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Paris Prices & Cost of Living 2026
France · Big city — Paris is about 15% cheaper than New York. Not just exchange rates: what a fair price is, where it turns into a rip-off, and what that means in your money.
Paris prices at a glance
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Paris travel difficulty
Bracelet and petition scams; illegal taxi touts at airports/stations
Tourist and service staff speak English; open with 'Bonjour'
Métro and RER go everywhere; RER B or buses from the airports
Contactless almost everywhere; cash for markets and small buys
Pickpockets very common on the Métro, RER B and at major sights
Good to knowAirport taxis charge a flat fare to the city; only take official cabs from the rank
Handy apps: Uber · Bolt · G7
Visas depend on your passport, so they are not scored. Felt different on the ground? Tell other travelers below. Travel difficulty in Europe › Difficulty ranking for 502 cities ›
In your money
Paris is about 15% cheaper than New York
Based on 8 things travelers buy most, compared with New York. Each pair of bars is the same purchase in both cities, converted to your currency. Set your own city and currency in “My basis” above.
Paris in numbers
- 🍜5 local meals
- ☕19 coffees
- 🍺11 beers
- 🚕5.7 5-km taxi rides
- 💆1.1 h of massage
- 🏨0.5 hotel nights
- Local meal53 min · New York 52 min
- Coffee14 min · New York 15 min
- Beer24 min · New York 23 min
- Taxi47 min · New York 59 min
- SIM card#186 priciest
- Half-day tour#186 priciest
- Entry ticket#102 priciest
Paris price guide & rip-off thresholds
Paris travel budget
Per person per day, estimated. Flights and shopping not included.
See 4-day, 1-week and 1-month budget tables › · Plan a multi-city trip budget ›
How to spend money in Paris
- Café prices differ between terrace, table and counter.
- A block or two away from major sights is noticeably cheaper.
Cards and contactless work almost everywhere.
Service is included (service compris); leave change or ~5% if happy.
Prices include tax and service. Coffee is cheaper standing at the bar.
In Paris the Métro is fastest; taxis are metered and Uber runs.
No haggling, except at flea markets.
Tap water is safe to drink. Ask for a free "carafe d'eau" in restaurants.
Pickpockets at sights, petition and friendship-bracelet scams, shell games near the Eiffel Tower.
Live prices reported in Paris
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FAQ
Is Paris cheaper than New York?
Across 8 things travelers buy most (meals, coffee, beer, taxis, hotels…), Paris is about 15% cheaper than New York. A local meal is about €17 (≈ $19.8) and a coffee about €4.5 (≈ $5.23).
How hard is Paris to travel?
Averaging rip-offs, language, getting around, payments and safety, Paris scores 2.0/5 — 'easy'. The main thing to watch is safety (3/5): Pickpockets very common on the Métro, RER B and at major sights. Tip: Airport taxis charge a flat fare to the city; only take official cabs from the rank
Is Paris good for first-time travelers?
Yes — it is one of the easier places to travel (2.0/5). Airport taxis charge a flat fare to the city; only take official cabs from the rank
What is a realistic daily budget for Paris?
Mid-range (3-star hotel, local meals plus a dinner out, two taxi rides) is about $347 a day. Guesthouses and street food bring it to about $122; 4-star and restaurants push it to about $688.
How much does it cost to live in Paris for a month?
A short-term studio (about $3,557) plus food, transport and a SIM (about $2,418) comes to roughly $5,975 a month. A local long-term lease (studio about €1,350) brings it down a lot.
How much should a taxi cost in Paris?
For 5 km in town, expect €12 – €24; anything above €28.8 is suspicious. In Paris the Métro is fastest; taxis are metered and Uber runs.
Do you tip in Paris?
Service is included (service compris); leave change or ~5% if happy. Prices include tax and service. Coffee is cheaper standing at the bar.
Can you use cards in Paris?
Cards and contactless work almost everywhere.
Where do these numbers come from?
Base prices start from public cost-of-living data; once 3+ traveler reports come in, the app blends in the median of what people actually paid.
Fair range & rip-off line — each item gets its own spread (tight for transit, wide for street food). Above 1.2× the top of the fair range is flagged as a likely rip-off.
Budgets add up item prices for the lifestyle described above. Peak season and prime tourist spots run higher.
Exchange rate as of October 2026: 1 USD = €0.86. Last updated 2026-10-05.