Should you visit Lisbon or Paris?
Should I visit Lisbon or Paris? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Lisbon
Portugal's capital city of Lisbon continues to grow in popularity as a travel destination. The cultural scene has come to life in recent years and the city itself is stunningly beautiful. It sits on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean and is made up of hills that create a dramatic and scenic layout. The city has many white-bleached limestone buildings, narrow alleyways, and a laidback charm that appeals to visitors.
Paris
Paris is a dream destination for many people. It's location on the river Seine contributes to its stunning beauty and you can spend many days wandering through its wonderfully diverse neighborhoods. It's known as a city of culture, fashion, food and fun. There is never a shortage of entertainment and activities around town and a highlight of many people's trips to Paris is to explore the city at night, when it truly comes to life. It is not hard to see why this city has received the nickname as the "City of Lights."
Which city is cheaper, Paris or Lisbon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Lisbon is €103, while the average daily cost in Paris is €184. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Lisbon and Paris in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €92 in Lisbon For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about €242 in Paris For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Lisbon travelers spend around €33 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Food in Paris costs travelers about €31 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Lisbon €33
Paris €31
Typical Food prices in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Wine & Dine Food Tour:
$22
-
History and Flavors Half-Day Food Tour:
$29
-
Virtual Portuguese Cooking Lesson:
$31
-
Live Online Cooking Class from Pastel de Nata with Filipa:
$39
-
Live Fado & Alfama Tour with Traditional Dinner:
$40
-
Bohemian dinner party on a beautiful rooftop near the coast:
$42
-
3-Hour Self-Guided Locals' Food Tour:
$48
-
The magic of Pasteis de Nata cooking class in Lisbon:
$53
-
Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour New To Lisbon:
$54
-
2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class:
$55
-
Zero-Waste Cooking Workshop:
$56
-
Withlocals Your Way: Lisbon Personalised Private Food Tour:
$56
Typical Food prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
-
Ice Cream
€8.00
-
Breakfast
€7.00
-
Breakfast for 2
€30
-
Dinner on River Cruise
€86
-
Dinner
€57
-
Cheese
€13
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paris
For Paris, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Authentic Dinner at Parisian's Home:
$41
-
Paris en Scene Boat 3-Course Dinner Cruise:
$49
-
3-course Dinner Cruise with Panorama on Seine River:
$49
-
Italian Dinner Cruise on the River Seine:
$57
-
Paris River Seine Lunch or Dinner Cruise:
$60
-
Special Dinner in French Cuisine near Notre Dame:
$61
-
Italian dinner on the river Seine:
$61
-
Seine River Cruise with French Dinner on Champs-Elysees Avenue:
$61
-
Paris Food Tour: Bustronome Gourmet Tour of Paris:
$61
-
Choux cooking class for kids in Paris:
$62
-
Romantic Cruise with 3-course Dinner on Seine River:
$63
-
Capitaine Fracasse Boat 3-Course Dinner Cruise:
$67
Local Transportation
Lisbon's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend €19 per person, per day on transportation in Lisbon.
To get around in Paris, the average visitor spends €17 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Lisbon
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Lisbon:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Transfer To or From Paris:
$1,709
-
Private Lisbon route: Transfers, city tour and full day Sintra w/ driver & guide:
$1,680
-
Transfer 3 legs: Lisbon - Algarve - Porto - Lisbon:
$1,443
-
Transfer Lisboa - Barcelona:
$1,354
-
Transfer from Lisbon to Madrid (And Vice Versa):
$1,300
-
Private ONE WAY transfer from Lisbon to Seville with private pick up & drop off:
$1,151
-
Transfer from Lisbon to Sevilha (And Vice Versa):
$1,013
-
Transfer To or From Barcelona:
$989
-
Seville PRIVATE Transfer from Lisbon with 1 Optional stop in Évora:
$886
-
Chauffeur LISBON Private Transfer to SEVILLE (5 to 8 passengers):
$886
-
Lisbon to Sevile Transfer:
$832
-
Full Day Transfer from Lisbon to Oporto:
$809
Typical Local Transportation prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
-
Metro
€6.40
-
Train from Airport
€9.00
-
Metro tickets
€6.80
-
Train
€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Your private transfer from Disneyland to Paris:
$53
-
Versailles: Skip-the-Line Day Tour & Transfer from Paris:
$293
-
Versailles Round-Trip Transfers: Multiple Departures:
$42
-
Versailles Palace & Gardens: Ticket, Audio Guide & Transfer:
$73
-
Versailles Palace & Gardens Entrance, Transfer & Audio Guide:
$76
-
Versailles Guided Tour Including Priority Access & Hotel Transfer from Paris:
$159
-
VIP Airport Transfer between Orly Airport & Paris Hotel:
$94
-
Ultra - Private Transfer from Paris to Giverny to visit Claude Monet's Garden:
$9.57
-
Ultra - Paris Airport Transfer from City Centre to Charles de Gaulle Airport CDG:
$94
-
Transfert from Paris To Airport Roissy Charles De Gaulle:
$120
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Paris City to Paris Orly Airport:
$44
-
Transfer in private vehicle from Paris City to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport:
$46
Is it cheaper to fly into Lisbon or Paris?
Prices for flights to both Paris and Lisbon change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Lisbon can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around €19 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
In Paris, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average €62 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Lisbon
For Lisbon, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
Évora Private Tour from Lisbon:
$326
-
Évora and Arraiolos - 8 Hour Private Tour:
$54
-
Évora and Estremoz: Private Full-Day Tour from Lisbon:
$388
-
Évora and Megaliths Full-Day Private Tour from Lisbon:
$315
-
Óbidos Experience:
$40
-
Óbidos, Alcobaça, Batalha & Nazare Private Tour:
$121
-
10 Days Private Tour in Portugal from Lisbon:
$2,476
-
10 Hour Private Tour: Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais and Estoril Highlights:
$213
-
12-Day Portugal and Andalucia Tour from Madrid:
$1,595
-
2 Day Street Art Private Tour from Lisbon:
$933
-
2 Days Private Tour In the Algarve from Lisbon:
$682
-
2 Days Tour to Heart of Serra da Estrela from Lisbon:
$398
Typical Entertainment prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Louvre Entry for Two
€18
-
Admission to Pantheon
€5.00
-
Catacombs (2)
€23
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
-
1 Day Private Walking Tour Of Montmartre, Latin Quarter, Champs Élysées:
$180
-
1 Day in Eiffel Tower, Cruise, City Tour, and Louvre:
$139
-
1 Hour Real time Virtual Tour in Paris:
$150
-
1 hour Sainte Chapelle- skip the line access - English or Español:
$51
-
1.5-Hour Paris Segway Night Tour:
$105
-
14-day Taste of Europe Tour: France, Italy, Monaco,Switzerland,Germany and more.:
$1,565
-
15+ Top Sights Paris Tour with Fun Guide:
$52
-
180° Paris by Night Tour: Exclusively for You & Your Group:
$54
-
1:30 hours tour of Louvre museum:
$261
-
1st Day in Paris Discovery Private Tour: 'How-to' Orientation & Sightseeing Fun!:
$63
-
2 Hours Paris city center walking tour:
$16
-
2 Hours Photoshoot tours at the Eiffel tower, Trocadero, Champs de Mars and more:
$423
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Lisbon spend on average €14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Paris, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €19.
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lisbon:
-
Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$17
-
Lisbon Pub Crawl with Free Drinks:
$18
-
Lisbon Pub Crawl:
$18
-
Lisbon 4-Hour Pub Crawl:
$18
-
Alternative Pub Crawl with a Local Guide:
$28
-
3-Hour Portuguese History & Flavors Food & Wine Tour:
$30
-
Portuguese Wine Tasting and Cheese Lunch:
$44
-
From Half-Day Wine Tasting Tour:
$50
-
Christ the King and Arrábida Small-Group Tour with Wine Tasting from Lisbon:
$58
-
From Private Wine Tour with Setúbal & Arrábida:
$61
-
Sintra: Full-Day Tour from Lisbon with Wine Tasting:
$64
-
Private Full-Day Arrábida Park and Wine Tour:
$67
Typical Alcohol prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
-
Paris Pub Crawl with Free Club Entry and Free Shots:
$18
-
New Pub Crawl:
$19
-
Wine Tasting with Professional Sommelier:
$29
-
Introductory French Cheese and Wine Tasting:
$29
-
Wine Tasting at the Cellars of Bercy Village:
$36
-
Pub Crawl in Latin Quarter:
$37
-
French Wine Experience with Wine Tasting:
$37
-
Guided Visit and Wine Tasting in a Royal Wine Cellar in Paris:
$40
-
Guided tour and wine tasting in a historic cellar in the center of Paris:
$41
-
Cheese and Wine Tasting in the Latin Quarter with Chef Alex:
$47
-
Organic wine tasting in Paris:
$56
-
Wine Shopping & Wine Tasting Class in the 5th:
$61
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lisbon and Paris, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is Lisbon much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lisbon would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lisbon and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Paris would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paris than you might in Lisbon.
Related Articles for Lisbon
Related Articles for Paris
