The Best Cheap Hotels in Paris for 2024

February 14, 2023

To afford a stay in Paris, you don’t need a trust fund or stock options. The 10 budget-friendly lodgings that follow may not be known for their chic décor and high thread counts, but all are clean, comfortable, and, most important, not likely to leave you with insufficient funds to try out that cool restaurant you spied near rue Montorgueil. 

A rule of thumb for budget accommodations in Paris: the farther you stay from the city center, the higher the comfort level. So if you simply must be within walking distance of Notre-Dame, be prepared for tiny rooms and so-so mattresses. But if you are willing to spend a few minutes on a Métro train, bus, or Vélib' shared bike to reach your hotel, the rooms may still be smallish, but the furnishings and services will improve substantially. 

Remember that Paris is small and the public transit system efficient (provided there’s no strike on, of course). Don’t feel obligated to stay in the city center—venturing beyond could get you away from tourist-laden areas and help you discover cute neighborhoods where real Parisians live. 

All of the following accommodations are near public transportation and/or things you want to see and do. And with so much to do in Paris, you will probably be too busy to obsess about your hotel’s design flaws or lack of high-end toiletries. 

Let’s start on the LEFT BANK.

Unless otherwise noted, all of the following accommodations have private bathrooms, air-conditioning, TVs, and Wi-Fi.

Pictured above: Hôtel Henriette

You can have your morning coffee at the nearby Café de Flore if you stay at this small hotel smack-dab in the middle of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood. Situated on a posh side street where the locals carry Prada handbags, these modest lodgings have been lovingly run by the same family for close to a century.

Mattresses are firm and bathrooms are spotless, but there is no elevator and a lot of stairs, so this is not a good choice if you have heavy luggage or require better accessibility (though there is a dimly lit wheelchair-accessible room on the ground floor). High ceilings and exposed beams make the small rooms feel larger. There’s no AC. Doubles from €105, hoteldudragon.com

This unassuming hotel is near the Gare Montparnasse in a neighborhood famed for the high number of crêperies per square meter. In the same family for three generations, Hôtel des Bains offers pleasant if slightly worn rooms decorated with antiques and artwork acquired from the nearby artists market held every Sunday on Boulevard Edgar Quinet. 

Aside from the warm welcome, affordable prices, and central location, there’s another major draw: the two-bedroom family rooms, a rare find in the city’s hotel landscape. As in many older Parisian hotels, there are stairs to navigate even if you take the tiny elevator. Buses and Métro stops abound here, but you can also easily walk to Saint-Germain, the Jardin du Luxembourg, and the many shops on nearby rue de Rennes and the surrounding streets. Doubles from €115, hotel-des-bains-montparnasse.com

A narrow street with cobblestones leads to these stylish accommodations where the design ethic equals that of swankier boutique hotels in the city center. True, the hotel isn’t right next to any major monuments, but it is very well connected to the Métro and bus system and a short walk from great eats on rue Mouffetard. 

Rooms are small but impeccable, a cool mix of modern colors and vintage furniture. High ceilings and clever design create an impression of space, but if you need more, ask for a twin. There’s a leafy courtyard for breakfast in good weather, and an indoor salon where you can have a late-afternoon apéro—or, if you prefer, have the drink brought to your room. Doubles from €129, hotelhenriette.com

Another design-conscious hotel that’s slightly off the beaten path, Hôtel Cabane features lots of sustainably sourced wood, soothing colors, and an actual cabin under the trees in the courtyard. It is the largest guest room, complete with a light-therapy shower and private entrance; two other units onsite also have terraces with mini gardens. All rooms are spotless and modern, each with a shower-and-sink area that opens into the room (some have curtains for privacy, and don't worry—the room's private toilet is in a separate cubicle with a door). 

Service at the hotel is friendly and obliging. There’s an airy bar serving drinks—healthy and otherwise. Located south of Gare Montparnasse, the hotel is on a street filled with shops, cafés, restaurants, and plenty of Paris residents, too. The rue Daguerre market street is a short walk away; the Métro next to the hotel will take you to Les Invalides and the banks of the Seine in a few minutes. Doubles from €140, hotelcabane.com

If you are willing to stay even farther afield, this bed-and-breakfast will give you access to a part of town your friends have never heard of: La Butte-aux-Cailles. A 5-minute walk from the inn will bring you to cobbled streets, cute cafés, and ample photo ops—all without tourists!

Four of the B&B’s five comfortable bedrooms look out on the park across the street; the smallest room has a view of the garden courtyard. This is an ideal option for those who have already been to Paris and are looking for a quiet retreat with easy access to the RER B train to the airport. A nearby bus stop will get you to the Métro and the center of town. Breakfast, featuring fresh croissants from the local bakery, is included in the nightly rate, along with the warm smile of Marie, your host. There’s a 2-night minimum. Doubles from €118, la-villa-paris.com

Now we'll cross to the RIGHT BANK. En avant!

In the 1950s, many of the historic buildings in the Marais district were in a terrible state, and some were slated to be demolished. The MIJE, a nonprofit dedicated to education and travel, saved three 17th-century beauties and turned them into youth hostels. While the rooms are spare and, well, hostel-like (without AC or TVs), architectural features were preserved in the common areas, including exposed beams and tommettes, red terra-cotta floor tiles. 

Most guests here are students on school trips, so you may have to share the lounges with noisy teenagers, but they are teacher-supervised ones. Sleeping quarters are fairly quiet and there is no alcohol or partying allowed. Each private room has an in-room sink and shower, but you’ll have to share a toilet and bring your own soap and towel. Continental breakfast and bed linens are included. You can’t beat the location—the three neighboring buildings are in the southern Marais, a stone’s throw from the Seine. Bed in a dorm from €38, singles from €78, doubles from €90, mije.com

This budget classic has been a Frommer’s favorite for decades. Located inside the Passage Jouffroy, one of several 19th-century covered shopping arcades in this neighborhood, the Chopin has been a hotel since the passage was opened in 1846. 

The charm factor subsides somewhat once you get to the rooms, which are sweet but simple, with old-fashioned prints and furniture. Most units get a lot of light and have rooftop views; all are clean and well-tended. You need to climb some stairs to get to the elevator and there is no AC. The hotel’s unusual setting means that nights are quiet, even though the Grands Boulevards neighborhood is lively after dark, with bars, theaters, and cafés galore. The hotel’s kind management and low prices bring back lots of return guests. Doubles from €119, hotelchopin-paris-opera.com

Streets near this hotel are full of luthiers and other artisans who specialize in musical instruments, which is why classical musicians like to stay here. Run by friendly Madame and Monsieur Wehrle for over 35 years, the hotel has small but impeccable rooms with refurbished antiques and colorful fabrics. Some rooms even have small balconies. Mattresses are firm, bathrooms are new, and the high ceilings have period moldings. 

While there is a tiny elevator, be prepared to navigate a tricky staircase to get to it. Close to the Saint-Lazare station, the New Orient is a short walk from the fun, virtually untouristed Batignolles neighborhood, with its boutiques, street markets, and cafés. If you don’t want to walk, the Métro will get you to the Arc de Triomphe or Montmartre in a matter of minutes. Doubles from €160, hotelneworient.com

The décor is bland and functional, but there’s an elevator and AC, plus in-room TV, and at these rates, the Cosmos is a steal in this high-priced city. Nestled in the youthful, hip Oberkampf neighborhood, the hotel is a good option for young people who want cheap, but don’t want to stay in a hostel. 

The Canal Saint-Martin is close by and the bars and cafés of up-and-coming Belleville are a short walk away. That said, the older crowd will feel comfortable here too; a lot of the clientele are traveling salespeople. Though the hotel is a little out of the way in the eastern part of the city, three Métro lines supply easy access to major monuments in the city center. Singles €85, doubles €104, cosmos-hotel-paris.com

Here’s a hotel that goes to the next level comfortwise—provided you are willing to go the distance. Located on the eastern edge of the city, these lodgings are near the entrance to the Bois de Vincennes. The Métro reaches the Place de la Bastille in about 15 minutes; the Île de la Cité takes half an hour. But what you lose in travel time you gain in amenities such as quality linens and mattresses, extra space, and organic toiletries. 

Rooms are decorated in a stylish blend of old and new—you can even get a king-sized bed in the “exclusive” rooms. The hotel owners are eco-aware and take pains to reduce and reuse. Kids are another priority: Toys and baby equipment are available onsite. Borrow a bicycle and ride to the Marais, or just hang around in a local café. All for at least half of what you would pay for the same level of accommodations in the city center. Doubles from €125, hoteldelaportedoree.com