The Port-Royal is €95 per night for a double room (whether for one or two people) with ensuite toilet and shower. A single person can get a room with a sink (shared toilet and shower in the hall) for €56.

http://www.port-royal-hotel.fr/tarif

In mid-May, the IBIS Villette (with en suite bath) is €73, which certainly is well over half the price of the Port-Royal.

The Hotel St Pierre has a similar price (€109) in May for a room with bath, single occupancy, and is perhaps even more conveniently located than the Port-Royal. (I'm making a note for our next trip.) However, the Port-Royal has a much lower price for a single person, if willing to tolerate a shared bath. It's certainly a step up from a hostel, and excellently located.

"well over half the price" -- that is tragic!

The Ibis Budget hotel is at metro station Laumière, which is a grand total of 10 minutes from the center of the city.

(See, even I begin to lobby when others begin to snark.)

Just to compare, I put in $40/€34 maximum into the search field on Airbnb, 1 person, private room. Loads of options, many for under $40:

https://www.airbnb.com/s/Paris--Fran...s_tag=-55H_sBo

And then there's couchsurfing... Can't beat free!

https://www.couchsurfing.com/#how-it-works

Solo female may be aloof to Couch Surf in a stranger's residence?

Kerouac, I don't think I was snarking (yet), but you're tempting me.

My point was that the Port-Royal offers a much lower price for a <b> single traveler</b>, which Coco is, than either of the other two mentioned. The IBIS would be cheaper for a couple, by 25%, but the Port-Royal offers a room that's another 25% cheaper than that. And in a more convenient location.

Another I like very much for free accommodations, have met some lovely & generous people all over the world, even a celebrity once and didn't realize until afterward when a local clued me in:

http://www.hospitalityclub.org/

Hadn't heard of "hospitality club"!! Amazing what you learn while wandering over to another Fodors Forum!

I have not stayed at the one in Paris, but I did stay at the one in Stockholm: Generator Hostel.
https://generatorhostels.com/?lang=en-GB

They have private rooms with ensuit baths that you don't have to share with other people. Very no frill, but feels hip and young.

Thankyou so much to all helpful responses...am only new to this site and did not expect such support and lively discussion lol.
In terms of shoestring budget clarification I meant bottom end hostel or convent/monastery stay. Have stayed in some of these before and they can be surprisingly good and cheaper than a hotel.
I had not thought of Airbnb but will investigate.
Will also look at the hospitality club that was recommended.

If Hospitality Club is of interest, get on the website & sign up ASAP. It's run by volunteers and can sometimes take a while to be registered & able to use the site.

If you are a foreigner, you have to stay 5 nights.
If you are not a foreigner, you can stay only 3 nights.

If you are under 25, you can only have a single room.
If you are over 25, you can only have a double room, for 62 EU.

No smoking, no eating in your room, and no visitors.

Sorry, forgot the link:
http://www.maison-eymard.fr/maison/s...servation.html

For a person traveling alone, it's hard to find a cheaper lodging than a bed in a hostel, but your first post led me to believe you wanted to upgrade on this trip. Two or more people traveling together often do better at a budget hotel.

Many convents cost as much as, or more than, a hotel.

The best value I have found so far which doesnt suit me for timing is the summer availability at the two YWCA hostels in the 8th for July August only. Mixed genders can stay.
All rooms are individual student type.
Prices for short stay are 36€ p/n, 210€ p/w, or 600€ month.
Foyer de Naples is one.

They don't do "convent/monastery" stays in Paris. That's solely an Italian thing AFAIK. They used to rent some rooms at Hotel Dieu (hospital) which I found odd as you'd think they should reserve those for family of patients, but those weren't really that cheap, anyway. Much more thna a hostel, about like a 2* hotel.

They don't have YWCA hostels in Paris. In French, the term is in French and is UCJF.

What is your actual budget and for how long in Paris, which is rather expensive on many things.

Suggestions to cut costs:

Picnic -supermarkets have lots of take-out foods and of course cans of stuff ready to eat - bread is always cheap - eat such foods in hotel/hostel/? rooms. I am always on a low budget and rarely eat in restaurants but in Paris seek out the FLUNCH restaurants and university mensas - FLUNCH is a chain cafeteria all over France with some in central Paris - you get a main plat but can have unlimited servings of veggies, salads, etc. and stuff yourself for 8 euros or so! (Much cheaper than McDonalds or Quick or other fast-food places.)

Sidewalk cafes can be expensive but a pleasure - McDonalds and other fast foods often have outdoor seating and coffee at a fraction of the proper cafe next door (no free refills though usually)- and an ice-cream sundae, etc can cost very little.

Walk -Paris is eminently walkable - main sights in a fairly compact area and IME what I see between the sights is often as interesting as the destinations themselves.

Museums have been free or half-price on Sundays -Louvre I think free first Sunday of month.

Well anyway if on a low budget you can survive very cheaply in expensive Paris.

Christine.....if you view Website "Guide St Christophe" you will find a number of religious accommodations in Paris.

Generator won’t work, their private rooms are super expensive. And their dorms are nice, but still dorms. The partitions give you a LITTLE privacy but honestly they might as well not be there.

Look on hostelworld. I entered a random date in May and there are actually quite a few hotels in the $70-80 range. More money than you perhaps want to spend but I am not sure you’ll find anything as low as that UCJF. Did you know that’s actually cheaper than many dorms in Paris? It’s not even an inexpensive city hostelwise. I would perhaps consider making it possible to travel then.

I am not into Airbnb but it does sound like it might be a good option for you.

I really like the look of port royal, bvlenci. Looks like a great neighborhood! And it’s not much more expensive than the generator’s dorms! Would you happen to remember how much they charge for the tokens, and how long one token gives you in the shower? Do they charge for towels too?