Flights and a hotel are the big costs, but the city tourist tax, the airport train and higher museum prices for non-EU visitors add up fast. Eiffel Tower tickets, metro rides and card fees are what most people forget.
Starts with a sample trip. Change any number to match yours.
Compare hotels in central Paris →The sample is 2 travelers for 4 nights. Your plan ($3,740) covers the main costs most people budget for, the ones you enter on the left. Costs people forget ($997, about 27% more for this trip) are the fees, taxes, tips and extras listed in the calculator. Prices were last checked on October 17, 2026.
Share of the $4,737 real cost. Nights and travelers multiply most of these costs, so changing either one moves the total the most.
7 of this trip's numbers link to a published price or rate. The rest are our estimates, and each one says what it is based on. You can also read how we calculate every trip.
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare per person | $950 per traveler | A typical round-trip economy fare from a major US airport; KAYAK shows typical fares of about $680 to $1,255. Source |
| Hotel per night | $260 a night | Our estimate for a mid-range double room in central Paris. Rates swing widely by season and neighborhood. Our estimate |
| Food per person, per day | $80 per traveler, per day | Our estimate for cafe breakfasts, casual lunches and one bistro dinner a day, at about $80 per person. Our estimate |
| Cost | Default | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Checked bag fees Off by default | $90 per traveler | Most economy fares to Europe include one checked bag, so this is off by default. Basic economy fares charge extra. Source |
| Passports Off by default | $165 per traveler | A new adult passport costs about $165 and can take weeks. Our estimate |
| Airport transfers | $65 for the trip | The RER B airport ticket is €14 per person each way, so about $65 for two people both ways. Source |
| City tourist tax | $8 per traveler, per night | Paris charges €5.53 per person per night at 3-star hotels and €8.45 at 4-star hotels. Source |
| Metro and bus rides | $9 per traveler, per day | A Navigo day pass is €12.30; our $9 a day assumes a few single rides on most days. Source |
| Louvre, Versailles and museum tickets | $100 per traveler | The Louvre charges non-EU visitors €32 and the Versailles Passport is €35 in high season; we add one more museum. Source |
| Eiffel Tower tickets | $41 per traveler | Adult tickets are €36.70 to the summit by lift and €23.50 to the second floor by lift. Source |
| Seine river cruise | $20 per traveler | An hour on the river is a classic first-night plan. Our estimate |
| Phone data | $30 per traveler | An international plan or eSIM. Our estimate |
| Card fees | 3% of your plan | Many credit and debit cards charge about 3% on foreign purchases; cards with no foreign transaction fee avoid it. Our estimate |
| Travel insurance | 6% of your plan | Squaremouth says a comprehensive plan averages about 6% of the trip cost, usually 4% to 10%. Source |
| Pre-trip shopping | $60 for the trip | Our estimate for travel-size toiletries, sunscreen and small things bought before a trip. Our estimate |
| Pet boarding or sitter | $50 a day, if you check Pets | Dogster puts regular kennel boarding at about $35 to $85 a night. Overnight sitters at home cost more. Source |
For 4 nights with flights, a hotel and food, plan on about $3,750. Once you add the costs most visitors forget, like the city tourist tax, museum and Eiffel Tower tickets, metro rides and card fees, it's closer to $4,750. Use the calculator above to change any number to match your trip.
In 2026, Paris charges €5.53 per person, per night at 3-star hotels and €8.45 at 4-star hotels. It's usually added to your bill at checkout. Children under 18 don't pay it. Source
Since January 14, 2026, most visitors from outside the EU pay €32 for the Louvre, up from €22. Versailles and Sainte-Chapelle also charge non-EU visitors more, €35 and €22. Book a time slot on the official sites before you go. Source
The RER B train is the cheapest way, at €14 per person each way. The same ticket also covers the train from Orly. You can load it on a Navigo Easy card, the Île-de-France Mobilités app or Apple Wallet. Source
An adult ticket to the summit by lift is €36.70, and the second floor by lift is €23.50. Climbing the stairs to the second floor costs €14.80. New prices start on January 11, 2027. Source