A trip to France costs €60–120 per day for budget travelers, depending heavily on whether you're in Paris or the regions. Paris pushes everything 20–30% higher; cities like Lyon, Bordeaux, and Marseille are far kinder to your wallet. Here's the complete breakdown.
💰 Daily Budget by Style
| Style | Regions | Paris | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoestring | €55–70 | €75–95 | Dorm, bakery meals, walking, free sights |
| Budget | €70–90 | €95–120 | Dorm/budget hotel, lunch formule, transport, 1 attraction |
| Comfort | €130–200 | €180–250 | 2–3 star hotel, restaurants, day trips |
| Mid-range | €200–300 | €280–390 | Nice hotel, dining, tours, taxis |
🗓️ Trip Totals (Excluding Flights)
| Duration | Budget | Comfort | Mid-range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 week | €420–630 | €910–1,400 | €1,750–2,730 |
| 2 weeks | €840–1,260 | €1,820–2,800 | €3,500–5,460 |
| 1 month | €1,200–1,800 | €3,000–4,500 | €6,000+ |
✈️ Flights (Add-On)
From Europe: €30–150 return. From the US: $400–800. From the UK: €40–120 or Eurostar €50–180. See our full flights guide →
📊 Cost Breakdown by Category
🏨 Accommodation (biggest expense)
Hostel dorm €25–50, budget hotel €55–160, mid-range €120–220. Regions are 30–40% cheaper than Paris. Full accommodation guide →
🥐 Food
Budget €20–30/day (bakery + lunch formule + market picnic). Mid-range €40–70/day. The lunch formule (€14–18) is half the price of dinner. Full food guide →
🚆 Transport
TGV trains €25–70 (booked early), Flixbus €15–38, city metro €2–2.50/ride. Full transport guide →
🎫 Activities
Museums €13–22, Eiffel Tower €29, many sites free (first Sunday monthly, under-26 EU). Tours guide →
💡 15 Ways to Cut Your France Budget
- Skip Paris hotels — stay in the 18th–20th arrondissements or the regions
- Eat the lunch formule, picnic for dinner
- Book TGV trains 2–3 months ahead for Prem's fares
- Take overnight Flixbus for long routes
- Visit museums free the first Sunday of the month
- Under 26 + EU? National museums are always free
- Drink coffee standing at the bar (half price)
- Use a Wise/Revolut card to dodge FX fees
- Travel shoulder season (April–June, Sept–Oct)
- Get a city pass if visiting 3+ paid attractions
- Fill up on the free carafe d'eau (tap water)
- Buy supermarket wine — excellent and cheap
- Use BlaBlaCar for intercity travel
- Stay in one region rather than city-hopping
- Book an eSIM instead of paying roaming