Is Paris Expensive? Real Costs and a 2026 Budget Guide

Is Paris expensive? Real daily costs for hotels, food, the metro and sights, plus free museums and cheap eats — so you know how much a Paris trip costs.

Is Paris expensive? For hotels and sit-down dinners in the centre, yes — it's one of the priciest cities in Europe. But Paris is also a city where some of the best moments cost almost nothing: a baguette picnic by the Seine, a free cathedral, a walk up to Montmartre at sunset. Here's what a trip really costs, where the money goes, and how to spend less without missing out.

Is Paris expensive? The short answer

Paris is expensive mainly because of where you sleep and how you eat dinner. Accommodation is the biggest cost all year. Food ranges from cheap bakery lunches to very pricey restaurants, the metro is good value, and several major sights are free.

Prices below are approximate ranges in euros (€). They change with the season and demand, so always check current prices before you go.

How much does a trip to Paris cost per day?

Approximate ranges per person, per day, excluding flights or trains.

Couples sharing a double room cut the per-person stay cost a lot — in Paris, that's where the biggest saving is.

Where the money goes

Accommodation

Staying around Saint-Germain, the Marais or near the Eiffel Tower is lovely but costly. Better value is often found in the 10th, 11th, 12th, 18th or 20th arrondissements, close to a metro line that takes you straight into the centre. Look at the walk to the nearest station before you book. Note that Paris charges a tourist tax per person per night on top of the room rate, so check whether it's included. Prices climb in summer, around big events and in December.

Food

Eating well in Paris on a budget is very doable if you plan your big meal for lunch:

• Boulangeries — a sandwich, a quiche or a pastry from a neighbourhood bakery is the classic cheap lunch, and often better than a café.
• Lunch menus (formules) — many bistros offer a set lunch with a starter or dessert that costs far less than the same food at dinner.
• Markets — Marché d'Aligre and Marché des Enfants Rouges in the Marais are great for picnic food and quick meals.
• Supermarkets — Monoprix, Franprix and Carrefour City have cheese, bread, fruit and wine for a picnic along the Seine or in a park.
• Watch out for cafés right next to the big sights and on the Champs-Élysées — a coffee there can cost several times more than a few streets away.

Ask for une carafe d'eau in restaurants — tap water is free and safe to drink. Service is included in French menu prices, so tipping is optional.

Getting around

The metro and RER cover almost everywhere a visitor goes, and single tickets are cheap compared with taxis. You can load tickets onto a Navigo Easy card or use the official transport app on some phones. If you'll ride a lot, compare day and multi-day passes with paying per trip — for most short city breaks, single tickets plus walking work out fine.

• Walk between central sights: the Louvre, Tuileries, Notre-Dame and Saint-Germain are all close together.
• Airport transfers cost more than a normal ticket — check the RER B, Orlyval and bus options before you land.
• Vélib' shared bikes are a cheap way to cover short hops, especially along the river.

Sights

A few paid sights are worth budgeting for:

• The Louvre — one of the pricier museum tickets, and prices have gone up in recent years. Book a timed slot online.
• The Eiffel Tower — prices depend on stairs or lift and how high you go. Taking the stairs to the second floor is the cheaper option.
• Musée d'Orsay and Sainte-Chapelle — both paid, both worth it, both best booked ahead.
• Arc de Triomphe rooftop — paid, with a great view straight down the Champs-Élysées.

Under-26s who live in the EU get free entry to many national museums, so bring ID. The Paris Museum Pass only pays off if you'll visit several paid museums in a few days — add it up first.

Free things to do in Paris

• Notre-Dame Cathedral — free to enter since it reopened; reserving a slot online can shorten the wait.
• Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre — free entry, and the steps outside have one of the best free views over Paris.
• City of Paris museums like Musée Carnavalet and the Petit Palais — free permanent collections.
• Père Lachaise Cemetery — peaceful, huge and free.
• Jardin du Luxembourg and the Tuileries — the best places for a picnic lunch.
• The Seine walk from the Eiffel Tower past the Louvre to Île Saint-Louis, especially at sunset.
• Free museum days — some museums offer free entry on certain days, such as the first Sunday of the month at the Musée d'Orsay. Check each museum's site, as rules change.

Paris on a budget: when to go

• January to March (outside school holidays) is usually the cheapest time for hotels. It's cold and grey, but museums are calmer.
• April–May and September–October balance good weather and fair prices, though popular weekends still fill up.
• June to August and December are the busiest and most expensive months.

Booking a few weeks ahead and travelling midweek usually helps more than any discount site.

A sample 3-day budget

For two people sharing a simple hotel room in the 11th arrondissement in autumn, a realistic trip per person might be:

• Stay: 3 nights at €60–110 each, including tourist tax.
• Food: bakery breakfasts, one lunch menu and one picnic, a bistro dinner each night — around €35–55 a day.
• Sights: Notre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur and a Seine walk free, the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower paid.
• Transport: single metro tickets and lots of walking.

That puts many travellers somewhere around €350–600 per person for three days before flights or trains. For an hour-by-hour plan, see our 3 days in Paris itinerary, or our romantic weekend in Paris guide if you're going as a couple. Comparing cities? Here's how London's costs stack up.

If you'd rather not add all of this up yourself, just tell Journey "3 days in Paris in March, €500 each, two of us, lots of free sights" and it plans every day hour by hour, with real places and a total that fits your budget. Say "make day 2 cheaper" or "swap the Louvre for something free" and it changes the plan. Join the waitlist to try it first.

FAQ

Is Paris more expensive than London?

They're broadly similar and both are among Europe's priciest cities. London hotels are often a little more expensive, while Paris has fewer free big museums, so the total depends on how you travel.

How much money do I need per day in Paris?

Excluding flights, roughly €65–160 a day on a budget and €190–410 for a more comfortable trip. Where you stay and where you eat dinner make the biggest difference.

Is €500 enough for 3 days in Paris?

For many travellers sharing a room, yes — €500 per person can cover a simple hotel, food and a couple of paid sights for three days, not counting flights. Travelling solo or in peak season makes it tighter.

What is the cheapest month to visit Paris?

January to March is usually cheapest for hotels, outside school holidays. Expect cold weather and shorter days, but smaller crowds.