Nice Vacation Budget

Updated on 27 September 2026

The short answer: for a stay in Nice in 2026, budget €60 per day per person on a shoestring, €110 for a classic comfort level and €170 to €250 depending on your expectations. A week (7 days) therefore runs from €420 to €1,750 per person, excluding travel to Nice.

Nice remains one of the most expensive cities in southern France, but the gaps come down to three items: the room, restaurants and paid entries. Here are the prices checked in September 2026, item by item, with the local habits that make the difference.

Budget table: what a day in Nice costs

These figures are per person, based on travelling as a pair: a double room at €90 works out at €45 each. Add your journey to Nice (train, plane or coach) and, if you come by car, parking.

Accommodation: how much is a night in Nice?

Rates vary hugely with the season: 30 to 50 % more in August and during the carnival than in November. Order of magnitude checked in September 2026:

• Hostel: from €35 a night in a dorm;
• 1 or 2 star hotel: €60 to €75;
• 3 star hotel: €75 to €100;
• 4 star hotel: €100 to €150;
• Furnished let or short-term rental: average €95 to €160, depending on the area.

By neighbourhood the gap is clear: Promenade des Anglais €140 to €200, Old Nice €120 to €180, Carrer d'Or €100 to €150, Cimiez €90 to €130, Musiciens €80 to €120, north of the city €55 to €80. Staying 15 minutes by tram from the centre often saves a third. See where to stay in Nice.

Food: how much do meals cost?

Nice is excellent value if you eat like locals, especially at lunch:

• On the go: socca €3.50, pan bagnat €5.90, pissaladière €2.50 from the stalls at the Cours Saleya;
• Fast food: €14 to €20 a dish, €10 to €12 for a McDonald's combo;
• Set lunch: €16 to €22 for starter-main or main-dessert in the streets of Old Nice;
• Mid-range restaurant: €35 to €50 per person at dinner, €70 for a full meal for two;
• Terrace drinks: draft beer €7, cappuccino €2.80 to €3.40, Coke €2.70.

Local tip: the lunch menu is almost always cheaper than the evening à la carte, and many central restaurants display a simple formula in the window. Ideas for the day come from our activities guide.

Transport: tram, bus and airport

The Lignes d'Azur network takes five minutes to understand and is priced the same on tram and bus:

• Solo ticket: €1.70, valid for 74 minutes with unlimited transfers;
• 1-day pass: €7, 7-day pass: €20, 30-day pass: €60;
• Airport to centre: line 2 in under 30 minutes, €10 return with the airport ticket;
• Taxi: meter start around €3.67, then about €2.20 per kilometre.

A 7-day pass at €20 pays for itself from the third day of heavy use. Full details in our tram and bus guide, and for arriving by air, our airport guide.

Culture: what visits cost

• Municipal museums (Matisse, Masséna, Fine Arts, Palais Lascaris…): €10 a ticket, or €15 for the 4-day pass valid in 9 museums;
• Free entry: under-18s enter every municipal museum free;
• Marc Chagall national museum: about €10, free for EU residents under 26;
• Worth knowing in 2026: the MAMAC is closed for renovation and the Terra Amata museum has been closed since 15 April 2026;
• Outdoors: the Castle Hill, markets and beaches stay free.

The €15 4-day pass pays off from the second visit. See guided tours and what to do in Nice.

Shopping and market: the daily budget

For a self-catering stay or a home-made breakfast, prices checked in September 2026 read: milk €1.82 a litre, bread €3.35 a kilo, 12 eggs €4.38, tomatoes €3.53 a kilo, 1.5 litre water bottle €0.95, table wine €8.56.

Markets remain the best deal for fruit and vegetables: see the markets of Nice and the Cours Saleya.

City tax, tips and extras

• City tax: for unclassified furnished lets, 3 % of the nightly rate excluding tax, with a minimum of €0.70 and a maximum of €4.20 per night per person. Booking and Airbnb collect it automatically;
• Hotels: displayed rates exclude city tax, added to the bill;
• Tips: optional, 5 to 10 % in restaurants when service is not included;
• Parking: a real factor if you come by car, see Nice car parks.

Payment: cash, cards and good habits

In France, prices shown to consumers always include all taxes: no surcharge may be added at payment. Two exceptions worth knowing: restaurant menus may state service not included, and many places charge extra for terrace seating when the indoor room is also open.

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including cafés and supermarkets; but some very small shops or market stalls require a minimum spend (often between €8 and €15) or prefer cash. An ATM is therefore handy, especially for markets and small purchases. Since France still runs on cash for small amounts, always keep €20 to €50 on you.

A few reference figures

• Museum ticket: €10 · 4-day pass: €15;
• Fast meal: €14 · dinner out: €35 to €50;
• Night in a 3 star hotel: €75 to €100;
• 7-day tram pass: €20;
• Airport transfer by tram: €10 return.

These benchmarks help you build your own budget: add up the night, meals and transport pass, then add visits according to your programme.

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