Quick answer: Paris runs about EUR 150 per day mid-range - noticeably less if you eat local and walk. Cheapest window: April-June and September-October - pleasant walking weather and lighter museum lines than July-August.
What things actually cost
| espresso at a cafe counter | 2.50 EUR |
| croissant | 1.50 EUR |
| metro single ticket | 2.50 EUR |
| Louvre entry | 22 EUR |
| bistro lunch menu (2 courses) | 20 EUR |
| glass of wine at a bar | 6 EUR |
Eat well for little
- Croissant from an award-listed boulangerieabout 1.50 EUR, best before 9am
- Jambon-beurre baguette sandwichthe classic 6 EUR lunch
- Falafel on Rue des Rosiers in Le Maraisabout 9 EUR, expect a line at L'As du Fallafel
- Steak frites at a neighborhood bistro18-25 EUR
- Crepe from a street stand5-7 EUR with nutella or ham and cheese
Money mistakes to avoid
- Not booking the Louvre and Eiffel Tower online in advancewalk-up lines waste half a day in peak season
- Eating at cafes directly on major squares like near the Champs-Elysees - a coffee can cost double what it does one street back
- Trying to see more than two museums in a daythe Louvre alone is exhausting; pick wings, not the whole building
- Only using taxisthe metro is faster for most cross-town trips and a single ticket costs about 2.50 EUR
Transport without the tourist tax
From Charles de Gaulle, the RER B train reaches central Paris in about 35 minutes for around 13 EUR. In town, walk plus the metro covers everything; a single ticket is about 2.50 EUR and contactless works at the gates.
Planning the full trip? Start with the 4-day Paris itinerary.