My Paris Budget: How Much Does a Trip to Paris Cost?
Wondering about the average cost of a trip to Paris? I break down my solo travel budget below.
I spent four nights in Paris solo this spring, and came away pretty surprised by how affordable my trip actually was.
Don't get me wrong — I definitely paid more for my flight than I would've liked and the total cost has gone up a lot since my last visit eight years ago. But, when I broke down my expenses by category, I realized you don't need to spend a ton of money to have an amazing time in Paris.
Below, I'm sharing my complete budget breakdown so that you can see what a trip to Paris may cost. Keep in mind, this was my third time in the city, so I skipped a few attractions that a first-timer would probably pay for (like an Eiffel Tower ticket and admission to the Louvre).
Whether this is your first Paris trip or you're a repeat visitor, I think this will give you an idea of how to budget for a solo trip. Obviously, what you end up spending will vary a lot depending on how nice of a hotel you book and whether you plan to go on a Paris shopping spree.
Travel details: My time in Paris was the start of a longer trip that also included the Netherlands and Belgium, so the flight and travel insurance costs weren’t just for these four days. I booked the flight less than a month in advance, the hotel about two weeks ahead, and all activities after arrival.
Flight to Paris
I almost don’t want to include this for two reasons: first, I spent way more than I wanted to on my flight to Paris, thanks to the last-minute nature of the trip and unfortunate timing as flight prices were increasing and second, because this is one budget line that varies so widely depending on where you are flying from.
But I’m oversharing here, so let’s go for it. I booked a United basic economy flight with a layover to Paris and then from Amsterdam returning home for $970.93. It came with a free carry-on and personal sized item, and that’s all I brought with me.
My home airport is pretty small, so we don’t always get great deals on international flights, but I also saw the price jump up about $90 in one day while I was being indecisive. I definitely would not have paid this if I was only going to Paris for four days, but this cost was spread out over my entire three-week trip to Europe, so I could justify it a bit easier. Does anyone else feel like the longer the trip, the more money you’re willing to spend on the flight?
Total: $970.93
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is one expense I never skip on an international trip. While I appreciate travel insurance that covers things like trip delays and lost luggage, my biggest reason for purchasing a policy is for expensive catastrophes like emergency evacuation or hospitalization that could cause me severe financial harm.
Being unmarried and self-employed with really bad health insurance makes me want to be super careful.
Total: $44.80
Paris Hotel
I got a really good deal on my Paris hotel, especially since I booked it only a couple of weeks in advance. I’ve stayed at this hotel previously and booked it again since I wasn’t finding any better deals and knew that I loved the location. Actually when I looked, they didn’t have the same room type for my entire stay, but I emailed them and they figured out a way to make it work.
They serve a breakfast of coffee and croissants (one of the best I’ve ever had, by the way), which also helped me save on food costs. Overall, I love this spot for a solo trip because it feels super safe.
Best feature: I can’t state with enough emphasis how good the croissants are at the Hotel Marignan.
Total: $508.39
Food in Paris
My food total in Paris averaged about $50 a day, which feels super low. I didn’t do a lot of fancy meals or purchase alcohol, and I had a free breakfast every day, which helped keep the total down.
This cost included restaurants, coffee stops, a few groceries, and random snacks and drinks at markets and food stands. I had two sit-down meals of about $50 each, but the rest of the time, I picked up sandwiches, falafel wraps, crepes, and other quicker options.
I didn’t really focus on food in Paris, since I had packed my schedule so tight and I didn’t want to stop for multiple long meals every day. I ended up just grabbing quick bites when I could. But, I think this total shows that it is possible to not spend a ton of money on food in Paris, if you’re on a budget.
Favorite bite: The spicy olives I bought from a market in Versailles for my picnic lunch. Yum.
Total: $208.39
Paris Activities
I did so much free stuff in Paris that my activities budget came in at under $60. Now, if it’s your first trip to Paris and you’re getting tickets to the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and a couple of other museums, you’ll probably spend much more than this.
My costs included a ticket to Versailles, entrance to Musee d’Orsay (I paid less for a discounted late-hours visit), and a spur-of-the-moment admission to a book festival at the Grand Palais.
Some of the free things I did included visiting the Carnevalet Museum and Notre Dame, exploring Luxembourg Gardens and Jardin des Plantes, watching the light show on the Eiffel Tower instead of going up, walking the riverfront of the Seine, and wandering around several different neighborhoods shopping and taking pictures.
You really don’t need to spend a ton of money on activities in Paris since there is so much to see just by wandering. If it is your first visit and you plan to go Paris bucket list attractions, I recommend buying a sightseeing pass, which can help you save on individual admission costs.
Best paid activity: Every activity I paid for was worth it, but I loved Musee d’Orsay and definitely got the best deal here at less than $12 for an evening ticket.
Total: $56.75
Transit in Paris
I only rode the metro and train in Paris, so my transit costs in the city were pretty low. I also walked over 20,000 steps every day, which is priceless.
The RER B train from the airport to downtown was the biggest cost at $16.54, and the rest was just metro tickets and a trolley at Versailles.
Best ride: I paid $6 for a five-minute trolley ride at Versailles to avoid a long walk on sore feet. It was worth every penny.
Total: $40.59
Paris Souvenirs and Miscellaneous Expenses
My souvenir expenses were actually a little higher than I would have thought, because I’m not a big shopper. I dropped about a third of my total at this cute stationary store, though, which I don’t regret. The rest of the souvenirs were just little postcards and trinkets for family and friends and a ring I bought for myself at a vintage store.
This total also includes a couple of miscellaneous expenses like paid toilets and restocking my lotion at a pharmacy.
Favorite souvenir: The wax seal stamp I got at L'Ecritoire Paris. Will I ever use it? Who knows. But it’s so cool.
Total: $113.18
How Much is a Paris Trip?
The average cost of a trip to Paris is impossible to state, because it really depends on how nice of a hotel you book, whether you’re luxury shopping, how many glasses of wine you drink, and so on. I think my total reflects a pretty budget-friendly trip, but you could spend even less by staying in a hostel, skipping souvenirs, choosing food carts over restaurants, and only doing free activities.
I’m listing my total with and without my flight and travel insurance, since those were shared costs with the rest of my trip.
Total in Paris: $927.30
Total with flight/insurance: $1,943.03
Do you think you could do this trip for less, or would you end up spending more in Paris?
