Should you visit Lisbon or Paris?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Lisbon and Paris. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
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 €96, while the average daily cost in Paris is €0.00. 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
For a normal double-occupancy room in Lisbon, €86 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Lisbon, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is €43, such as in a hostel.
Double occupancy rooms typically run around €0.00 in Paris For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
In Lisbon travelers spend around €31 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.
In Paris travelers spend around €0.00 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
Meals for one day
Lisbon
€31
Paris
€0.00
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:
-
2-Hour Pastel de Nata Cooking Class:
$55
-
Private Family-Friendly Food Tour:
$67
-
3-Hour Bike Food Tour:
$70
-
Lisbon Hands-on Portuguese Cooking Class:
$80
-
Lisbon by night - Walking Tour, Fado and Dinner:
$108
-
Drag Queen Cooking Party and Live Show:
$119
-
Half–Day Private Electric Tuk Tuk Guided Food Tour:
$119
-
Azeitão and Alentejo Wine and Food Tour from Lisbon:
$182
-
Lisbon Fado and Dinner Private Prestige Tour:
$327
-
Fado Dinner Show Private Night Lisbon Tour:
$273
Typical Food prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
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:
-
3-Hour Aligre Market Walking Food Tour & Tasting:
$81
-
Walking Food Tour:
$89
-
The Gourmet Gastronomy of 2.5-Hour Food Tour:
$111
-
Walking Food Tour in Saint Germain des Prés:
$116
-
Dinner and Theater in Versailles:
$121
-
Paris 2.5-Hour Unique Macaron Cooking Class:
$123
-
2-Hour French Pastry Cooking Class in Paris:
$123
-
Champagne Master Class and Gourmet Food Tour:
$125
-
Gourmet French Dinner with Local Parisian Hosts:
$129
-
Dessert & Chocolate Cooking Class with a Parisian Chef:
$139
Local Transportation
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Lisbon than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €17 on transportation in Lisbon on average per day.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Paris than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €0.00 on transportation in Paris on average per day.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Lisbon
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lisbon:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lisbon
Also for Lisbon, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Lisbon Airport: Shared Arrival and Departure Transfers:
$12
-
Lisbon Sailing Tour with Transfers:
$35
-
Lisbon Airport Transfer Service to Cascais Hotels:
$46
-
Private Transfer from/to Lisbon Airport:
$46
-
Lisbon Airport Transfer to Cascais, Estoril or Sintra:
$64
-
Lisbon Airport to City Center Private Transfer:
$68
-
Full-Day Kayak Tour with Picnic and Transfer:
$97
-
Transfer between Lisbon and Popular Cities in Portugal:
$260
-
Lisbon Airport to or from Algarve Private Transfer:
$358
-
Lisbon to Seville Private Transfer:
$666
Typical Local Transportation prices in Paris
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Paris:
-
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:
-
Beauvais Airport to Disneyland Paris Shared Transfer:
$41
-
Private Transfer between Paris & CDG Airport:
$73
-
Private Transfer to Paris Orly Airport (ORY):
$87
-
Private Transfer From Paris Airport CDG to Paris City Center:
$99
-
Disneyland Private Transfer with Flight Tracking:
$112
-
CDG Airport to Disneyland Paris Private Transfer:
$127
-
From Full-Day Ticket and Transfer to Asterix Park:
$128
-
Disneyland Private Transfer from/for Orly:
$101
-
VIP Private Transfer from/to Orly:
$89
-
Disneyland Private Transfer from or to CDG Airport:
$93
Entertainment
Sightseeing expenses in Lisbon, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €14 per day, per person.
Sightseeing expenses in Paris, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €0.00 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Lisbon
Here are a few actual costs in Lisbon for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
Lisboa Story Centre: 1-Day Admission Ticket:
$8.48
-
Private 1.5-Hour Kickstart Tour w/ a Local:
$9.10
-
4-Hour Walking Tour and Free Tram Ride:
$16
-
Belém Guided Tour:
$17
-
Small Group Walking Tour of Belém:
$18
-
Self-Drive City Tour With GPS Audio Guide:
$20
-
Lisbon’s South Side, River Tejo & 3-Hour Walking Tour:
$22
-
Private Off the Beaten Path Tour with a Local:
$26
-
Old Lisbon Private Walk Tour:
$26
-
Lisbon Half-Day Private Tour:
$28
Typical Entertainment prices in Paris
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Paris are as follows:
-
Louvre Entry for Two
€18
-
Admission to Pantheon
€5.00
-
Catacombs (2)
€23
Tours and Activities in Paris
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Paris are as follows:
-
Fragonard Perfume Museum: Guided Tour with Soap Souvenir:
$8.69
-
The Paris of the Revolution: Storming the Bastille Tour:
$15
-
1.5-Hour Shopping Arcades Tour:
$15
-
Guided Tour of Napoleon's Tomb and the Army Museum:
$18
-
In-Depth Guided Tour of La Seine Musicale:
$19
-
Latin Quarter Guided Walking Tour in German:
$23
-
Montmartre: Tour in a group:
$25
-
Eiffel Tower Pictures & River Cruise:
$31
-
Latin Quarter & Ile de la Cite Movie Location Walking Tour:
$31
-
Hidden Passages Guided Walking Tour:
$35
Alcohol
The average person spends about €12 on alcoholic beverages in Lisbon per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
The average person spends about €0.00 on alcoholic beverages in Paris per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Sample the Local Flavors in Lisbon
Also in Lisbon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
From Private Wine Tour with Setúbal & Arrábida:
$61
-
Arrábida: Full-Day Private Tour with Wine Tasting:
$71
-
Port Wine Tasting & Tapas:
$90
-
Private Van Tour Evora and Alentejo Wine Tasting:
$91
-
Private Wine Tour in Lisbon:
$91
-
Lisbon Wine Tasting, Tapas and Old City Tour:
$118
-
Cheleiros and Bucelas Wine Tasting Tour from Lisbon:
$205
-
Setúbal Region & Arrábida: Full-Day Private Wine Tour:
$239
-
Sintra: Full-Day Tour from Lisbon with Wine Tasting:
$64
-
Portuguese Wine Tasting and Cheese Lunch:
$44
Typical Alcohol prices in Paris
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Paris from other travelers:
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Also in Paris, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
French Wine Tasting Class with Sommelier:
$69
-
Introductory French Cheese and Wine Tasting:
$29
-
Heart of Notre-Dame, île de la Cité & Wine Tasting:
$160
-
Paris Pub Crawl with Free Club Entry and Free Shots:
$18
-
2.5-Hour Guided Vintage Car Tour and Wine Tasting:
$69
-
French Wine Experience with Wine Tasting:
$37
-
Parisian Deluxe Wine Tasting Experience:
$176
-
New Pub Crawl:
$19
-
Wine Tasting with Professional Sommelier:
$29
-
Small-Group Cheese and Wine Tasting in Le Marais:
$105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lisbon and Paris, we can see that Lisbon is more expensive. And not only is Paris much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Paris would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Paris 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 Lisbon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lisbon than you might in Paris.
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