Which city is cheaper, Lille or Paris?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for France Paris vs. Lille for Food, Nightlife, Couples, and Backpackers
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Should you visit Paris or Lille?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Paris or Lille? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Paris
Paris is a bustling, energetic, and beautiful city. With plenty of activities and things to do, it's a huge city that draws plenty of visitors. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the museums, theater, and nightlife.
Lille
Lille is a historic, under-rated, and fascinating small city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, food, and shopping.
How is Paris different from Lille?
Which is Better for a Holiday?
Is Paris or Lille better for Food?
Local dishes are fun to try in both Paris and Lille.
For foodies, Paris is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. There are countless local restaurants, markets, and patisseries to explore. Make sure you try the steak tartare, pate, and macarons.
Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Lille. Because it's so close to the border with Belgium, you'll find a lot of Flemish and Belgian influences. The waffles are great, as are the pain au chocolat and the tartine.
Is Paris or Lille better for Nightlife?
The vibe at night is comparable in Paris and Lille.
Paris is a must-see party destination. Head to Pigalle or the Latin Quarter for some of the city's best nightlife. There are all-night parties, cabarets, and exclusive night clubs that you can experience.
Lille has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The most popular nightlife areas are Rue Masséna and Rue Solférino.
Is Paris or Lille better for Shopping?
Paris often provides a better shopping experience than Lille.
People travel from around the world to go shopping in Paris. Some of the best areas for shopping are Boulevard Haussmann and the Grands Boulevards, the Marais, and Avenue Montaigne and the Champs-Elysées.
Lille offers some nice shopping areas. The two main shopping centers in town are McArthur Glen and A l'Usine.
Is Paris or Lille better for Families?
Kids will enjoy a visit to either Paris or Lille.
Paris is a very family-friendly destination. Check out Jardin du Luxembourg, or one of the city's many playgrounds. Also grab a treat at one of the city's many patisseries. And of course, there's Disneyland Paris.
Lille is a very kid-friendly city. There's a small zoo, a small amusement park, several museums and even a puppet theater.
Is Paris or Lille better for Couples?
Couples will find a longer list of romantic activities in Paris than Lille.
Paris makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. A city filled with romance, you really can't find a more ideal destination for a European honeymoon or a couple's getaway.
Lille makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The city has a number of gardens and parks that are fun to explore. It's also nice to wander around the old town.
Is Paris or Lille better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?
Travelers usually think of Paris as a better destination for backpackers than Lille.
Paris is a very popular city to visit for backpackers. It's a big city, so it's easy to get lost in the chaos, but there are many hostels and other backpacker hangouts around town.
Lille is a good city to visit for backpackers. This small city flies under the radar of most backpackers, but there are a handful of hostels and a great experience for those who venture here.
Is Paris or Lille better for Students?
For students, both Paris and Lille are fairly comparable places to visit.
Many students frequent Paris. The city is one of the most popular destinations for international and study abroad students.
Lille is a great city to visit as a student. The city is home to a number of students, both local and international.
Is Paris or Lille better for Public Transit?
Paris and Lille both offer public transit to get you around.
The thorough and effecient public transit system of Paris can take you anywhere. The city's metro system is very comprehensive. There's also a bus system that you can use to get around.
The public transit in Lille can get you around easily. There is a metro as well as trams and buses throughout the city.
Is Paris or Lille a more walkable city?
Paris and Lille are similar when it comes to walkability.
Paris is very walkable. Some streets can feel a bit overwhelming, but there are many parts of the city that are easily explored on foot.
It is easy to get around Lille on foot. The old town in particular is compact and best explored on foot.
Paris and Lille: Pros and Cons
Paris
Pros- Good for shopping
- Family-friendly
- Good for couples and romance
- Good for backpackers and budget travelers
- Big city activities
- Impressive beauty
Lille
Pros- Family-friendly
- Impressive beauty
- Less popular for shopping
- Less popular with couples
- Less popular with backpackers
Should I spend more time in Lille or Paris?
How long in Paris or Lille?
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Paris and Lille. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Paris than Lille.
The ideal length of time for a trip to Paris is 3-7 days, and the ideal length of time for a trip to Lille is 1-3 days.
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How many days in Paris or Lille? Ideal Length of StayParis 3-7Lille 1-3
One day in Paris or Lille?
Each neighborhood in Paris has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.
In Lille, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this historic destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This small city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.
A weekend in Paris or Lille?
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Paris. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lille. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
Five days in Paris or Lille?
Paris is a fun place to experience. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.
Lille is a fun place to experience. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.
A week in Paris or Lille?
Each neighborhood in Paris has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Plenty of people spend one week here when traveling. Take your pick from the many activities offered around the area. One week is often enough time to spend here.
You'll find nightlife and food around the historic destination of Lille. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered around the area. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayParis €184Lille €92
The average daily cost (per person) in Paris is €184, while the average daily cost in Lille is €92. 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. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Paris and Lille in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personParis €121Lille €44
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomParis €242Lille €88
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Paris €17Lille €22
Typical Local Transportation prices in Paris
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Paris are as follows:
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Metro€6.40
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Train from Airport€9.00
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Metro tickets€6.80
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Train€20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Paris
Also for Paris, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Ultra - Private Transfer from Paris to Giverny to visit Claude Monet's Garden: $9.57
- Shared Arrival Transfer from Orly Airport (ORY) to Paris: $23
- Shared Departure Transfer from Paris to Orly airport: $23
- Paris Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Railway Station: $33
- Semi Private Arrival Transfer: Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): $33
- Semi Private Departure Transfer: Paris to ORLY Airport: $33
- Semi Private Departure Transfer: Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): $33
- Private Transfer: Gare du Nord Train Station (Eurostar Terminal): $34
- Private One-Way Transfer: City of Paris: $36
- Paris Private Arrival Transfer: Railway Station to Hotel: $36
- Paris to Versailles Round-Trip Coach Transfer: $37
- Paris to Versailles Round-Trip Shuttle Transfer by Luxury Bus: $39
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lille
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lille:
- Private Transfer: Lille to Lille Airport (LIL): $622
- Lille Private Transfer from Lille city centre to Lille Airport (LIL): $65
Is it cheaper to fly into Paris or Lille?
Prices for flights to both Lille and Paris 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayParis €31Lille €33
Typical Food prices in Paris
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Paris:
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Ice Cream€8.00
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Breakfast€7.00
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Breakfast for 2€30
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Dinner on River Cruise€86
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Dinner€57
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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:
- Paris en Scene Boat 3-Course Dinner Cruise: $49
- Paris River Seine Lunch or Dinner Cruise: $60
- Italian dinner on the river Seine: $61
- Seine River Cruise with French Dinner on Champs-Elysees Avenue: $61
- Seine River Cruise & Dinner on Champs Elysées Avenue: $62
- Choux cooking class for kids in Paris: $62
- Capitaine Fracasse Boat 3-Course Dinner Cruise: $67
- Paris Small-Group Gourmet Food Tour With Optional Lunch and Wine Tasting: $75
- Bistro Parisien Dinner and Seine River Sightseeing Cruise Combination: $75
- NO DIET CLUB - Unique Bike and Food tour in Paris !: $75
- Romantic Cruise with 3-course Dinner on Seine River: $76
- Fondue Cooking Party - Winter is Coming: $78
Typical Food prices in Lille
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lille are as follows:
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Dinner for 2€37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lille
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lille.
- Hands-on Cooking Class: $86
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Paris €62Lille €13
Typical Entertainment prices in Paris
For Paris, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Louvre Entry for Two€18
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Admission to Pantheon€5.00
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Catacombs (2)€23
Tours and Activities in Paris
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Paris.
- Secret Montmartre, smartphone audioguided tour: $0.98
- Trendy Marais, smartphone audioguided walking tour: $0.98
- Marais HiddenTreasures, audioguided walking tour: $0.98
- Paris Criminal Past, audioguided walking tour: $0.98
- Test Day tour: $1.00
- BEST OF ROYAL DAYS & LIFE : 3 audioguided tours: $1.85
- BEST OF PARIS : 3 smartphone audioguided tours: $1.85
- Legends of Paris Night Free Walking Tour in Spanish: $3.72
- Visit the Eiffel Tower at your own pace Self-guided audio tour: $4.96
- Flâneurs of Belleville: Explore the art of city walking on an audio walking tour: $5.00
- One Hour Père Lachaise Cemetery Self-guided Audio Tour by VoiceMap: $5.43
- Marais: Explore this historic neighbourhood on a kid-friendly audio walking tour: $5.49
Tours and Activities in Lille
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lille are as follows:
- 2day Australian WW1 battlefield tour in Flanders the Somme from Lille and Arras: $647
- 3 day tour Canadians in WW1 starting from Lille or Ypres: $1,033
- 3-Day Small Group Tour of French and Belgian WWI Battlefields from Lille: $672
- Australian Battlefields Private Tour in Fromelles and Flanders from Lille: $342
- Australian and New Zealand Battlefield Day Tour in the Somme from Lille or Arras: $342
- Bastogne Battle of the Bulge Private Day Tour from Lille: $566
- Belgian Beer tour in Flanders: $411
- Canadian Somme and Flanders battlefield tour 2 days starting from Lille or Arras: $734
- Chocolate Tasting Tour of Lille: $96
- Full Day Tour of WW2 in Northern France, the Atlantic Wall ,V1 and V2 launching sites departing from Arras or Lille: $454
- Full-Day Private Tour on the French Opale Coast with Lunch: $467
- Lille - Small Group Guided Walking Tour in French: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayParis €19Lille €14
Typical Alcohol prices in Paris
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Paris are as follows:
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Wine€14
Sample the Local Flavors in Paris
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Paris:
- Pub Crawl in Latin Quarter: $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 Tasting In Paris: $83
- Paris Art of Pairing Cheese and Wine Tasting in a Cheese Cellar: $87
- Paris Wine Tasting Session with Expert Sommelier: $89
- Walk & Wine Tour in the Latin Quarter: $97
- Paris Wine Tasting plus Cheese & Cured Meat Lunch with an Expert Sommelier Guide: $97
- Paris Evening Wine Tour and Tasting: $112
- Montmartre Hill Sweet & Savory French Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $112
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Paris and Lille, we can see that Paris is more expensive. And not only is Lille much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lille would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lille 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 Lille.
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