I just graduated from college and am going to Paris and London. I have hotels all booked. In addition to that, how much on average do I expect to spend each day on meals in Paris and London? Besides meals, I guess it would just be transportation and museums expenses, etc. I know it depends on different people but given the background info I have just provided, I would really appreciate a ballpark estimate. That would help me decide how much "backup" money to bring in advance.

Thanks.

Hope you don't have to budget for breakfast, separate from your lodging expenses. The following guesstimates are for lunch and dinner with no more than 5-10% of the tab spent on alcoholic beverages (i.e., no more than one glass of meal, every other meal).

Under 25 euro (which is now more like $30 USD) - - just getting by.

30-45 euro per day - - starting to feel like "eating out" even if not "dining out.

50-70 euro per day - - moving into princely - - though you CAN spend more, much much more.

Check out Joel Robuchon - - "back" at his l'atelier - - reported just today in the IHT by PatriciaWells.com

Best wishes,

Rex

Hi graduate,

You can eat cheaply and well in both London and Paris if you look for smaller restaurants and take advantage of sandwich shops, carryouts and markets.

I would feel comfortable with the 70USD/Euro figure per day, I would expect it to cover moderate food plus include some limited transportation and entrance fees.

Having breakfast included at your hotel price is not a deal breaker, either way (IMO, regarding Rex's comments). Just the price of a coffee and croissant at the corner.

Ira's comments are spot on for eating well but keeping costs down. I like to picnic in a park (or even neatly in my hotel room) one time, then splurge a bit on a nicer meal the next.

Eating your larger meal at lunch instead of dinner is another trick to keep costs down but still enjoy wonderful cafes and bistros.

Don't forget all that's free - the public parks, people watching, walking thru different districts, open air markets, watching street performers, certain museums on certain days, etc.

I have only been to Paris, never London, but believe London to be the more expensive city of these two.

Whoops - - that was supposed to read "no more than one glass of WINE, every other meal".

Hey Rex,
In Paris, I would rather have a meal with every other bottle of wine, if I had to save money.

Well - public transport in both cities is very inexpensive. In London get a one week, zone 1 travel card if you are there more than 4 days because it is cheaper than 5 daily cards. (for 4 or less days buy daily cards). In Paris more things are within walking distance of each other so you will likely use the metro less than the tube.

Most museums and galleries in London are free - so you will save a TON on that. The British, London, V&A, National Gallery, Nat'l Portrait, both Tates and many more are all free except for some special exhibits. In Paris, the museum pass is a money saver (and a HUGE time saver) if you are going to more than 3 or 4 of the sites - which you probably will.

And there are a lot of money saving ideas for food - if the weather is nice do pic nics in the parks. Both cities have a lot of beautiful places to eat outside. And London Pubs are sometimes real bargains. Plus chains like Pret a Manger and Wagamama really stretch your money.

As mentioned before - when you do want to splurge on a nice meal do it a lunch time and do a set meal instead of ala carte.

In London breakfast will likely be included with the room. In Paris sometimes it is sometimes it isn't. But Parisian hotel b'fasts aren't to die for anyway. eat pastries or crepes in bakeries, cafes or at open air stalls.

You don't need that much money in either place to eat well. $40-$50 per day would be enough if you don't do any splurge meals, and some days you could do better.

Of course you could easily spend hundreds of $ a day too - - - -

To keep things consistent, I'll quote in euros for both cities.

A pub meal in London (bangers and mash, that sort of thing) will be about £ 9; or about € 15; a picnic lunch plus a coffee break late afternoon can quickly add up to another € 10, so € 25 per person really will be just getting by. The same amount of money in Paris will buy lunch in a simple bistro or department store style restaurant, plus Chinese takeout or a picnic for supper.

Luckily many London museums are free, because as someone pointed out, the tube sure ain't. Paris museums aren't free, but the metro is cheaper to compensate. Allow about € 12 for a museum plus transport per day in each city. So you're looking at at least € 40 per day, per person for meals, transport, and sightseeing. Add more if you do things like take day excursions to Versailles, etc. Bon voyage.

While most people probably do spend the amounts the previous posters have listed, it is possible to do it for less. In Paris breakfast is usually not included with the hotel so it will run about 5 euro for croissant and coffee. Lunch can easily also be done for that amount if you get a bagette sandwich and soda and eat it in your room or on a bench somewhere. The area around Place St Michel in the 5th has lots of inexpensive sit down restaurants where you can get steak and frites and dessert for under 10 euro, especially if you eat on the early side, before 7pm. Also plenty of Greek places which are even less. I usually spend about 25 euro on food in Paris and don't starve or feel like I'm camping. Of course for that amount you don't get anything really fancy. But my favorite thing to eat in Paris is a crepe on the street and that's only about 2-3 euro. Asking for a caraf d'eau (as oppossed to bottled water or soda or wine) also keeps costs down.

London is more expensive. I can eat for about the same amount but it's a lot more sandwiches. Usually breakfast comes with the room and even including that, if you want a sit down dinner it will be more expensive than Paris. Fortunately the British do sandwiches very well and they are available everywhere. The prepackaged ones you can get in any corner store are quite good. I wouldn't touch the equivalent in the US but in England they were really quite tasty. Marks and Spencer has stores everywhere and they have lots of yummy inexpensive treats to go with your sandwiches.

Eating is one of the main costs of traveling but I've found it quite easy to get by on the equivalent of US $25. You just don't get a lot of alcohol or much waitress service.

As for sightseeing - museums are free in London and churches in Paris so I do more of whatever if free. However, I wouldn't miss the Louvre or Westminster Abbey just because they charge. But the best part of both cities is what you see just by walking around. There is so much in both cities that is free - beautiful architecture, lovely parks, interesting neighborhoods, great shopping (well that's not necessarily free) - all just for the taking. Certainly do some "sites" but don't feel that's the main things to do. Watch the sun set over the Houses of Parliment in London and wander around the Tour Eiffel as the lights come on. Free and I've found nothing better.

Hey ira...I am with you

I think 50 euro a day in Paris would be a good figure to budget for -- that would give you about 15 euro a day for transportation and museums or whatever, breakfast and lunch can be real cheap, maybe 15 euro total, and then 20 euro for dinner. If you don't want to really scrimp, I think 60-70 would certainly be enough in total (meals and other things)--so I think there is some consensus on that amount. I don't think breakfast makes much difference in the budget, either, because it's not that expensive unless you go to an expensive place; you can easily buy things carry-out at a patisserie, if desired.

Another vote with Ira (re wine). We each have our priorities, clearly, but I'm sure as heck not hanging around Paris and skimping on drinking wine!

Something you should include in your budget for Paris is taking a couple of Paris Walks tours....get the Time Out Guide at the airport or your hotel and find out when and where to meet for the walking tours. We particularly enjoyed the tour of Montmartre which started at the Abbeyses (sp) Metro stop at 10:30am. (I suspect the day varies) You will meet other travelers and really learn about what you are seeing. These walking tours cost 10euro per person. We stumbled upon a great place to eat -- a bar called Le Progres -- which had a special plat du jour salad of mixed greens with beautiful tomatos and green beans and grilled chicken for 10 Euro. Truly tasty and it would be an ideal "main meal" for anyone on any budget. (This was at lunch time) Their other specials looked to be equally good values. Plus it was a cool place. Reasonably priced wine and beer choices as well.

oops -- in case it isn't clear, this was in Montmartre...