The Paris Price Index
What things actually cost in Paris — so you can budget with confidence and avoid tourist-trap surprises.
Updated May 2026 · Prices in € with USD equivalent
💱 Current rate: €1 = ~$1.17 USD · All USD amounts are approximate
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☕ Coffee & Breakfast
The most important meal of the day — Parisian style.
Espresso (at the bar)
Standing at the counter — the local way
€1.20–€3.00 ~$1.40–$3.51
Café Crème (seated terrace)
Coffee with steamed milk, sitting outside
€3.50–€5.50 ~$3.80–$6.00
Croissant au Beurre
From a boulangerie ask for “au beurre”
€1.20–€1.80 ~$1.30–$2.00
Pain au Chocolat
Chocolate-filled pastry from the bakery
€1.30 – €2.00 ~$1.40–$2.20
Baguette Tradition
A whole baguette from the boulangerie
€1.20 – €1.60 ~$1.30–$1.75
Full Café Breakfast
Croissant + coffee + OJ on a terrace
€8.00 – €14.00 ~$8.70–$15.30
🇫🇷 Les Frenchies Tip
Skip the hotel breakfast (often €15–25). Instead, grab a croissant au beurre and espresso at a neighborhood boulangerie for under €3. That’s what Parisians do.
🍽️ Eating Out
Lunch, dinner & everything in between
Baguette Sandwich
Jambon-beurre from a boulangerie
€4.00 – €7.00 ~$4.20–$7.65
Lunch Formule
2- or 3-course set menu (entrée + plat or plat + dessert)
€15.00 – €25.00 ~$16.35–$29.25
Glass of Wine
At a restaurant or wine ba
€5.00–€12.00 ~$5.50–$13.10
Dinner Main Course
Plat du jour at a mid-range bistro
€18.00 – €35.00 ~$19.60–$40.95
Dinner for Two (with wine)
3-course meal at a good bistro
€80 – €140 ~$80–$153
Tap Water
Ask for “une carafe d’eau” — always free
FREE ~always
🇫🇷 Les Frenchies Tip
Lunch is the main meal of the day in Paris and always cheaper than dinner. Look for the “formule déjeuner” — you’ll get the same quality food for 30–50% less. Also, say “une carafe d’eau” for free tap water instead of paying €5+ for bottled.
🚇 Getting Around
Metro, taxis & everything in between
Single Metro Ride
Metro-Train-RER ticket (digital only since 2025)
€2.55 ~$2.80
Navigo Day Pass
Unlimited metro, bus, tram for 1 day
€12.30 ~$14.30
Paris Visite (1 day)
Unlimited travel incl. airports
€30.60 ~$35.80
Airport ↔ Paris (by train)
CDG or Orly — new flat rate since 2025
€14.00 ~$16.40
Taxi: CDG → Paris Center
Flat rate to Right Bank / Left Bank
€56 – €65 ~$65.50–$76
Walking
Ask for “une carafe d’eau” — always free
FREE & the best way
🇫🇷 Les Frenchies Tip
Paper metro tickets are being phased out. Download the “Bonjour RATP” or “load the “Bonjour RATP” or Easy card (€2) at any metro station and load it with tickets.
🏛️ Sightseeing & Attractions
Entry prices for the must-sees
Eiffel Tower (Summit)
Elevator to the top — book online in advance
€36.70 ~$42.90
Louvre Museum
Timed entry — free first Sundays Oct–Mar
€32.00 ~$37.40
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Free entry — reserve timed slot to skip the queue
FREE towers: €16
Palace of Versailles
Passport ticket for palace + gardens + Trianons (price can vary depedent on season price quoted is currently highest)
€25.00-€35 ~$29-€40
Musée d’Orsay
Impressionist masterpieces — free under 26 (EU)
€16 ~$18
Paris Catacombs
Book online — often sells out weeks ahead
€31.00 $36.20
🇫🇷 Les Frenchies Tip
The Go City Paris Pass (€89 for 3 attractions €299 for 6 days) covers 50+ museums and monuments. If you are planning a multi-day, multi-site or multi-museum itinerary the pass is worth exploring.
🍸 Drinks & Nightlife
From apéro to cocktails
Draft Beer (demi, 25cl)
At a café or brasserie
€5.00–€8.00 ~$5.50-$8.70
Glass of Wine (bar/café)
House wine at a neighborhood spot
€4.00– €8.00 ~$4.71-$9.43
Cocktail
At a cocktail bar or hotel bar
€12.00 – €20.00 ~$13 – $22
Soft Drink / Coca-Cola
At a restaurant or café
€3.50 – €5.00 ~$3.80-$5.50
🇫🇷 Les Frenchies Tip
Prices at the bar counter (“au comptoir”) are always cheaper than sitting at a table (“en salle”) or on the terrace (“en terrasse”). Legally, restaurants must display all three prices. A glass of wine can cost almost half when you stand.
💶 Tipping & Good To Know
A bill with no surprises
Tipping at Restaurants
Service is included by law (“service compris”)
Included Round Up If Happy
Public Restroom
Sanisettes are free; cafés may charge
€0– €2.00 ~$0-$2.20
SIM Card / eSIM
Prepaid with data for your trip
€10.00 – €30.00 ~$11 – $33
Pharmacy Basics
Paracetamol, sunscreen, basic meds
€3 – €12 ~$3.30-$13.00
🇫🇷 Les Frenchies Tip
You never need to tip 15–20% like in the US. Service is always included in France. If the service was great, rounding up or leaving €2–5 on the table is a nice gesture — but never expected.
📊 Paris Daily Budget Summary
Per person, per day — meals, transport & one activity
Budget
€60 – €90
/day ~$65 – $98 USD
Mid-Range
€120 – €180
/day ~$131 – $196 USD
Splurge
€250+
/day ~$273+ USD
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Daily Budget For a Tourist in Paris?
A budget traveller can do it for about 60-90 euros a day. Mid-range 120-180 euros. A splurge budget will run 250 euros or more per day.
How Much Do I Tip In Paris
Tipping in France is not like America and is not common in places like restaurants. In a restaurant you will see “service compris” which is included in the bill by law in France. However, if you wish to leave a few euros cash on the table (always cash as “tips” added to the bill are not common and the employee may wait a month or more to receive). You should always tip your tour guide in Paris – they truly appreciate it and there is no service fee (service compris) for tours.
How Much Does Dinner at a nice restaurant cost in Paris?
A 3 course meal for two, with wine at a good neighborhood bistro will run €80-€140 euros. The main course at a neighborhood bistro runs €18-€35 dependent on what you order.
How much should i pay for breakfast in paris?
Our main advice for budget conscious travellers is to skip the hotel breakfast and eat in a local cafe or pick something up from a neighborhood bakery. For about €8-€14 per person you can sit down for a good hot breakfast at a local cafe (eggs, bread, coffee). You can grab a coffee and pastry at a bakery or local cafe terrace for €5-€8.
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