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Paris or New York? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick Paris for art, architecture and food culture at a slower pace; on our numbers it is noticeably cheaper, about €215 a day mid-range against €281 in New York. Pick New York for skyline energy, Broadway, nightlife and food from every cuisine at all hours.
Paris: suits couples, honeymooners, first-timers and older travellers who want museums, landmarks, cafés and romantic walks.
New York: suits couples, solo travellers and friends who want skyscrapers, Broadway, nightlife and endless food choices.
Side by side
| Paris | New York | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €215 | €284 $319 local |
| Budget day* | €110 | €156 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●About €215 a day mid-range; small, pricey hotel rooms. | ●●●●●About €281 a day; tips and sales tax add more. |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Montmartre are crowded most of the year. | ●●●●●Times Square, Midtown and the subway are crowded constantly. |
| Food | ●●●●●Bakeries, bistros and markets set a very high everyday standard. | ●●●●●Pizza slices, bagels, delis and every cuisine, late into the night. |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Bars in the Marais, Oberkampf and Pigalle; fewer late clubs. | ●●●●●Broadway, bars and clubs; the city really runs late. |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Parks, carousels and Disneyland nearby; Métro has many stairs. | ●●●●●Central Park and museums, but crowds and costs tire families. |
| Getting around | ●●●●●Dense Métro network and a walkable centre. | ●●●●●24-hour subway and grid streets, though stations show their age. |
| Best months | Jul | May |
| Warmest / coolest | Jun 25°C / Jan 7°C | Jul 30°C / Jan 5°C |
| Known for | Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre-Dame restored spire, Left Bank cafes, Versailles | Empire State Building, Broadway shows, Brooklyn Bridge, world-class museums |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Paris and New York day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Paris if…
- Art, museums and architecture come first
- you are on a honeymoon or romantic trip
- you want to eat well without huge restaurant bills
- you want Versailles and day trips to Giverny or the Loire
Pick New York if…
- Broadway and skyline views top your list
- you like nightlife that runs very late
- you want food from every cuisine
- you enjoy a fast, high-energy city
Weather month by month
| Month | Paris high / rainy days | New York high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7°C · 12 | 5°C · 11 |
| Feb | 10°C · 7 | 6°C · 11 |
| Mar | 13°C · 12 | 11°C · 10 |
| Apr | 14°C · 9 | 16°C · 11 |
| May | 19°C · 10 | 21°C · 9 |
| Jun | 25°C · 12 | 26°C · 11 |
| Jul | 25°C · 9 | 30°C · 14 |
| Aug | 25°C · 11 | 29°C · 14 |
| Sep | 23°C · 11 | 25°C · 11 |
| Oct | 18°C · 13 | 19°C · 10 |
| Nov | 11°C · 14 | 12°C · 8 |
| Dec | 8°C · 14 | 9°C · 11 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Paris
Croissant and pain au chocolat · Baguette · Ham and butter sandwich · Croque-monsieur · Steak and chips · Crêpes and galettes
Where: Marché d'Aligre (12th), Marché des Enfants Rouges (3rd), Le Marais: Rue des Rosiers, Rue Cler, Rue Montorgueil and Rue Mouffetard
New York
New York slice · Bagel with cream cheese · Pastrami on rye · Halal cart chicken and rice · Dumplings and roast pork buns · Cannoli
Where: Chinatown and Little Italy (Manhattan), Lower East Side and Essex Market, Chelsea Market, Flushing (Queens)
Doing both in one trip
10 days: 5 in Paris + 5 in New York
They are about 5,800 km apart, so combining them only makes sense on a longer trip with a transatlantic flight. Fly into the city nearer home first and out of the other on an open-jaw ticket.
Getting between them: Direct flight about 8 h 30 westbound and 7 h 30 eastbound, plus airport time; daily flights from Paris CDG to JFK and Newark — check current schedules. Distance about 5,837 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1–5: Paris — Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Le Marais, Montmartre, a day at Versailles
- Day 6: Fly to New York, arriving the same afternoon, Midtown in the evening
- Day 7: Central Park and the Met
- Day 8: Lower Manhattan, 9/11 Memorial, Brooklyn Bridge walk
- Day 9: High Line, Chelsea Market, a Broadway show
- Day 10: Lower East Side or Queens food, fly home
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Common questions
Is Paris or New York cheaper?
Paris, on our mid-range figures: about €215 per person per day against roughly €281 in New York. Menu prices in Paris include service and tax, whereas in New York sales tax and an 18–20% tip are added to the bill. Hotels are expensive in both cities, but everyday eating, from bakeries to set lunches, is cheaper in Paris.
When should I visit?
Our data marks July for Paris and May for New York. Paris peaks around 25°C in June and dips to about 7°C in January. New York is hotter and more humid in summer, about 30°C in July, and colder in winter, around 5°C in January. May, June and September are comfortable in both cities.
Which is better for a romantic trip?
Paris, for most couples. Its river walks, café terraces, evening light and compact, walkable neighbourhoods are made for slow days. New York can be romantic too, with skyline bars, Central Park and Broadway, but its pace is faster and its costs higher. For a honeymoon built on atmosphere rather than energy, choose Paris.
How many days do I need in each?
Four or five days in Paris covers the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, the Marais and a day at Versailles. New York needs at least four or five days for Midtown, the Met, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, downtown and a Broadway show, with more if you want to explore Brooklyn and Queens.