Daily Cost of Food in Paris (2024 Detailed Budget)

Dreaming of wandering the enchanting streets of Paris but concerned about dining costs? No worries! To help you plan your food budget and enjoy a stress-free journey, I’ve broken down various dining options, from budget-friendly eats to high-end experiences.

💡 Key Takeaways

Expect to spend around €45 per person daily on average for meals in Paris.

If you’re on a budget, you can get by with about €25 per day for food. For those looking to splurge a bit and with a more flexible budget, consider setting aside around €65 per day.

Now, let’s get into the details.

 

Average Cost for Breakfast in Paris

bakery shopfront
Croiiiiiiissants!!

There is nothing like starting the day with a delicious breakfast!

You could go to a boulangerie, or even enjoy a continental breakfast in a hotel. For those with a sweet tooth, I recommend giving brunch-café a try to start the day off right.

Breakfast ideasAverage price per person
Coffee in a bakery€1.5-€3
Pastry in a bakery€1-€3
Coffee in a café€3
Breakfast in an affordable hotel€7-€8
Breakfast in an average hotel€13
Breakfast in a luxurious hotel€40
Breakfast in a café€5-€10
Hearty breakfast in a brunch-café€15-€25

 

Average Cost for Lunch in Paris

restaurant menu

You still haven’t decided where to have lunch?

For a true Parisian experience, I recommend having lunch in a bistro or bouillon. If you’re on a tight budget, consider lunch offerings at a boulangerie. They usually feature a sandwich, drink, and dessert.

This average restaurant price range is only meant to be indicative. The price menu includes the first and main courses and dessert.

Lunch ideasAverage price per person
Fast-food€8
Sandwich store€6
Lunch offering at a bakery€12
Parisian bouillon€15 (first-courses not included)
Affordable restaurant€19-€20
Bistro€39-€40
Gourmet restaurant€75-€80

Note: tipping is optional in France (included within the price of dishes). So, there’s no need to budget for tipping – unless you want to. More about tipping in France here.

Regarding drinks, waiters will generally bring you a free jar of water (carafe d’eau). However, if you wish to order a drink, you’ll need to budget for it.

 

Average Cost for Dinner in Paris

restaurant bill

How about having dinner in a Parisian restaurant?

In the table below, I have listed the prices you can expect from different places to eat.

Unforgettable Experience: dinner cruise on the River Seine on the Bateaux-Mouches or Bateaux-Parisiens.

This average restaurant price range is only meant to be indicative. They usually include a menu set (first, main courses and dessert).

Dinner ideasAverage price per person
Fast-food€8
Sandwich in a boulangeroie€6
Parisian "bouillon"€15
Affordable restaurants€20
Bistro€20-€40
Gourmet restaurant€100
Dinner Cruise on the Seine€90-€150

Note: Again, tipping is optional in France.

Regarding drinks, waiters will generally bring you a free carafe and a glass of water. However, if you wish to order a drink, you’ll need to budget for it.

 

Average Cost for Groceries in Paris

supermarket

If you’re staying in an aparthotel, or Airbnb, you might consider going grocery shopping during your time in Paris.

I listed the prices of the average food items in different Parisian supermarkets in the table below to give you an idea of the shopping budget for groceries.

Grocery ideasAverage price
1kg pasta€1-€3
1kg rice€2-€4
1kg potatoes€2-€6
1kg lentils€2-€4
1 broccoli€3-€5
1kg apples€2-€5
25g strawberries€4-€7
250g cherry tomatoes€1-€4
200g mushrooms€2-€5
1kg chicken€10-€13
1 thick slice of salmon€6-€7
1 baguette€1-€2
1L mineral water (33 oz.)€1-€2
1L milk (33 oz.)€1-€3
1 bottle wine€9-€12
1 bottle of beer€1-€3
1L fruit juice (33 oz.)€1-€4
50cl de crème fraîche€2-€4
1 oil bottle€4-€6
1 box of 6 eggs€2-€4
1 stick of butter€2-€6
1kg flour€2-€4

Note: The consumption tax is included within the indicated price for each item. So, no unpleasant surprise by the checkout: you only pay the exact price of your groceries.