Quick answer: Nice runs about EUR 130 per day mid-range - noticeably less if you eat local and walk. Cheapest window: May-June and September-October - warm sea and sunshine without the July-August crowds and peak prices.
What things actually cost
| espresso at a bar | 2 EUR |
| socca portion | 4 EUR |
| pan bagnat | 6 EUR |
| tram or bus ticket | 1.70 EUR |
| glass of rose at a cafe | 5 EUR |
| beach club lounger for the day | 20-25 EUR |
Eat well for little
- Socca (chickpea pancake) at Chez Pipo near the portabout 4 EUR a portion
- Pan bagnat (tuna nicoise sandwich) from a bakeryabout 6 EUR
- Salade nicoise at an old-town bistroabout 14 EUR
- Gelato at Fenocchio on Place Rossettidozens of flavors, about 3.50 EUR for two scoops
- Pissaladiere (onion and anchovy tart) from a market stallabout 4 EUR
Money mistakes to avoid
- Expecting sandy beachesNice's beaches are pebbles, bring water shoes or rent a lounger at a beach club
- Eating at Promenade-facing tourist menuswalk two streets back into Vieux Nice or the port for better and cheaper food
- Not validating your tram ticket before ridinginspectors are frequent and fines are around 50 EUR
- Cramming Monaco, Eze and Villefranche into one daypick two, the buses and viewpoints deserve unhurried time
Transport without the tourist tax
Tram Line 2 runs from Nice airport to the city center in about 30 min for 1.70 EUR. The center is walkable and trams and buses cover the rest at 1.70 EUR a ride - coastal trains to Villefranche, Monaco and Antibes cost only a few euros each way.
Planning the full trip? Start with the 4-day Nice itinerary.