Should you visit London or Paris?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between London and Paris can help you decide which place is right for you.
London
The capital of the United Kingdom is a thriving multicultural metropolis. Steeped in iconic landmarks, world-class museums and royal parks, London is energetic, majestic, ambitious and one of the world's greatest cities. London is a cultural and fashion capital, a great place to go out, an amazing place to eat and one of those cities that is constantly changing with new and exciting things sprouting up almost every day. History and tradition greet you at every turn in the UK's capital. London is also a city with an edgy underbelly, delighting in neon pink dive bars, cheeky graffiti and mind-blowing street food. When you need a break from the action, pop into a pub or relax in one of the city's many parks. Blow through the city on a double-decker bus, and take a pinch-me-I'm-in-London walk through the West End. As one of the most visited cities in the world, London is busy, vibrant and very tourist friendly. The only problem with London is that it's very expensive; it can eat away at your budget if you aren't careful. Luckily, there are also tons of free or cheap things to do in London that can fill your time.
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 London?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in London is £145, 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 London and Paris in more detail.
Accommodation
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about £182 in London For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
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
London food costs typically run travelers around £29 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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
London
£29
Paris
£0.00
Typical Food prices in London
For London, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in London
For London, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Moroccan Couscous Dinner in Shoreditch:
$50
-
3-Hour Secret British Food Tour:
$82
-
London Gourmet Food Tour:
$125
-
London Half-Day Food Tour: International Foods of Soho:
$111
-
3-Hour Thames Jazz Dinner Cruise:
$92
-
The London Showboat: Dinner, Show & Sightseeing Cruise:
$114
-
River Thames Dinner Cruise:
$116
-
Modern British Dinner at Chef's Home in East London:
$62
-
Dinner with Filmmakers & Filmmaking Experience in London:
$74
-
4-Hour East End Food Tour:
$98
Typical Food prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Ice Cream
£6.86
-
Breakfast
£6.00
-
Breakfast for 2
£25
-
Dinner on River Cruise
£74
-
Dinner
£49
-
Cheese
£11
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 London than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend £20 on transportation in London 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 London
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in London:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in London
Also for London, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Shared City Center Transfer to London City Airport:
$30
-
Executive Transfer Between Heathrow and Central London:
$115
-
Executive Transfer Gatwick to or from Central London:
$169
-
Private Transfer: London to Southend Airport:
$173
-
Oxford Full-Day Tour from London with Train Transfers:
$57
-
Harry Potter Studios and Private Transfer from London:
$126
-
Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio Tour & Transfers:
$117
-
Harry Potter: Warner Bros. Studio Tour with Transfer:
$118
-
London Airports: Shared Transfer to London Hotels:
$16
-
Warner Bros. Studio Tour and Transfer from London:
$118
Typical Local Transportation prices in Paris
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Paris:
-
Metro
£5.49
-
Train from Airport
£7.72
-
Metro tickets
£5.83
-
Train
£17
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 London, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of £26 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.
Typical Entertainment prices in London
Here are a few typical costs in London for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in London
Here are a few actual costs in London for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
90 minute Jack the Ripper Guided Walking Tour:
$14
-
Soho and Camden Market 3-Hour Tour in Spanish:
$15
-
Hidden London Walking Tour:
$17
-
World Rugby Museum Entrance Ticket:
$18
-
Notting Hill 2–Hour Walking Tour:
$20
-
South Bank 3-Hour Walking Tour and River Cruise:
$28
-
The London Time Tour Bus:
$28
-
Royal Parks and Palaces Bike Tour:
$34
-
Gangster London Walking Tour with Celebrity Guide:
$35
-
Small Group Children's Tour of Westminster in German:
$35
Typical Entertainment prices in Paris
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Paris are as follows:
-
Louvre Entry for Two
£15
-
Admission to Pantheon
£4.29
-
Catacombs (2)
£20
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 London 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 London
Also in London, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
2-Hour Historic Pub Tour:
$28
-
West End Beer Tasting Pub Tour:
$68
-
Drink London! Historical Pub Walking Tour:
$35
-
2.5-Hour East End Pub Tour:
$48
-
London Pub Crawl and Nightlife Tour:
$28
-
The London Pub Crawl - Shoreditch:
$14
-
Camden Pub Crawl:
$20
-
The Original Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$28
-
Central Daily 5-Hour Pub Crawl:
$14
-
5-Hour Shoreditch Pub Crawl:
$14
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 London and Paris, we can see that London 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 London would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in London than you might in Paris.
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