I am trying to budget for my month in Paris next May ; the things like museum and metro passes are easy to account for as is the rent for the apartment. I would like to know the average price of a lunch in a neighbourhood cafe (vs big name place)and how much I could expect to pay for other incidentals like tea or coffee. I realize this is all subjective but it would help to have some idea. I will be travelling alone so I think I will have lunch in a cafe and have something light at home in the evening.<BR>Would like to hear from recent visitors to Paris who were not on &quot;sky's the limit&quot; budgets.<BR><BR>Thanks, Kay

I would say an average lunch in Paris would be about $15.00 on an average budget. We tend to vascillate between grabbing a sandwich or salad at some place like a Brioche d'Or and sitting down to a simple bistro lunch, so some days it's about $5.00 and some days about $20. You can certainly spend less if you just grab a sandwich.

StCirq is spot on. Many bars/caf&eacute;s have a basic lunch menu featuring things like quiche, large salads, croque monsieur and sandwiches, omelette and one or two daily specials. You would pay around 6-10 euros for something like this, plus a couple of euros for a glass of wine or soda and a coffee, adding up to around 15 euros maximum. <BR><BR>But in May the weather *should* be warm enough for you to grab a baguette sandwich or quiche, or pick up a few picnic ingredients and eat in a park or by a fountain. During the week, many restaurants also serve a fixed price menu at midday (2-3 courses for around 15 euros), which often won't be available at weekends.<BR><BR> If you stop off for coffee or soda in the any of the smart Parisian caf&eacute;s in places like St Germain, Place du tertre or Montparnasse, be prepared to pay a lot for the privilege (over 3 euros). In smaller neighbourhood caf&eacute;s you'll probably not pay much over ?1.50 for a shot of expresso. <BR><BR>Another good value option for eating is to try one of the many &quot;traiteurs&quot; shops. They are a little like delicatessens, serving prepared dishes, cold cuts, salads and sandwiches. They usually have daily specials (my local traiteur was serving fish with mushroom cream sauce and rice today...) that they will heat up for you to take away, so you could fill up on good home-made food for well under 10 euros.

Kay, We spent 20-30 euros for 2 people at cafes for lunches consisting of a sandwich, omelette or large salad each plus Badoit or other bottled water. You could probably do it for less. The Badoit was expensive, I think usually about 3.50 euros.

I take advantage of the 3 tier pricing system in cafes. Standing at the bar is cheapest, sitting at a table inside costs more, finally sitting outside at a table is the most expensive. I don't mind standing.<BR><BR>I believe the least expensive beer I had this past April was 1.5 euros standing at a cafe in the 10th. The most expensive I had was 8 euros sitting outdoors at a cafe in the 7th.

Thanks for the responses and suggestions. Now I know what my choices are. Another related question: can you pay by debit card in most cafes?

Kay:<BR><BR>I must admit I haven't tried to pay by debit card in caf&eacute;s, but I don't think &Iacute;'d assume you can do so. In a true bistro or brasserie, you can probably use a debit card in those hand-held machines they bring to your table to swipe, but I think in a caf&eacute; you'll need to use cash or a credit card.

You should be able to use your debit card (I have) as long as it has a mastercard or visa logo on it.

Some of the best lunches will be crepe stands or walk up lunch counters (there's one on the Champs below the tourist center that has great sandwiches and tarts, all for under $5). Make sure you pay attention to what your drinks are costing; Cokes can kill your budget; just ask for plain water (free and safe). Lots of the bakeries will have sandwiches, as well as some deli style &quot;one of those, and two of those&quot; shops.

would agree with hani (above) about the ease to get good takeout. For example, there is a charcuterie on rue Cler which was grilling and selling chicken and sausages last week. When I asked for a sandwich, the only question was how full I wanted my baguette chunk filled and whether I wanted mustard. At the end of the street is a boulangerie/patisserie which also carries quiche (about 4 inches in diameter) in several varities-warmed up if you wish. The last sandwich I had in paris was from a traiteur-goat cheese and smokey bacon with lettuce, mayo and tomato for 3.50 euro-just my choice of 6 various sandwiches made up for the luncheon trade. Paris is a great snack city-take it to the park.

One more way to save money would be to order a carafe d'eau rather than bottled water. The tap water in paris is at the least fine and some might say it is very good. All restaurants provide it free, if you ask for it.