Paris- How to save money?

How much money do I need per day in Paris? It depends on your style. Budget travelers can manage on about €80–120 per day (hostel, simple meals, a few paid sites). Mid-range comfort typically requires €150–220 per day, covering a mid-priced hotel and two sit-down meals. Luxury travelers might spend €300+. Always allocate separate funds for lodging, food and activities when planning.

Is €100 a day enough for Paris? Possibly, if you’re very frugal. It means sharing hostel rooms, eating mostly street food or groceries, and doing mostly free activities. As a rule of thumb, guides cite a backpacker budget of around €60–120/day. With €100/day, you can squeak by – but expect no frills. If you want a hotel or more restaurants, you’ll need more.

What’s the cheapest area to stay in Paris? Stay outside the top tourist arrondissements. Good bets are the 10th (Gare du Nord area), 11th (Bastille/Oberkampf), 18th (outside Montmartre core) or 19th/20th (Belleville, Père Lachaise). These districts have hostels and 2-star hotels in the €30–80 range. Neighborhoods near Metro lines (e.g. line 2 or 4) still reach central Paris in ~20 minutes. Suburbs (Zone 2–3) are cheaper, but factor in the extra commuting cost.

Are hostels in Paris safe? Generally, yes. Most Paris hostels have security features (key cards, lockers) and 24-hour staff or surveillance cameras. Staying on well-lit streets and using hostel lockers keeps things secure. Many travelers report feeling very safe; just exercise usual caution (don’t flash valuables on trains, etc.). Read reviews to pick reputable hostels. Safety is not a major issue for budget lodgings in Paris.

How can I eat cheaply in Paris? Do as the locals do: bakeries and markets. Start with a boulangerie breakfast (€3–6). Picnic for lunch (baguette+cheese+fruit ~€5–10). Use prix-fixe lunch menus (~€15–20) instead of a la carte. Dinner can be a casual ethnic meal (falafel ~€8, pizza ~€10, etc.) or shared plates. Also, consider cooking a few meals if you have kitchen access. These swaps can cut your food bill in half compared to tourist restaurants.

Are Paris restaurants expensive? Many are. Budget meals (sandwiches, kebabs, crêpes) run €5–12. Moderate cafés with menu items start €12–15. An average dinner with appetizer, main and a drink is often €25–40 per person. Set menus at lunch can reduce that cost. Fine dining, of course, is much higher. Unless you’re very cheap, figure roughly €20–30 per person for a casual dinner in mid-range places, on top of €30+ for a nicer meal.

How much is the Metro and is the Navigo pass worth it? A single ticket (Métro, RER, bus) is €2.55. A 10-ticket carnet is ~€16.90 (so €1.69/ride). If you’re in Paris 4+ days and taking multiple rides/day, buy the Navigo weekly pass (7 consecutive days Mon–Sun) for €32.40 (+€5 card). As noted, ~4 rides/day for 5+ days makes the Navigo cheaper. Otherwise, use carnets. A tourist “Paris Visite” pass exists, but unless you use it every day fully, it’s usually more expensive than buying tickets or a Navigo.

Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it? Only if you’re museum-hopping. If you plan 3–4 big museums in 2 days, the 2-day Pass (€85) can save money and time (skip lines). A 4-day Pass (€105) pays off with ~5–6 paid visits. If you only see 1–2 museums per day, pay per ticket instead. The Pass is useless on free days (first Sunday etc.). See our section above for a break-even example: visiting Louvre + Orsay + Versailles + Rodin + Arc (~€100) essentially pays for a 4-day pass.

What museums are free? Several are always free: Musée Carnavalet (City of Paris History), Petit Palais (City fine arts), Musée d’Art Moderne (permanent collection) and more. Also, major national museums (Louvre, Orsay, Versailles, etc.) are free for under-26 EU residents. Many other spots are free certain days (e.g. first Sundays). Parks, churches (Notre-Dame interior, Sacré-Cœur), cemeteries (Père Lachaise) and even some galleries have no admission. See our “Free Things” section for a full list.

Is Versailles included in the Museum Pass? Yes. The Palace and gardens are covered by the pass. You show it at the gates and skip the ticket line. Note: the pass doesn’t cover the €10 Sunday gardens show fee (if it’s running), nor any train fare to get there (RER ~€7 round-trip). But you do get in without paying the €27 palace admission on regular days.

Can I walk everywhere in Paris? Much of Paris is walkable, especially the historic center. Many top attractions are within a 30–45 minute stroll of each other. For example, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and Sainte-Chapelle can all be chained by foot. However, to reach outer sights (like Versailles or the Eiffel Tower from far-off neighborhoods) you will need transit. In practice, plan for a mix: 20–40 minute walks between close sites, plus Metro for longer hops. Walking not only saves transport money but reveals hidden local charms.

What credit cards work best? Visa and MasterCard are universally accepted; American Express sometimes works but often with extra fees. Use a no-foreign-transaction-fee card (many travel credit cards have this perk). Paris shops generally give a good EUR rate for cards. Make sure your card has a chip. Withdraw cash from a bank ATM when possible (big names like BNP or Société Générale) and decline currency conversion. Also carry a bit of cash (small bills/coins) for markets and tips (coins are handy in cafés).

Should I tip in Paris? No, not like in the US. French law includes service in the bill. A token tip (€1–2 or rounding up) is polite for great service, but never expected. In taxis or hotels, rounding up or giving €1 per bag is plenty. Understanding this means you don’t over-tip and can budget that extra money for a museum instead.

What is the cheapest month to visit? January and February. That’s when hotels and flights are cheapest. Late November (before Thanksgiving) and early December (before Christmas peak) can also be good. Avoid summer and holidays. Visit in winter or shoulder seasons for the best prices.

Should I exchange money before I go? Generally no. Airports have terrible exchange rates. It’s best to withdraw euros from an ATM or use cards in-country. If you need a small starter amount, exchange a bit beforehand, but otherwise rely on ATMs for the best rates.

Do I need cash in Paris? Carry some – say €50–100 – for small purchases, street food and tips. But cards are accepted almost everywhere (even some boulangeries). You won’t need to carry all your expenses in cash.