Budget areas with good connections
| Area | Why | Price level | Transport | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nation (11th, 12th) | Cheapest hotels in the east-centre | € | Metro 1, 2, 6, 9, RER A | Far from major sights |
| Bastille and République (11th) | Very central, nightlife | € to €€ | Metro 1, 5, 8, 3, 9, 11 | Noisy at night |
| Canal Saint-Martin and Belleville (10th, 11th, 19th) | Hostels, young crowd | € to €€ | Metro 2, 5, 11 | A few dull streets |
| 13th arrondissement | Gentle prices, street art, Asian quarter | € to €€ | Metro 6, 7, 14 | Few monuments |
| Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est (10th) | Eurostar, RER B to Roissy | € to €€ | Metro 4, 5, RER B, D | Noisy surroundings, stay alert at night |
Hostels: the cheapest bed
For a solo traveller, a dorm bed is the cheapest solution in Paris. Several hostels also offer private rooms. We detail a few of them, with addresses and limits, in Paris hotels by budget. Before booking, check what is included (sheets, towel, locker, breakfast) and compare the total price.
Budget hotels
For two, a 2 or 3-star hotel outside the centre is often cheaper than two hostel beds. Search near Nation, in Bastille or around the Canal Saint-Martin, and keep an eye on Gare du Nord if you arrive by train. The 13th arrondissement, served by lines 6, 7 and 14, often has gentler prices and a rich street art route.
How to compare two offers
Before choosing, ask three questions: how many minutes on foot to the metro or RER, which line it is and where it goes, and what the night really costs once the tourist tax and any fees are added. A slightly pricier room two minutes from a direct line to the centre often saves an hour a day and avoids extra tickets. For stays under three nights, favour simplicity; beyond that, lodging with a kitchen lets you eat more cheaply.
Pitfalls to avoid
- The teaser price without taxes or fees: the tourist tax (paid by adults, minors exempt, source taxedesejour.paris.fr) and cleaning fees are added. Compare the final price.
- A room far from the metro: fifteen to twenty minutes' walk cancels the saving.
- Unregistered rentals: every tourist furnished-rental listing in Paris must display a registration number; avoid the others and never pay outside the platform.
- Air conditioning: missing from many budget hotels; check in summer.
- Noisy dorms: choose a smaller dorm or a hostel away from bar streets.
- Weekends and trade fairs: rates rise sharply; shift by a night if you can.
Save on the rest too
Budget lodging only makes sense if transport follows: see the metro and RER in Paris for the right ticket, and Paris on a budget for eating, sightseeing and getting around cheaply. For stays of several nights, an aparthotel with a kitchen can cost less than a hotel; see hotel or aparthotel in Paris.
Frequently asked questions
Which area is cheapest? Nation and the eastern edge, with RER A and several metro lines.
Is a hostel safe? Well-rated hostels have lockers and a front desk; keep your documents on you.
Is it better to sleep in the suburbs? Only near a RER or metro station less than 30 minutes from the centre.
Where to check prices? Compare the same dates on several platforms and on the hotel's own site.
Going further
Compare areas in where to stay in Paris. For a first stay, where to stay in Paris for a first visit; for a family, where to stay in Paris with kids.
