Ladies and gentlemen, let me share a bit of nostalgia with you. The year is 1999, and I find myself staying at the Hôtel Brighton in a room overlooking the Tuileries Garden. And no, I hadn’t won the lottery that year, nor had I been hired to cover the City of Light for some glossy magazine. These were simply the final days of the French franc, and prices were so reasonable that even a recently discharged soldier who had worked a few months and gotten a little money from his parents could afford to stay at a hotel like that, in September no less.
A few years later the euro arrived, prices jumped wildly, and ever since, a trip to Paris has become synonymous with going broke. Of course, a true Francophile isn’t scared off by a sharp price increase, and over the years I’ve developed my own methods for traveling around Paris relatively cheaply. At the same time, it matters to me that saving money doesn’t come at the expense of enjoying the trip. Anyone who knows me knows there’s nothing I hate more than “living like a dog,” meaning cutting expenses so much that you end up living in Paris like a stray (and I don’t mean the little terriers or French bulldogs that stroll with their owners through the Luxembourg Gardens. They actually live quite well).
As we head into 2026, Paris has gone through plenty of changes, some good for our wallets and some less so. Here are a few updated tips to help you explore the City of Light while still leaving enough money for the things you truly love.
Table of Contents: How to Save Money in Paris
- Cheap flights to Paris
- Getting around Paris (the important 2026 updates)
- Cheap accommodation in Paris
- Calls and internet from Paris back home
- Eating cheap in Paris while still enjoying a great culinary experience
- Everyday savings: free water and restrooms in Paris
- Free attractions and museums
- Shopping, markets, and vintage finds
Cheap flights to Paris
There’s no doubt that the flight to the City of Light is one of the biggest expenses of any trip. Anyone who’s flown to Paris knows that unless you’re flying business class, it hardly matters which airline you choose (aside, of course, from airlines with a questionable safety record). So the flight is the first place where you can save a lot of money without hurting your trip experience.
To find a cheap ticket, read the article Flights to France: which cities can you fly to directly and cheaply? where I share my secrets for finding a plane ticket to France without going bankrupt.
Getting around Paris (the important 2026 updates)
The big news for 2026: the transportation system of Île-de-France (Île-de-France Mobilités) has undergone a major overhaul. In the past, we had to deal with zones and different ticket types, but today everything is much simpler. With a Navigo Liberté + card or by loading your mobile phone, a single ride on the metro, train, or RER costs a flat rate of 2.50 euros. It really clears things up and saves you both money and hassle.
I highly recommend downloading the official Bonjour RATP app. Through it you can plan routes, check train arrival times, and even buy tickets directly from your phone. For more comprehensive information, read the article Getting Around Paris.
Important note: the ride to and from the airport remains an exception. In my experience, if your hotel isn’t near an RER B station, I highly recommend taking a taxi. Dragging suitcases through a crowded metro is a dubious experience, so don’t cut corners here. You can save your money elsewhere.
Cheap accommodation in Paris
Accommodation is usually the biggest expense category, but you can save quite a bit of money if you know how to choose wisely.
Vacation rentals in Paris
If you’re a group of 3 people or more, a multi-room apartment will help you save money, since it will almost always cost less than 2 hotel rooms. Plus, you can cook and eat meals in the apartment (more on that below). Look for great options in the article Vacation Rentals in Paris.
Hotels in the City of Light
Traveling solo or as a couple? A modest hotel will do the job. Let me recommend the article How to find cheap hotels in Paris that won’t ruin your trip? You should also check out my hotels page for good deals.
Calls and internet from Paris back home
Gone are the days when we’d buy a 7-euro phone card and disconnect from the world. Today we want to share photos on Instagram or navigate without getting lost. So how do you do that cheaply?
Use an E-SIM
The cheapest and most convenient way to get online in France is an E-SIM. It’s a virtual SIM card that saves you the hassle of a physical one and costs much less than data packages from home. My go-to service is Airalo. Sign up through this link, enter the code ZVI8757 on your first purchase, and you’ll get a $3 discount.
Local SIM and WiFi
If your device doesn’t support E-SIM, buy a local SIM card from a company like Orange or SFR (starting around 10-15 euros). Alternatively, take advantage of the free WiFi in your apartment or at various cafés for WhatsApp calls.
Eating cheap in Paris while still enjoying a great culinary experience
Coming to Paris and settling for a burger from a fast-food chain is a culinary crime. You can eat wonderfully and cheaply, if you just know the tricks:
Discover the Bouillon restaurants
The hottest (and most affordable) trend that has retaken Paris in recent years is the Bouillon restaurants (like Bouillon Chartier or Bouillon Julien). These are traditional French restaurants set in breathtaking historic spaces, serving French classics (onion soup, roast chicken, beef bourguignon) at prices that are simply laughable: a main course will usually cost you around 10-13 euros! An amazing experience for both your wallet and your palate.
Lunch set menus (even at Michelin-starred restaurants!)
If you feel like treating yourself at a gourmet restaurant, or even one with a Michelin star, do it at lunch. Most of the good restaurants in Paris offer a lunch set menu (Menu du Jour or Formule) at remarkably accessible prices, sometimes reaching half or even a third of the price of the exact same dishes in the evening.
Use TheFork
An easy way to save money is to book a table through TheFork. Many restaurants offer discounts of 20% and even 50% off the menu through the site. Watch out for the fine print (the discount is usually valid only when you order a starter and a main course), but it’s definitely a great way to enjoy recommended restaurants at half price.
Prepare breakfast and picnics
There’s nothing more delicious than a fresh baguette from the neighborhood boulangerie, along with butter, good cheese from the deli, and fruit from the market. It’ll cost you pennies compared to cafés and give you an authentic experience. When the weather’s nice, take your groceries for a picnic in the Luxembourg Gardens or along the banks of the Seine (don’t forget a corkscrew for the wine!).
Everyday savings: free water and restrooms in Paris
Free tap water (even sparkling!)
At restaurants, always ask for a “carafe d’eau,” a pitcher of tap water that’s served free by law. But it doesn’t stop there: Paris’s water utility, Eau de Paris, operates more than 1,200 public fountains across the city. There are even special fountains that dispense ice-cold sparkling water (Fontaines pétillantes)! Don’t buy expensive plastic bottles, just bring a reusable one. You can use apps like “Paris Water Map” to find the nearest fountain.
Free public restrooms (Sanisettes)
Sitting down at a café and ordering an espresso just to use the restroom can add up to an unnecessary expense. The city of Paris operates hundreds of automated restroom stalls (Sanisettes) that are clean and completely free, scattered across the streets. The app “Toilets in Paris” will help you locate them easily in case of an emergency.
Free attractions and museums
Visit free museums and cultural events
Some of the most charming museums in Paris are always free, like Musée Carnavalet and Victor Hugo’s house. In addition, on the first Sunday of every month, many museums (like the Centre Pompidou, Musée d’Orsay, and others) open their doors for free. Just keep in mind that lines can get very long on these days.
In 2026, keep an eye out for big free cultural events in the city: Nuit Blanche in June, when contemporary art takes over the streets at night; European Night of Museums (Nuit européenne des musées) in May; and European Heritage Days (Journées du Patrimoine) in September, which allow free entry to sites that are usually closed to the public.
Is the Paris Museum Pass worth it?
If you’re a “museum addict” and planning to visit several major sites in one day (like the Louvre, Versailles, the Arc de Triomphe, and so on), the Paris Museum Pass (for 2, 4, or 6 days) can definitely save you both money and long lines at the ticket booths. However, if you just want to wander the streets and visit only one museum, simply buy a regular ticket.
Shopping, markets, and vintage finds
Shopping in Paris doesn’t have to end on the pricey Champs-Élysées. The city offers a wild secondhand and vintage scene (friperies) where you can find real treasures at rock-bottom prices. Don’t miss the massive flea market Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen, especially if you love atmosphere and nostalgic finds.
Bonus tip: Did you shop at regular stores and rack up a nice total? Use apps like Zapptax that make it much easier to get your tax (VAT) refund at the airport, and can put a decent amount of money straight back onto your credit card.
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