Whoa. Let me repeat that… whoa. Are you experiencing a little sticker shock while searching for hotels in Paris? The city has gotten really expensive, n’est-ce pas?
I know, traveling to Paris has never been exactly cheap, but there have always been ways to make it more affordable. Heck, my post on 47 ways to save on your trip to Paris breaks down little tips and tricks for saving on food, museums, getting around, and so on. But the city’s hotel rates have recently gone through the roof.
We should know — my team and I have been obsessively visiting, reviewing, and ranking the best budget hotels in Paris since 2001, when I launched the site with the mission of helping travelers find the very best central hotels in Paris that are actually affordable. We’ve seen charming hotels open, close, get rebooted as private apartment rentals, rebrand themselves as 4-star hotels. We’ve seen it all.
But post-COVID, we’ve seen some of our all-time favorite budget hotels close, and others have transformed themselves into something much, much more expensive. (Ironically, the rates might double, but the location and room size always stay the same!) And we understand, to a certain degree. Running a hotel was nearly impossible for a few years, and revenues need to be recouped.
Still, over the past three years we’ve seen many of our favorite (formerly) budget-friendly hotels swing from offering rooms for about €125-150 a night to more than €250 a night.
Fortunately, there are still some hotels in central Paris with great service and affordable rates. We’ve spent a few weeks combing through and updating all of our Paris hotel listings, and testing rates to get to the bottom of what is still a great deal.
Our criteria: How do we pick our favorite budget hotels in Paris?
We’ve picked these winners by examining several criteria, including:
Hotel Location
Would most travelers consider this location to be convenient? Can you walk to popular sights and a good selection of restaurants from this hotel? At the same time, does it offer enough calm to let you sleep comfortably at night?
Our favorite locations are in the very center of Paris (Arrondissements 1-7), especially near the Louvre, the Marais, Latin Quarter, St-Germain des Prés and near the Eiffel Tower. From these locations you can walk or take a quick Metro ride to nearly all of Paris’s main museums and attractions.
Average room rate
Are rates cheaper than other hotels of the same category? To determine the “average double rate,” we compiled and averaged rates for a double room from May-August.
This one was especially hard, as room rates have skyrocketed across the city. Most of our top picks have an average room rate under $150 per night, while some truly special hotels go as high as $225. Above that amount just can’t reasonably considered “budget”. We’ve rounded up hotels with some of the best rates in the city.
Quality
How do the actual rooms and hotel services stack up with others in the same category? If this is a two-star hotel, for example, does it offer better rooms and more personal services than other two-star hotels?
User ratings and reviews
How have past guests rated this hotel? What issues, if any, have previous guests experienced with the hotel?
Room size
Yes, we’re so obsessive that we’ve compiled room size (in square feet) for all hotels and use it as a factor when choosing our list. The bigger the guestroom, the higher the hotel scores. (I mean… nearly all hotel rooms in Paris are tiny, but we’re at least able to see who the outliers are!) In Paris, we found the average hotel room spans around 129 to 140 square feet (about 12 to 13 square meters). Some of the smallest rooms squeeze in beds, desks, and even bathrooms in under 100 square feet, which makes the larger rooms (over 200 square feet) feel extremely spacious.
“Special something”
Does this hotel offer something special that distinguishes it from its competitors? Does it have a special theme, interesting owners, or fascinating history? When we’re reviewing hotels, we’re always looking for this “something special.”
And finally, we also go with our own instincts. We’ve visited and inspected hotels hundreds of times in Paris. We’re including hotels in this list that we like and feel should be shared with our readers!
Related articles: For more on hotel savings in France, check out our tutorials on how to save on your hotel in Paris, and ways to save on hotels throughout France.
The 8 best cheap hotels in Paris in 2025
Here are our picks for the best cheap sleeps in Paris, ranked by price. Read more about any hotel by clicking the “read full review” link, or click to see our complete guide to budget hotels in Paris, with more than 100 listings. If you spot something you like, make sure to review our tips on saving on hotels in France to get the most bang for your buck.
A simple but bright and clean room at Hotel de la Place des Alpes. Photo: Booking.com
Hotel de la Place des Alpes **
Neighborhood: Place d’Italie / Chinatown
Average rate: €95
If you’re looking for an affordable place to crash, consider Hotel de la Place des Alpes. This area makes accessing transportation easy and puts you in a less touristy part of the city, but that also means you may not be as close (by foot) to some of the most popular sites of the city. But you’ll enjoy the comfortable, if bare-bones, rooms and plenty of restaurants nearby, not to mention the low rates. Plus, when you’re ready to see the tourist sites, it’s easy to hop on the Metro from here.
Inquire about a balcony room at Hotel du Pre. Photo: Booking.com
Hotel du Pré ***
Neighborhood: 10th: République / Gare du Nord
Average double: €115
With fairly spacious rooms (151 square feet) that are clean and comfy, Hotel du Pré is a solid choice that puts you conveniently near Gare du Nord. For gourmands, Saint-Lazare, an area packed with bakeries, wine and cheese shops, and other unique eateries, is also close by. Private bathrooms are sparkling clean, and some rooms even have balconies. We also loved the cozy lounge, complete with swanky leather sofas, at this hotel.
Charming views from a super cheapo room at Hôtel Rivoli. Photo: Booking.com
Hotel Rivoli
Neighborhood: The Marais (3rd & 4th)
Average rate: €119
Sure, the rooms are a bit on the basic side here at Hotel Rivoli, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find better rates in such a central location, in the Marais. Rooms face rue de Rivoli, and if you request ahead, you may just score a room with a small terrace and views of city hall. Aside from the views, location, and low rates, this hotel is pretty simple. There’s no breakfast, but you can explore the trendy neighborhood for your morning meal. Wi-Fi is free, and there are no TVs, which makes for a pretty quiet and peaceful stay.
Private rooms are small but stylish and affordable at the Plug-Inn Hostel. Photo: Booking.com
Plug-Inn Boutique Hostel
Neighborhood: 18th: Montmartre
Average rate: €132
Part hostel, part stylish hotel, Plug-Inn offers great rates on its doubles, plus ultra-cheapo beds in its dorms. For those booking private rooms, expect bright colors and playful patterns plus spotless, if small, bathrooms. Breakfast is even included in the room rate, making it an even better deal. However, the hostel’s location in Abbesses-Montmartre puts it in close vicinity to many great places to score cheap eats.
A charming view from a room at Hotel Audran. Photo: Booking.com
Hotel Audran *
Neighborhood: 18th: Montmartre
Average room rate €141
The friendly Hotel Audran is another of our best budget hotels in Paris. It is a solid deal, offering renovated two-star rooms with private bathrooms along the café-lined rue Abbesses, one of Montmartre’s most charming stretches. The hotel’s 40 rooms were recently painted a bright blue, and all are equipped with a flat-screen TV, telephone, and free Wi-Fi.
The Hotel Du Cygne is an art lover’s dream where you can stroll to the Louvre. Photo: EuroCheapo
Hotel Du Cygne **
Neighborhood: 1st: Louvre / Châtelet
Average room rate: €141
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better deal smack dab in the center of Paris than Hotel du Cygne. This charming, cottage-esque hotel offers simple but cozy rooms that stay surprisingly quiet, despite the bustling location near the Louvre. Creature comforts such as flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi, and private bathrooms are available, although solo travelers can save big by booking a single room with a shared bathroom.
Hotel de Nesle **
Neighborhood: St-Germain-des-Pres
Average rate: €149
The one-star Hotel de Nesle, tucked away among the back streets of Saint-Germain des Prés and steps from the Seine, offers affordable rooms that are painted with a sense of humor and history. The 18 guest rooms are individually painted and decorated by the owner and her son. Most of these boast lavish line drawings of famed moments in French history, including scenes of Egypt and the Orient, as well as some playful representations of Molière, Hugo and others who have lived in the neighborhood.
Hotel Chopin **
Neighborhood: 9th: Opéra
Average room rate €159
Ready for something with an extra dose of charm? Tucked away inside a 19th-century shopping arcade, the two-star Hotel Chopin offers comfortable, spacious (172 square feet/16 square meter) rooms at great rates, but it’s the setting that’s sure to make romantics race to their fainting couches. The arcade, located along the Boulevard Montmartre near the Opera shopping district, is lined with picture-perfect stores selling toys, jewelry, and sweets. And then halfway down, you stumble upon the Hotel Chopin. Inside, things have a quiet, grandmotherly touch.
More cheap hotels in Paris
But wait, there’s more! We have reviewed more than 100 affordable hotels in our guide to Paris. Find more hotels:
• See hotels: Near the Louvre | Marais | Latin Quarter | St. Germain | Eiffel Tower | Montmartre
A note about reserving
It should come as no surprise that, given their exceptional value, many of these hotels are quite well known and are already quite popular with guests. As many of these are also quite small (at least compared to international chain hotels), finding availability can be tres difficile… especially during the high season, and especially if you wait until the last minute.
If possible, reserve far in advance. Search hotels in Paris