Money in France: Euros, Cards, ATMs & How Much to Budget
Currency in France
France uses the euro (€). Notes: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500. Coins: €0.01 to €2.
If you're arriving from a non-euro country, exchange before or at arrival—rates at airport exchange desks are poor.
Cards: France is Very Card-Friendly
France accepts cards almost everywhere. More so than many European countries.
- Restaurants: Cards accepted at virtually all restaurants, even small bistros
- Supermarkets: Cards always accepted
- Boulangeries: Most now accept cards (even for €1.20 baguettes)
- Markets: Cash preferred. Outdoor food markets usually cash-only.
- Small towns: More cash-dependent. Carry €20-30 when leaving cities.
- Tolls: French motorway tolls accept cards at most booths
Contactless (sans contact): Very widely used. Just tap your card or phone. Limit is €50 per transaction without PIN.
Visa and Mastercard: Accepted everywhere. American Express: less accepted, not reliable for small merchants.
ATMs (Distributeurs Automatiques)
ATMs are easy to find in France. Every town has at least one.
Best practice:
- Use ATMs attached to banks (BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Crédit Agricole, CIC)
- Avoid standalone ATMs in tourist spots—higher fees
- Withdraw larger amounts to minimize per-transaction fees
Fees:
- French bank: no fee for the withdrawal itself
- Your home bank: may charge €2-5 per transaction + 1-3% currency conversion fee
- Dynamic currency conversion (DCC): when the ATM asks "withdraw in euros or your home currency?"—always choose euros. Their conversion rate is worse.
Tip: Get a Wise, Revolut, or N26 card before traveling. Zero foreign transaction fees, good exchange rates.
Tipping in France
Not required. Not expected.
France has a service charge built into restaurant bills (service compris). The menu price includes service.
- Restaurants: Round up or leave €1-2 if service was exceptional. Never obligatory.
- Cafés: Leave the coins from your change, or nothing—both are fine
- Taxis: Round up to nearest euro, or not
- Hotels: €1-2 per bag if someone carries luggage. Nothing otherwise.
If you're from the US, you don't need to tip 20%. The culture is different. French servers are paid a living wage.
How Much Does France Cost?
Paris:
- Budget backpacker: €60-80/day (hostel, picnic lunch, budget dinner, metro)
- Mid-range traveler: €120-180/day (2-star hotel, restaurant lunches, some dinners)
- Comfortable: €200-350/day (3-4 star hotel, restaurants, cabs)
Specific prices:
- Espresso at a café: €1.50-2.50 (standing at the bar is cheaper)
- Baguette: €1.10-1.50
- Croissant: €1.20-1.80
- Lunch formule (2 courses): €12-18
- Dinner at a bistro: €20-35 per person with wine
- Beer at a bar: €4-7
- Metro ticket: €2.15
- Museum entry (Louvre): €22
- Picnic supplies (cheese, bread, wine): €8-12
Outside Paris:
- 20-30% cheaper on average for food and accommodation
- Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux: cheaper than Paris
- Provence villages in summer: comparable to Paris
Managing Money Day-to-Day
Before you go:
- Notify your bank of travel dates (avoid card blocks)
- Get a travel card (Wise/Revolut) for good exchange rates
- Exchange €50-100 in cash for small purchases and markets
In France:
- Pay by card when possible (better rate than carrying cash)
- Keep €20-30 in cash for markets, small towns, tips
- Check your bank app daily to track spending
Explore France with Trevurs
Trevurs audio guides are free to download. No subscription needed for most content. Explore Paris neighborhoods on a tight budget—the audio is free, the walking is free.