Daily costs per person in euros. Paris rewards smart choices — picnics, free museums, and local neighbourhoods keep costs surprisingly manageable.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: EUR (Euro) (1 USD ≈ 0.92 EUR)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | €25–50 | €80–150 | €200+ | Hostels → boutique hotels → luxury hotels |
| Food | €15–25 | €35–60 | €80+ | Boulangeries & markets → bistros → fine dining |
| Transport | €5–10 | €12–20 | €30+ | Metro/bus → taxi/Uber → private transfers |
| Activities | €0–15 | €20–45 | €60+ | Free sites & parks → museums → guided tours & shows |
| Drinks | €5–10 | €15–25 | €40+ | Supermarket wine → café terraces → cocktail bars |
| Daily Total | €50–110 | €162–300 | €410+ | $55–120 → $175–325 → $445+ |
Money-saving tips
Free museums
Many major museums are free on the first Sunday of each month — Louvre, Orsay, Orangerie, Pompidou. Under-26 EU residents get free entry to all national museums year-round.
Eat affordably
Boulangeries sell sandwiches for €4–6. Bouillon restaurants (Chartier, Pigalle, Julien) serve classic French mains for €8–14. Supermarkets like Monoprix have excellent prepared meals for €4–7.
Navigo Easy card
Load a Navigo Easy card (€2) with t+ tickets at €2.15 each or a carnet of 10 for €17.35. Weekly Navigo Découverte (€30.75) covers all zones including airport RER rides.
Picnic culture
Buy wine (€5), baguette (€1.20), cheese (€3–5), and charcuterie (€3–5) — picnic on the Seine banks, in Luxembourg, or on the Champ de Mars. Cheaper and more Parisian than any restaurant.
Free experiences
Walking the Seine quays, Père-Lachaise, Sacré-Cœur view, canal-side lounging, park afternoons, Notre-Dame exterior, Palais Royal gardens, and window-shopping in Le Marais all cost nothing.
Skip the tourist traps
Rue de la Huchette and the Champs-Élysées are overpriced. Eat where students eat — around Oberkampf, Belleville, Ménilmontant, and the 11th arrondissement.
