest hubs. That means competition — and competition means prices that are more reasonable than you'd expect.
From North America, expect to pay $400–$900 round trip if you book 6–8 weeks out. From the UK, you're looking at £50–£150 depending on the airline. From the Middle East or Africa, $500–$1,200 is realistic depending on your hub.
Pro tip: Tuesday and Wednesday departures are consistently cheaper than weekends. Setting a price alert on Google Flights 8 weeks out is the single best thing you can do for your flight budget.
Orly Airport (ORY) is Paris's second airport, closer to the city center. It's mainly used for European budget flights. If Ryanair or easyJet has a route to Orly — check it. You can save €50–€100 easily.
2. Accommodation in Paris
This is where Paris trips can go wrong fast.
Hotels in Paris are priced by arrondissement (district) as much as by quality. A 3-star hotel in the Marais costs 40–60% more than the exact same hotel a few stops away on the metro. Same room, different postcode.
| Option | Price per night | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | €25–€45 | Solo travelers, budget |
| Budget hotel (3rd–11th) | €70–€110 | First-timers, value |
| Mid-range hotel (Marais) | €130–€220 | Comfort + location |
| Boutique hotel | €200–€400 | Experience-focused |
| Luxury (1st–6th) | €400+ | High-end stays |
The sweet spot for most visitors? A 3-star hotel in the 10th or 11th arrondissement. You're on the metro, surrounded by great restaurants, and paying 35% less than an identical hotel in Saint-Germain.
Paris Airbnb tip
Paris has strict short-term rental laws. Always check that an Airbnb host has a registration number (required by law) — this protects you if they get shut down mid-trip.
3. Food & Drink
This is where Paris surprises most people. In a good way.
Parisians eat well, but not expensively. A set lunch (formule) at a neighbourhood bistro — starter, main, dessert — runs €14–€22. Sit down at dinner and that becomes €25–€45. Fine dining starts at €80+.
Where tourists overpay on food
Within 300 metres of any major landmark — Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame — you're paying a tourist premium. Sometimes 2–3x more for the same thing.
Walk two blocks away. The price drops immediately.
The cheap way to eat well
- Boulangerie lunch — sandwich, drink, dessert for €8–€10
- Markets (Marché d'Aligre, Marché Bastille) — buy cheese, bread, charcuterie for €12–€15
- Prix fixe lunch menus — always better value than dinner
- Supermarkets (Monoprix, Franprix) — dinner supplies for €6–€10
- Cave à manger wine bars — bottle of wine, cheese board, €25 total
4. Activities & Museums
Here's the part most Paris budgets get wrong.
People underestimate museum costs. Paris has some of the most visited — and expensive — museums in Europe. But it also has a huge number that are completely free.
| Attraction | Cost | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| The Louvre | €22 | Free first Sunday of each month (under 26 always free) |
| Musée d'Orsay | €16 | Free first Thursday evening |
| Centre Pompidou | €15 | Free first Sunday |
| Eiffel Tower (summit) | €32 | Book weeks ahead or queues are brutal |
| Sainte-Chapelle | €13 | Underrated. Better than Notre-Dame interior |
| Musée de l'Orangerie | €12.50 | The Monet Water Lilies room alone is worth it |
| Paris Museum Pass (4 days) | €78 | Worth it if you plan 4+ paid museums |
The Paris Museum Pass pays for itself in two major museums. If you're planning a culture-heavy trip, buy it on day one.
Free things that don't feel free: the Tuileries Garden, Père Lachaise Cemetery, Sacré-Cœur interior, all of the covered passages (Galerie Vivienne is stunning), and most of the best street markets in the city.
5. Getting Around
Paris's metro is one of the best in the world. 16 lines, clean, frequent, and it covers every corner of the city you'd actually want to visit.
A single t+ ticket is €2.10. A carnet (pack of 10) brings the price down to €1.73 per trip. The Navigo Easy card — loaded digitally — is the cleanest option. For a week, a Navigo weekly pass at €30 is hard to beat if you're moving around a lot.
Don't do this
Don't take taxis from CDG Airport to central Paris. It's €60–€80 minimum. Take the RER B train instead — it's €11.80, takes 40 minutes, and drops you at several central stations.
Paris is also extraordinarily walkable. The Marais to Saint-Germain is 25 minutes on foot. Notre-Dame to the Louvre is 20 minutes. You can save 3–4 metro trips per day just by walking between sights.
6. What Your Paris Budget Actually Buys
Let me give you three real daily scenarios — not aspirational, not pessimistic.
Budget: €75–€90/day
- Hostel or budget hotel in the 10th or 11th
- Boulangerie breakfast + market or supermarket lunch
- One sit-down dinner at a neighbourhood bistro
- 2–3 museum visits per week using free days
- Navigo metro card
Mid-range: €140–€200/day
- 3-star hotel, centrally located
- Café breakfast, bistro lunch, restaurant dinner
- Paid museums, Eiffel Tower, activities
- Wine with dinner, occasional cocktail
- A splurge meal every 3–4 days
Comfortable: €280–€400/day
- Boutique hotel in Marais or Saint-Germain
- Full sit-down meals at quality restaurants
- All paid activities, guided tours
- Day trips (Versailles, Champagne region)
- Shopping, wine bars, fine dining once or twice
The one thing nobody mentions: Shopping. Paris has some of the world's best retail — from luxury flagships to the best vintage stores in Europe. Most people's Paris budgets blow up here. Decide before you go how much you're comfortable spending on shopping, then stick to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, no. Paris is slightly cheaper than London on average — especially for food and public transport. A decent meal out in Paris runs €20–€35; the equivalent in London is £25–£45. Hotels are comparable. Paris wine is significantly cheaper.
January and February are cheapest for hotels — sometimes 40–50% less than summer prices. The weather is cold but manageable. November is also a good shoulder month with lower crowds and prices.
Budget traveller: €400–€500 all in (excluding flights). Mid-range: €800–€1,200. Comfortable: €1,500–€2,500. Add €150–€400+ for shopping depending on your self-control.
Yes — genuinely. Paris has more free museums, free parks, free markets, and cheap-but-good food options than almost any other major European capital. The key is eating where Parisians eat, not where tourists are steered.