Prices and spending

When you’re on holiday, most of your budget goes on accommodation. To see what advantages Paris has to offer in this domain, read our special report "Affordable Paris" in our visitors website, and check the "Hotels & accommodation" section for hotel prices per category.
The metro is one of the least expensive in the world. A book of 10 tickets will cost you approximately €10.

Here are some average prices for everyday consumer products:

1 full-price museum admission: €7 to €9 1 sandwich: around €5 1 pizza: between €8 and €10 1 small coffee: €1 at the bar, €2 sitting down 1 full meal (starter, main dish, dessert, not including drinks): between €15 and €20 depending on the area.	1 baguette of bread: €0.80 1 beer in a café: €2 to €4 1 seat at the cinema: €9

Restaurant prices are always displayed outside. Prices shown include taxes and service. There are set menus to choose from, often available at lunch times, different menu choices or à la carte. For an idea of prices, use the search engine for more details.
In bars and cafés, prices of drinks are required to be displayed inside. It’s handy to know that the prices vary depending on whether you stand at the bar (where they are the lowest), or at a table inside or on the terrace. After a certain time in the evening, a supplement may be added to the price of drinks.

Euros

On 1 January 2002, along with 11 other Member States of the European Union, France adopted the euro currency. These notes and coins can therefore be used in any country belonging to the euro zone: France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece. Since 1 January 2007, Slovenia has been the 13th member state to introduce the euro.

€1 is divided into 100 centimes or cents.
Notes: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.
Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents; €1 and €2.
Value of the euro against the dollar: in 2007, the euro is worth around $1.40.

Tipping

In France, all prices shown include tax and service (the latter is around 15% of the total price). However, if the service has been particularly good, you may wish to leave a tip in order to show your appreciation. As a general rule, the amount is 5 to 10% of the total bill.

Banks, exchange

There is a multitude of banks in Paris, both French and foreign. They are generally open from 9am to 5pm, or 6pm, from Monday to Friday, sometimes from Tuesday to Saturday. Certain branches may close at lunchtime, between 12.30pm and 2pm. Even though you may find some banks who will accept your currency in exchange for euros, you are more likely to come across exchange bureaux, which specialize in this type of transaction. Make sure you have some ID with you.

›› More details on our visitors website

Duty free shopping

For a VAT refund, ask for a Tax free Shopping France invoice when you shop in any major store or “Tax free for tourists” boutique. The amount to be refunded is shown under the heading “montant de la détaxe”. You should have your invoices stamped at airport customs on leaving the EU and return the validated pink copies within three months using the stamped addressed envelope given to you at the time you made your purchases.
In order to receive your tax refund, it’s important to know that Paris train stations, unlike airports, do not have a customs office.

›› See "Value Added Tax (VAT)"

Tourist tax

On 1 January 1994, the Paris City Council introduced a tourist tax (“taxe de séjour”) which is applicable to all forms of paid accommodation: hotels and apartments, furnished accommodation, camp sites, etc.
Ranging from €0.20 to €1.50 per person per day, it is not necessarily included in the price of the room but its payment is obligatory for all excepting children under 13 years of age.
Allocated to the development and promotion of tourism, this tax is also collected by many other countries (in Europe: Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, Greece).