Paris Euros per day estimate

Hey Kevn,

My wife and I budget about 120 Euros a day for Paris. With the addition of your very lucky Granddaughter, 150 should probably be plenty.

-- Mike Beebe

Given what you have pre-paid, I would estimate 90-110 euros per person, per day should be comfortable. That would include dinner and lunch at modest restaurants or cafes, sightseeing, snacks, transportation, and a little miscellaneous.

A 75-100/person Euro is not a bad estimate but there are so many variables it is hard to give a good estimate. If only one evening meal a day, it would be a little lower. However, you mentioned BRING euro. You realize that the it is cheaper and more convenient to obtain euro by using a debit card at a bank owned ATM in Paris. You can bring a hundred euro with you from your local bank to get out of the airport and to your hotel. But after that use an ATM every other day or so to get the euro you need. That way you very easily control the amount of euro that you need.

Are you trying to get an budget estimate or are you looking for cash needs? If you pay for the larger cost such as mid-day and evening meals and the more expensive attraction fees with a credit card, you can keep cash demands to 20 or 30 EUR per person or less per day.

And you really don't need to bring EUR cash if your ATM/Debit card works in foreign lands. Just top off your checking account and do the foreign travel notifications. Daily ATM cash allowances will depend on your financial institution but you can request higher daily limits for travel.

You don't need to "bring" any Euros. You can use a combination of credit cards and cash, taken out of ATMs (just like at home). It's really easier than it sounds.

It all depends on how much you like to eat.
Entrees (appetizers) cost around 6 - 10 EU
Plats (main dishes) cost around 12 - 20 EU
Salades (main dish salads) cost around 15 - 18 EU
Sandwiches cost around 8 to 12 EU
Desserts cost around 6 to 12 EU
Sodas cost 5 to 7 EU
Fresh-squeezed juices cost 8 to 10 EU
Bottled juices cost 5 to 7 EU
Bottled water (gas or flat) costs 5 to 8 EU
Wine (by the glass) costs 5 to 8 EU
Draft beer costs 5 to 7 EU
Bottle beer costs 6 to 8 EU
Tap water is always free

Look for the "menu" or "formule" outside any cafe, restaurant or pastry shop.
Normally, the lunch crowd benefits from a discount price, but not at dinnertime.

Might be two courses, might be three, but drinks are never included in the price.

Tax is always included.

Adding to what chexbres wrote, tips for service are included unless you wish to tip them.

To keep costs down, you can easily find good takeaway sandwiches at most bakeries for lunch (it's generally ham, cheese and butter on baguette, but it's somehow amazing). For a change in the evening, grab some meats, cheeses, baguette, olives, and a bottle of wine/soda at a small grocer and take it down to the Seine for a river picnic. Paris at night on the Seine is charming and the locals tend to picnic as well since it's cheaper. Lots of good people watching. Enjoy!

Don't bring Euros; get them from ATMs as you go. You can pay for dinner and major purchases with a credit card (not all restaurants but most) You need cash for smaller transactions.

FYI: Just spoke with a friend who was there in March & she was quite surprised at the number of places
where they did NOT accept American Express. If you are bringing along a credit card, it might be wise to go
with another.