How Much Does a 5-Day Trip to Paris Cost? A Realistic Budget

A 5-day trip to Paris can cost approximately €680–920 per person on a budget, €870–1,165 for a mid-range trip, and €1,285–1,665 for a comfortable trip, excluding airfare. These estimates include accommodation, food, transportation, major attractions, travel insurance, tourist tax, and a little extra money for unexpected expenses.

Introduction

Hi! My name is Bruna, and I’m the author of this blog. In this post, I’ll help you put together the most realistic budget possible for a 5-day trip to Paris.

When I first started researching how much a trip to Paris would cost, I realized how easy it is to find completely different numbers depending on what kind of traveler you are.

One person can travel on a relatively small budget, while another can spend hundreds of euros a day without even noticing.

And I don’t think there’s one single right budget.

So, in this post, I’m going to do something I really enjoy doing here on the blog: putting all the expenses on paper and splitting everything into three different travel styles.

I’ll consider a budget traveler, a mid-range traveler, and a comfortable traveler, so you can understand not only how much a trip to Paris costs, but also what you can actually do with each budget.

And here’s an important note right from the start: the prices in this post do not include airfare. Since flight prices vary so much depending on your country, departure city, time of year, and how far in advance you book, I’d rather leave that expense out so the budget can be useful for people traveling from different places.

To make the comparison easier, I’ll consider a 5-day, 4-night trip to Paris, with all prices calculated per person.

This budget is inspired by my previous post: Paris in 5 Days: The Itinerary I Would Follow on My First Trip

Important: Accommodation, ticket, transportation, and other service prices can change. The figures below are estimates to help you plan your budget, not guaranteed prices.

So, How Much Does a 5-Day Trip to Paris Cost?

For a 5-day, 4-night trip, excluding airfare, my estimated budget looks like this:

To make planning easier, I’d round these figures to approximately:

• €680–920 per person for a budget trip;
• €870–1,165 per person for a mid-range trip;
• €1,285–1,665 per person for a comfortable trip.

These figures exclude airfare.

And if you’re traveling as a couple and sharing a hotel room, we’re talking about approximately €1,360–1,840, €1,740–2,330, and €2,570–3,330 for two people, respectively.

But where did these numbers come from? Let’s break it down.

How Much Does Accommodation Cost in Paris?

For my budget, I considered 4 nights of accommodation, always assuming a room for two people.

Accommodation is one of the expenses that can make the biggest difference to the cost of a trip to Paris. The location, time of year, how far in advance you book, and even events happening in the city can make a huge difference.

That’s why, instead of simply taking the city’s average price, I preferred to choose one specific hotel for each travel style.

💰My Budget Option: Campanile Prime Paris 19 – La Villette

For the budget category, I found an option costing €560–640 for 4 nights, or approximately €280–320 per person, assuming two people share the room.

The hotel is in the La Villette area, in the 19th arrondissement, and it has one important advantage for anyone trying to save money without feeling completely cut off from the city: Crimée metro station, on Line 7, is about a three-minute walk away. The hotel is also close to Parc de la Villette and offers a buffet breakfast.

I ran into a small problem while looking for this option: following the criteria I use when choosing hotels for my posts, I couldn’t find a budget alternative that met every requirement at the same time. So, in this case, I had to let go of one of my criteria to find a price that actually made sense for the budget category.

And honestly, I think that’s part of creating a realistic budget, too. You can’t always get a low price + a perfect location + an excellent rating + a wonderful room + breakfast all at once in Paris.

Check out this accommodation here: Campanile Prime Paris 19 – La Villette on Klook

💼 My Mid-Range Option: Hôtel Acropole

For the mid-range traveler, I found Hôtel Acropole for €660–780 for 4 nights, which works out to approximately €330–390 per person when two people share the room.

The hotel is in the 14th arrondissement, near Porte d’Orléans, with access to the metro, tram, and buses. It offers air-conditioned rooms and a buffet breakfast, and its location makes it possible to reach the main tourist attractions using public transportation.

I found this option interesting precisely because it’s not trying to compete with super-fancy hotels. It’s more suited to someone who wants a comfortable place to sleep, have breakfast, and head out to explore Paris during the day, without spending a fortune on accommodation.

Check out this accommodation here: Hôtel Acropole on Klook

✨ My Comfortable Option: Hôtel B55 Wine & Spa

For the comfortable category, I found Hôtel B55 for €960–1,120 for 4 nights, or around €480–560 per person when sharing a room with another person.

Now we’re talking about a different kind of trip. The hotel is in the 13th arrondissement, between Butte-aux-Cailles and Parc Montsouris, in a quieter area that’s still well connected by public transportation. It’s a 4-star hotel with an indoor pool, sauna, comfortable rooms, and a buffet breakfast.

Breakfast costs €20 per person when booked separately, and the hotel also has an indoor pool area.

To me, this option represents what I’m calling a comfortable trip: we’re not talking about a luxury hotel costing €1,000 a night, but rather accommodation where the hotel itself starts to become part of the travel experience.

Check out this accommodation here: Hôtel B55 Wine & Spa on Klook

Accommodation at a Glance

These prices are only estimates based on research for early October. If you’re traveling at another time, especially during major events, holidays, or busy weeks, prices may be quite different.

How Much Does Food Cost in Paris for 5 Days?

This is probably one of the hardest categories to put into a table because food costs depend much more on your personal travel style than on the average price of a meal.

You could have breakfast at a boulangerie, grab a simple lunch, and have dinner at a restaurant. Or you could eat all three meals at restaurants every day, drink wine, order dessert, and still stop for a coffee in the middle of the afternoon.

And, obviously, those two budgets will look completely different.

For this calculation, I assumed breakfast is included in the accommodation I’ve chosen. So the amount below is mainly for lunch, dinner, snacks, coffee, and small food purchases throughout the day.

💰Budget Traveler: Around €30–50 per Day

For the budget traveler, I’d set aside approximately €30–50 per day, or €150–250 for the five days.

The idea here isn’t to go hungry just to save money. It’s simply about making more affordable choices:

• Boulangeries;
• Crepes and sandwiches;
• Lunch menus;
• The occasional fast-food meal;
• Supermarkets;
• Water and snacks bought throughout the day;
• A few simple dinners.

In Paris, a simple meal can cost around €13–22, so €30 a day requires a little planning.

💼 Mid-Range Traveler: Around €50–75 per Day

For a mid-range traveler, I’d budget €50–75 per day, or approximately €250–375 for the five days.

At this level, you can have a much more relaxed trip. You can eat at restaurants a few times, try French dishes, stop at cafés, and still have some more affordable meals.

This is probably the budget I’d consider the most balanced for someone who wants to experience Paris.

✨ Comfortable Traveler: Around €80–110 per Day

For a comfortable trip, I’d set aside around €80–110 per day, bringing the total to €400–550 for the five days.

This gives you room to choose nicer restaurants, order desserts, stop for coffee, try wines, or simply not have to think so much about the price of every meal.

And even then, we’re still far from talking about a luxury food-focused trip.

My Food Budget Reference

These figures are one of the parts of the budget where your travel style can make a huge difference.

If you love food and want to make the most of Paris’s restaurants, you’ll probably want to increase this category. If eating is just something you need to do between attractions, you can spend much less.

How Much Does Transportation Cost in Paris?

Paris is a city where I wouldn’t automatically include money for taxis or Uber in the budget.

For a 5-day trip, it’s better to rely mainly on the metro, RER, buses, and walking.

In 2026, a metro, train, or RER ticket costs €2.55, while a bus or tram ticket costs €2.05. The weekly Navigo pass costs €32.40 for all zones, but there’s an important detail: it’s valid from Monday to Sunday, not for seven days from the date you buy it.

In addition, transportation between Paris and the airports costs €14 each way.

So, for this budget, I’d set aside:

• €50–70 for the budget traveler;
• €50–70 for the mid-range traveler;
• €70–110 for the comfortable traveler.

For the first two categories, I’m basically considering public transportation. For the comfortable category, I’m leaving a little extra room for a more convenient journey or an additional trip.

If you’re planning to visit Versailles, remember that the journey there also needs to be included in your budget, although a pass covering the necessary zones can help keep costs under control.

How Much Does It Cost to Visit Paris’s Main Attractions?

This is another category where your travel style makes a big difference.

One person can spend five days in Paris visiting only a few paid attractions and enjoying plenty of free places. Another might want to go inside practically every monument and museum possible.

And for this article, I’d rather focus on the attractions included in the itinerary I put together for a first trip.

A few current prices help give you an idea of how much this expense can add up to.

Louvre

The Louvre costs €32 for visitors who are not citizens or residents of the European Economic Area.

Eiffel Tower

At the Eiffel Tower, an adult ticket to the summit by elevator costs €36.70, while access to the second floor by elevator costs €23.50.

Sainte-Chapelle

Sainte-Chapelle increased its price to €22 for visitors from outside the EEA starting in January 2026.

Arc de Triomphe

And the Arc de Triomphe costs €16 in October, as the monument switches to its low-season rate on October 1.

If you include Versailles in your itinerary, the Passport ticket costs €35 during the high season, which runs until October 31.

In other words, it’s not hard to quickly reach €100 or more per person in attraction tickets.

My Attractions Budget

For this article, I’ll set aside approximately:

• €120–160 for the budget traveler;
• €140–180 for the mid-range traveler;
• €180–230 for the comfortable traveler.

For the budget category, the idea is to carefully choose which attractions are really worth paying for and make the most of free places.

For the mid-range category, I’m assuming the traveler will visit the main paid attractions in the itinerary.

For the comfortable category, I’m leaving more room for additional experiences or an extra activity.

I don’t think you need to pay to enter absolutely everything in Paris to have a great trip.

A huge part of the city’s experience comes from walking around and taking in its neighborhoods, squares, churches, gardens, bridges, and monuments from the outside.

Check out tickets and tours on Tiqets!

For tickets and tours, it’s worth checking the options available on Tiqets and booking in advance when needed. Just click HERE to check what’s available.

Does Paris Have a Tourist Tax?

Yes! And this was one of those expenses I didn’t want to leave out because it’s easy to forget when putting together a budget.

Paris charges a tourist tax per person, per night, and it may be charged separately by the hotel or booking platform. In 2026, the rates increased because of additional taxes applied in the Île-de-France region.

For 2026, the total rates per adult, per night, are:

Since we’re considering four nights, that works out to approximately:

• €22.12–22.12 for a 3-star hotel;
• €33.80–33.80 for a 4-star hotel.

It’s a small amount compared with the total cost of the trip, but that’s exactly why it’s easy to forget about it.

I’ve already included this expense separately in my budget so you won’t be caught by surprise at check-in or when finalizing your reservation.

How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost for Paris?

Travel insurance is also part of my budget, even though it’s an expense you pay before your trip.

For a five-day trip, I’d set aside approximately:

• €20–30 for a budget trip;
• €20–30 for a mid-range trip;
• €25–35 for a comfortable trip.

The actual price can vary considerably depending on the coverage you choose, the traveler’s age, the insurance provider, and the policy’s terms.

That’s why I wouldn’t treat these figures as a quote, but simply as a planning allowance.

How Much Should You Set Aside for Extra Expenses?

This is a category I always like to include because, in real life, no one can predict absolutely every expense.

You might want to buy a souvenir, stop for a coffee, get a dessert, buy a bottle of water, pick up a product, do a little shopping, or simply spend a few euros on something that wasn’t part of the plan.

To avoid making the budget too tight, I’ve set aside:

I’m not including major purchases or shopping sprees here.

It’s just a small reserve for those expenses that pop up during a trip.

So, How Much Does a Budget 5-Day Trip to Paris Cost?

Now we can put everything together.

For the budget traveler, my estimate looks like this:

So, to avoid traveling with a budget that’s stretched down to the very last euro, I’d round it to €680–920 per person.

This is the scenario for someone who makes thoughtful choices. They use public transportation a lot, don’t eat at expensive restaurants every day, choose a few paid attractions, and save money on things they don’t consider as important.

And How Much Does a Mid-Range Trip to Paris Cost?

For the mid-range traveler:

Here, I’d round it to €870–1,165 per person.

To me, this is the budget that best represents a first trip without going overboard.

You can stay in comfortable accommodation, eat at restaurants a few times, visit the main attractions, and still have a little room for spontaneous expenses.

And How Much Does a Comfortable Trip to Paris Cost?

For the comfortable traveler:

Rounding it off, I’d consider €1,285–1,665 per person.

And it’s worth remembering that comfortable doesn’t mean luxury.

I’m thinking of someone who chooses a 4-star hotel, eats well, visits the main attractions, doesn’t always have to look for the cheapest transportation or food option, and still has some room to enjoy the city with a little more freedom.

How Much Money Should You Bring to Paris for 5 Days?

This is a slightly different question from “How much does the trip cost?”

If you’ve already paid for your accommodation, insurance, and tickets in advance, you don’t necessarily need to have the entire trip budget available to spend during those five days.

For expenses that actually happen during the trip, I’d use these approximate figures:

Budget

Around €60–80 per day for food, transportation, and small expenses, assuming your accommodation and most attraction tickets have already been paid for.

Mid-range

Around €75–100 per day.

Comfortable

Somewhere between €120–170 per day, depending mainly on how much you plan to spend on restaurants and experiences.

And I wouldn’t necessarily carry all that money in cash. International cards and multi-currency accounts can be much more practical for most expenses, leaving just a small amount of cash as a backup.

So, Is Paris an Expensive City?

Yes, Paris can be an expensive city, but how much it affects your wallet depends a lot on the choices you make.

Accommodation will probably be one of your biggest expenses, especially if you want to stay in very central areas.

Attractions can also add up, particularly after recent price increases at some of the main monuments for visitors from outside the European Economic Area.

On the other hand, public transportation, walking, and many of the city’s most enjoyable experiences don’t have to cost a fortune.

You can spend a morning walking along the Seine, exploring neighborhoods, stepping inside churches, visiting gardens, and enjoying the city without constantly reaching for your wallet.

How to Save Money on a 5-Day Trip to Paris

If your budget is tight, I’d start with accommodation.

Not necessarily by choosing the cheapest hotel possible, but by looking for an area with good metro connections. Saving €30 a night on a hotel doesn’t help much if you end up losing hours of your day getting around.

I’d also try to:

• Book accommodation in advance;
• Compare different neighborhoods;
• Use public transportation;
• Walk whenever possible;
• Have some meals at boulangeries or more affordable places;
• Choose which attractions I really want to visit;
• Buy tickets in advance when it makes sense;
• Avoid restaurants in extremely touristy locations;
• Enjoy free attractions and places.

And, most importantly, don’t try to save money on absolutely everything.

If there’s an experience you really want to have in Paris, I’d rather cut €20 from another category than spend the entire trip thinking about what you missed out on.

My Final Budget for 5 Days in Paris

After putting everything on paper, these are the figures I’d use as a reference:

So, if I were planning a 5-day trip to Paris today, excluding airfare, I’d work with one of these three estimates:

💰 Budget: approximately €680–920 per person

💳 Mid-range: approximately €870–1,165 per person

✨ Comfortable: approximately €1,285–1,665 per person

And if you’re planning to travel as a couple and share a room, think of approximately €1,360–1,840, €1,740–2,330, or €2,570–3,330 for two people, respectively.

Of course, your budget could be higher or lower than these figures. A trip to Paris is highly customizable, and that’s exactly why I prefer to show you how the money is distributed.

In the end, the best budget is the one that matches the trip you want to take.

Don’t go just yet! Why not check out these other posts that might interest you?

→ Paris in 5 Days: The Itinerary I Would Follow on My First Trip