France Budget Planning
France has a reputation as expensive — and Paris certainly can be — but smart travellers can experience the country magnificently without financial ruin. Provincial France in particular offers extraordinary value: a three-course
Food Costs
- Bakery breakfast (croissant + coffee): €3–5
- Café lunch (
): €12–18 - Three-course
: €15–25 - Dinner at a good bistro: €25–45 per person
- Michelin-starred: €80–200+ per person
- Supermarket picnic (bread, cheese, pâté, wine): €10–15 for two
- Coffee: €1.50–3 (standing at the bar is cheapest)
- Beer (half pint): €4–7
The golden rule: Eat where the French eat. Follow the
Transport Costs
- TGV Paris–Lyon: €20–90 (book ahead for lowest)
- TGV Paris–Marseille: €30–120
- Paris Métro single ticket: €2.15
- Paris Navigo weekly pass: €30.75 (unlimited metro/bus/RER zones 1–5)
- FlixBus long distance: €5–30
- Fuel: ~€1.80/L (unleaded); motorway tolls add €0.10–0.15/km
- Car rental: €30–60/day (compact, advance booking)
Museum and Attraction Costs
- Louvre: €22 (free under 18; free first Saturday evening of month)
- Musée d'Orsay: €16
- Versailles: €21 (estate passport)
- Mont-Saint-Michel abbey: €11
- Most municipal museums: €5–12
- Many museums: free on first Sunday of month (varies by season)
Paris Museum Pass: 2 days (€62), 4 days (€77), 6 days (€92) — covers 60+ museums. Worth it if you visit 3+ museums per day.
Money-Saving Tips
- Eat your big meal at lunch — the
is almost always cheaper than dinner equivalents - Picnic — bakeries, fromageries, charcuteries, and markets make gourmet picnics easy and cheap
- Book trains early — TGV fares quadruple from earliest to last-minute
- Skip motorway tolls — D-roads are free and scenic
- Stay in
— often includes breakfast - Free museum days — first Sunday of month at many national museums
- Tap water — always ask for
, which is free - Drink at the bar — coffee and drinks are cheapest standing at the