Is Paris Expensive?
How much does it cost to visit Paris? If you are planning a trip to the French capital and trying to figure out your budget for Paris, this article is for you. The French capital is often associated with luxury and extravagance and can be very expensive. However, you can enjoy all that the city has to offer regardless of your budget, as there is something and a place for everyone.
Of course, the cost to travel to Paris will depend on the travel season, how you travel, and the limit you set. Without further ado, here’s how much a trip to Paris costs (prices updated for 2025) so you can estimate your Paris budget.
Are You Planning a Trip to Paris Last Minute?
If you are booking a last-minute trip to Paris, I’ve got you covered! Below are our must guides, top tours, hotels, and more:
» Plan: Paris Travel Planner; Paris Arrondissements Guide; Check out the best Paris Metro tickets for tourists
» Book your flight tickets with Omio; book your train tickets with Omio
Book your transfer from the airport to the city with Welcome Pickups.
» Where to Stay: Best Districts to Stay in Paris
- Le Pavillon de la Reine (historical 5-star hotel in Le Marais)
- Hotel La Comtesse (mid-range hotel with Eiffel Tower view from all the rooms!)
- Hotel Ducs de Bourgogne (super central 4-star hotel near the Louvre)
» Top-Rated Paris Tours & Tickets:
- Louvre Museum Skip-the-Line Ticket
- Eiffel Tower Summit Access Ticket
- Seine River Night Cruise
- Château de Versailles and Gardens
- Catacombs Skip-the-line tour with VIP access to restricted areas
Want skip-the-line access at museums & attractions in Paris? Get your hands on a Paris Museum Pass!
» Don’t leave without travel insurance! SafetyWing Essential plan works well for long and short trips (from 5 days up). Can also cover electronics theft through their add-on.
Trip to Paris Cost (2025 Update)
On average, the cost of life in Paris is 24% higher than in the rest of France.
It is possible to cut down your Paris budget if you sleep in the lesser central districts of Paris and avoid tourist areas to have your meals. Also, there are many free things to do in Paris, so you can spend wonderful days in the French capital and pay nothing to keep you busy. Here’s how to save money in Paris.
On the other side, many people visiting Paris want to enjoy the main attractions, get spoiled, and have fun: after all, they are on holiday! And Paris knows how to treat these people well, so if you opt for sleeping in one of the historic hotels in Paris, having a delicious dinner in a Michelin-starred restaurant, and shopping in the Golden Triangle, you can easily triple or quadruple your daily budget in Paris.
Below, I have collected some average Paris travel costs (in EUR and USD) for any budget.

1. Cost of Transportation to Paris

Here, it really depends on your country of origin. For example, an average return flight to Paris from the USA is 620€ (650 USD), but you can also find great deals on flights to Paris in the fall and winter. Also, flight and train prices fluctuate throughout the year.
The most expensive time to visit Paris is during the summer holidays, Christmas and Easter holidays, and important worldwide events (e.g., the past Rugby World Cup or the Paris Olympics).
If you are flexible with your travel dates, click on the links below and play with different dates.
2. Cost of Accommodation in Paris

On average, the cost of hotels in Paris is 34% higher than in the rest of France.
From a bunk bed in a Paris hostel to a hotel with an Eiffel Tower view, the price range for accommodation in Paris is so large that it is difficult to set an average price.
Also, it depends on the district of Paris where you decide to set your base camp – check out the best districts to stay in Paris for different types of vacations.
To get an idea, I have grouped accommodation into three categories. Please take these prices with a grain of salt, as room prices can change depending on the season, holidays, room type, and availability.
- Bunk bed in a hostel for one person: around 35€ (37 USD) (less if you are far from the center)
- Double room in regular hotels (3 and 4 stars): 75 to 525€ (80 to 550 USD)
- Double room in a top-end hotel (5 stars and palace): well past 9 500€ (10 000 USD) for their most prestigious suites
3. Cost of Travel Insurance for Paris

Most people don’t think that getting travel insurance is important, but it is highly recommended to mitigate travel risks and Paris trip expenses. A travel insurance policy for Paris is not expensive, and you will be happy to have one if you are in trouble.
SafetyWing, for example, has flexible health and travel insurance plans (Essential and Complete) from 5 days to 364 days, and it can also cover electronics theft through their add-on.
SafetyWing also has great customer service and competitive prices, and I really think it is the best option. Below are the prices of travel insurance with SafetyWing’s Essential Plan for one week in Paris (short-term coverage for unexpected medical issues while traveling):
- 10-39 years old: 14.07 USD (13.5€)
- 40-49 years old: 23.10 USD (24€)
- 50-59 years old: 36.26 USD (34.5€)
- 60-69 years old: 49.21 USD (46.85€)
4. Cost of Food in Paris per Day

Expect to pay around 72€ (75 USD) a day for quality food and drinks in Paris. However, the cost of food in Paris per day can be lower or higher depending on what you eat and where you eat it.
Breakfast
The price of some hotel rooms includes breakfast, while other hotels have breakfast as an option. A breakfast in a hotel in Paris costs around 30€ (32 USD), but it also depends on the hotel’s category.
But you can kick off your day with a takeaway coffee and a croissant from the bakery around the corner for less than 5€ (5.25 USD).
Sipping an espresso at a bar counter often costs 2€ (2.10 USD). However, if you want to sit inside or on the terrace, you will pay more than 2.5€ (2.65 USD) for the same cup of coffee.
Lunch /Dinner
Serious sightseers usually opt for light, on-the-go meals, so they don’t spend too much time eating for lunch. A sandwich in a bakery usually costs around 6€ (6.3 USD) – depending on the sandwich and where you buy it – and you can get a quick meal for less than 15€ (15.8 USD).
A proper meal in a restaurant depends on its category and the district where it is located.
Mains in an average restaurant generally cost around 16-19€ (17-20 USD), while mains in an expensive, chic restaurant can cost more than 35€ (37 USD).
For a filling but budget-friendly meal break, take advantage of the “menu du jour,” which is a two or three-course set menu offered by many restaurants at lunchtime (Monday through Friday). The prices of these menus range between 15 and 20€ (17 to 23 USD), making them a way better deal than the regular dinner menu.
Drinks
Generally, a glass of wine in a bar or restaurant will start at 5€ (5.25 USD), and a bottle will cost 20–25€ (21-27 USD). Beer is expensive—usually around €7 a pint (7.35 USD) —but happy hours exist all over the city from 6–8 p.m.
Cocktails usually start around €12 (12.5 USD), but prices will also depend on the location and the bar.
Remember that you can order tap water for free in restaurants (“une carafe d’eau”).
5. Cost of Activities in Paris

If this is your first time in the French capital, you will definitely want to add a couple of activities or sights to your budget for Paris.
On average, you will pay 18€ (20 USD) per person to visit a museum or attraction in Paris. To get a better idea, the Louvre costs 22€ (25 USD), the Catacombs costs 29€ (33 USD), the cheapest ticket for the Eiffel Tower costs 14.20 € (16 USD), and the Musée d’Orsay costs 16€ (18 USD).
The costs will increase if you buy skip-the-line tickets or you add audio guides.
If you want to tick the main attractions off your bucket list, consider the Paris Museum Pass. With this pass (for 2, 4, or 6 consecutive days), you can visit more than 60 museums and attractions in Paris and its region (Versailles included), and it cuts down the costs considerably. Check out my Paris Museum Pass review to understand if this is convenient for you.
If you only want to visit a couple of top attractions in Paris, Tiqets always offers interesting combo tickets (2-3 attractions at a discounted price) that make you save money.
6. Cost of Transportation in Paris

The cost of transportation in Paris will depend on how often you plan to use public transportation. Paris is such a walkable city that some people use the Parisian metro only for longer distances.
A single metro ticket costs 2,50€ (2,65 USD) for Paris and its region (airports excluded), but there are interesting daily /weekly, and tourist passes that can help cut down the costs. Read about the best Paris Metro tickets for tourists.
- Transportation from CDG Airport to the city costs 13€ (13,65 USD) with the RER B train
- Transportation from Orly Airport to the city costs 13€ (13,65 USD) with the metro (you can’t use a single ticket for this itinerary)
- Transportation to Versailles, Fontainebleau, and Disneyland costs 2,50€ (2,65 USD) one way with an SNCF train or RER C train.
When considering private transfers, prioritize taxis over Ubers. This is mainly because a taxi from/to the airport has fixed prices, while ride-sharing services like Uber don’t, meaning that at peak times, you can end up paying well above the odds and much more than you otherwise would have done.
- Transportation from CDG Airport to Paris Right Bank /Paris Left Bank by an official taxi: 56€ /65€ (59-68 USD)
- Transportation from Orly Airport to Paris Left Bank /Paris Right Bank by an official taxi: 36€ /44€ (38-46.5 USD)
Week in Paris Cost (for 2 People)

So what’s the average cost to travel to Paris? Considering the prices above, here’s a week in Paris cost for two people with different travel styles: budget, mid-range, and luxury.
This Paris trip cost estimation does not include transportation to/from Paris.
BUDGET: 950-1 150€ (1 000-1 200 USD) Paris Budget for two people
If you visit Paris on a budget, some sacrifices will be necessary.
You will opt for a bunk bed in a hostel in Paris, and you will walk or use public transportation exclusively.
Eating in Paris on a budget will mean lots of crêpes, takeaways, and cheap eats (not necessarily the best food), and you will need to be very careful with your restaurant choices.
Visiting paid attractions may be quite limited except for perhaps one bucket list spot. You will try to combine paid attractions with city walks or free museums and activities.
MID-RANGE: 1 145-2 000€ (1 700-2 100 USD) Paris Budget for two people
At this price point, you can visit most attractions you would like to see (though perhaps not every single one), splurge on a guided tour, and eat at restaurants more comfortably.
Depending on whether you’re traveling in low or high season, you may struggle to find comfortable lodging on a mid-range budget in Paris, and you may need to sacrifice a bit on location. Booking in advance, especially during the high season, will be essential!
When traveling on a mid-range budget, prioritization is essential to balancing your daily budget in Paris. If you have your heart set on a particular bucket-list experience in Paris, you’ll likely need to cut expenses elsewhere to make it work.
LUXURY: – – –
When it comes to luxury travel in Paris, the sky is the limit 🙂
If you have that kind of budget for Paris, use private transportation from the airport to the hotel, book one of the 5-star hotels in the city for your stay, eat in the Michelin-star restaurants, and book private guides for the best museums in Paris.
And if you book all these through my links, you will contribute to keeping this blog alive (and perhaps a bottle of wine) at no extra cost to you, so cheers! 🙂