London vs. Paris: Which City Is Better?

London vs. Paris: due to their close proximity and both being penned as not only major European capital cities, but globally recognized places – many people try to decide between London, Paris, and which one is better – but is it even fair to compare the two major cities?

London and Paris may be only a couple of hundred miles away from one another, but the two cities couldn’t be more different – in terms of personality, looks, atmosphere, and lifestyle.

View of London from the Shard; December 2025

Regardless, London vs. Paris is still an argument brought up time and time again – as many people try to decide between living or visiting Paris or London and may not be able to see their differences from a bird’s eye view.

Imagine London and Paris in a debate with each other. London, similar to Paris, would be poised and diplomatic – but also open to hearing the other’s side. Paris, drowned in its philosophy and tradition, is inherently more rigid and resigned than the more satisfied London.

Ultimately, London is much more of a cosmopolitan and “international” feeling city than Paris is – with the two offering far different lives for expats, travel experiences, sights to see, and history to discover.

View of Musée d’Orsay in Paris; November 2025

Which city is better: London or Paris?

Having lived in Paris for years and taking several trips to the United Kingdom and London – I’m going to provide a full breakdown of Paris vs. London.

London vs. Paris: Differences Between the Two Cities at a Glance

Here’s a snapshot of some of the main differences between New York and London:

🇬🇧 London vs. 🇫🇷 Paris — A City Comparison

👥 Population	London: Central London has around 1.4 million residents, while the Greater London metro area totals 9.8 million. Paris: The city proper has approximately 2.1 million residents, while the greater Île-de-France region totals 11.3 million.
🏙️ Lifestyle	London is generally a more energetic city — a balance of hustle and bustle mixed with sitting back and enjoying a pint. Paris, on the other hand, is far more laid-back. On weekends especially, it’s common for neighborhoods to feel quiet until 2–3 PM, as Parisians prioritize slow mornings, cafés, parks, and people-watching.
📏 City Size	London spans a massive 607 square miles. Paris is much more compact, covering just 44 square miles — making it significantly denser and easier to navigate on foot.
🍽️ Eating Habits & Cuisine	Both cities offer world-class international cuisine, but dining habits differ. London tends to shut down earlier, with many restaurants and shops closing by 10 PM. Paris also closes relatively early compared to cities like NYC, but food culture is more structured around long lunches and dinners rather than late-night eating. Breakfasts differ as well — British breakfasts lean hearty (beans, sausage, mushrooms, toast), while French breakfasts remain lighter and simpler.
🌦️ Climate	London and Paris actually share very similar climates. Both cities experience grey winters, frequent rain, and beautiful long-day summers. Given their close geographic proximity, weather differences between the two are minimal.
💸 Cost of Living	London is noticeably more expensive than Paris — particularly for rent, healthcare, and eating out. Paris benefits from systems like ticket resto, subsidized healthcare (mutuelle), and stronger tenant protections, making daily life more financially manageable.
🕒 Accessibility & Late-Night Life	London has far more pharmacies, convenience stores, and shops open later into the night. Paris tends to shut down earlier, making late-night grocery or pharmacy runs more difficult outside of major hubs.

What Do London and Paris Have in Common?

Although energetically the two cities couldn’t be more different, London and Paris are similar in the sense that both have European cultural elements and architecture. For instance, both cities have cobblestone streets and socialist values – such as free healthcare for residents of each city.

Here are some of the things that London and Paris have in common:

Major Travel Hubs

Both London and Paris are excellent cities to be located in not only for easy weekend European travel, but internationally – as both cities are equidistant from South America, South Africa, and Asia. As a result, both cities are excellent places for people with deep desire and dreams to travel the world.

It’s extremely easy to also travel between London and Paris themselves, as the journey is just over 2 hours via the Eurostar between Paris and London.

History & Architecture

With both cities having long, detailed history, such as with the British Empire or the French revolution – both London and Paris have rich backstories and monuments to represent them that are still standing today.

This includes places in London and Paris such as:

🏰 Historic Landmarks in Paris vs. London 🗼

🏰 Tower of London

One of London’s most historic sites, the Tower of London has served as a royal palace, prison, and execution site — and is now home to the Crown Jewels.

🌉 Tower Bridge

Often mistaken for London Bridge, Tower Bridge is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, combining Victorian engineering with panoramic Thames views.

⛪ Westminster Abbey

A UNESCO World Heritage Site where British monarchs are crowned and buried — steeped in nearly 1,000 years of royal and religious history.

🕰️ Big Ben & Palace of Westminster

The heart of British politics and one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the world, symbolizing London’s long-standing parliamentary history.

🗼 Notre-Dame Cathedral

A masterpiece of Gothic architecture dating back to the 12th century, Notre-Dame remains one of Paris’ most historically and spiritually significant landmarks.

🏛️ The Louvre

Once a royal palace, now the world’s most visited museum — the Louvre showcases centuries of French history through art, architecture, and monarchy.

🏰 Sainte-Chapelle

Hidden within Île de la Cité, this royal chapel is famed for its breathtaking stained glass and medieval origins tied directly to French kings.

🏛️ Panthéon

A monument honoring France’s greatest minds — including Voltaire, Rousseau, and Marie Curie — blending revolutionary history with classical architecture.

View of the Sacré-Cœur in Paris; December 2025

Worldwide Recognized Monuments

Both cities also have world famous and globally recognized monuments, such as:

🏛️ Paris vs. London — Iconic Landmarks at a Glance 🇫🇷🇬🇧

🇫🇷 Paris	🇬🇧 London
🗼 Eiffel Tower	🕰️ Big Ben
⛪ Notre-Dame Cathedral	⛪ Westminster Abbey
🏛️ The Louvre	🌆 The Shard
🎨 Montmartre	⛪ St. Paul’s Cathedral

However, Paris and London are a lot of differences – such as cultural mismatches and city layouts, with London being far larger than Paris. London is a city that truly requires the use of public transportation – as everything is far and spread-out, whereas Paris is a lot more like New York City being condensed and extremely walkable.

Which City Is More Difficult to Live In: London or Paris?

Determining whether London or Paris is more difficult to live in depends on which factors you find most challenging when navigating a new city. If juggling finances in a big city is difficult for you, then you will find London astronomically more difficult to live in than Paris. On the other hand, as an expat, life in Paris can be more challenging with the French-language barrier and less friendly locals.

Life in London vs. Paris

The overview cards below will reveal some of the lifestyle challenges and costs between living in London vs. New York:

🇬🇧 London vs. 🇫🇷 Paris — Lifestyle Costs & Daily Realities

🏥 Healthcare

In the United Kingdom, people in England (such as in London) pay around £3,300 GBP per year — roughly $4,200 USD.

In Paris, France’s public healthcare system reimburses around 70% of medical costs through social security. Most residents also have a mutuelle (top-up insurance) that covers the remaining balance, making out-of-pocket medical expenses extremely manageable.

🏠 Housing

Rent is far more expensive in London than it is in Paris. Many people in Paris are still able to live alone within the city limits.

In London, however, it’s very common for people to need roommates well into their late 20s or even 30s to afford living centrally.

🛒 Grocery Shopping

While grocery stores in London often offer more variety, both cities are fairly similar in price — with London being slightly more expensive overall.

Paris has far more stores on every corner (Carrefour, Monoprix, Auchan, G20, Franprix), whereas London’s main “stop-and-shop” option is Tesco, which isn’t quite as frequent.

Which City Is Prettier: London or Paris?

Without a doubt, Paris is a more beautiful city than London – as it’s more preserved, charming, and ultimately aesthetically homogenous in comparison to London. This is because while London also has charming neighborhoods, it’s more of a big city – meaning there are more skyscrapers and opportunities for trash or graffiti.

That being said, London still has its moments of being pretty – but I ultimately find London the “cool” city and Paris to be “pretty” city between London vs. Paris.

View of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London during Christmas; December 2025

London vs. Paris

Here’s a breakdown of the two cities to help you decide whether London or Paris is right for you:

Tourism

London and Paris are both cities on many people’s travel bucket list – but keep in mind the differences between London and Paris before traveling to either one.

London and Paris are some of the most popular to visit in the world. In fact, London alone had a whopping 44.3 million visitors in 2025 – and Paris had expected over 37.4 million tourists in 2025, even after the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic travel spike.

When it comes to which city to visit on vacation, Paris is great for people who enjoy low-stress trips – even better put, people that the French call flâneuse: people who like to wander around without a stringent travel to-do list. This is because Paris is best enjoyed when you bathe in her personality, such as people watching from cafés for hours on end or playing cards in a park along the seine. Everything in France, even Paris, moves much slower than it does in the UK or London as a whole.

London on the other hand, is better for travelers who enjoy both hectic trip itineraries but also some down time. This is because London has more neighborhoods, each like their own mini-cities, that you can explore at leisure while also running around London to see bigger monuments like Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. I also find London better for international food lovers – as you can get any kid of cuisine you want similar to New York City, whereas the same can’t really be said in Paris.

Another thing to consider when deciding whether to visit Paris or London is the language barrier. Everyone in London speaks English – which is often a challenge for foreigners visiting France who don’t speak French.

Both Paris and London have plenty to keep anyone entertained for several days to a full week, but I would recommend London for people who enjoy bigger cities and Paris for people who enjoy more leisurely vacations.

Winner: Tie (Depends on what kind of vacation you like)

View of Eiffel Tower from Champs des Mars in pink sunset; August 2025

Housing 

Housing is far more expensive in London than it is in Paris – but the plus side of living in London over Paris is that the apartments are often much newer or refurbished in comparison to Paris’s older Haussmann buildings, of which are infamous for mold or plumbing problems.  New York City is still more expensive than London in terms of housing.

As a whole, if you value living alone, being close to every in a city, and don’t mind small apartments – Paris is the way to go. However, if newer buildings are more your style and roommates don’t bother you – it’s possible you might prefer housing in London.  

🏠 Average Rent Prices — London vs. Paris

🏙️ Studio Apartment

Paris: €900–€1,200/month — and yes, this is often possible within central Paris, including arrondissements 1–4.

London: £1,300–£1,600/month — finding a true studio at this price in central London is extremely difficult, if not unrealistic.

🛏️ One-Bedroom

Paris: €1,200–€1,600/month — many people are still able to live alone inside the city, even relatively close to the center.

London: £1,700–£2,200/month — one-bedroom flats in central zones often push renters toward shared housing instead.

🏠 Two-Bedroom

Paris: €1,700–€2,200/month — often shared between roommates, but still attainable within city limits.

London: £2,400–£3,000+/month — two-bedroom flats are significantly more expensive, even outside of the most central neighborhoods.

However, just note that while apartments in Paris are significantly cheaper than in London – the apartments in Paris are generally much older, and often require renovation or have other caveats (i.e, mold, building age) that need to be addressed prior to purchasing or even moving in.

Personally, for me – the housing situation in London is one of the many reasons I could never live there. As the daughter of a New Yorker, I really value being walking distance to my favorite places in the city and living alone.

Winner: Paris

View of Big Ben from Trafalgar Square; December 2025

Transportation

Paris and London both have excellent public transportation systems, but each one has its pros and cons.

Both cities have a wide variety of public transport: from busses and underground light rail systems.

The table below will compare and contrast London’s underground and Paris’s metro:

🚇 London Underground vs. Paris Metro

Category	🇫🇷 Paris Metro	🇬🇧 London Underground
🎟️ Single Ride Cost	€2.50 (≈ $2.70 USD)	£2.80 (≈ $3.55 USD)
👥 Crowds & Seating	Often packed like sardines in a can — especially on older lines such as Line 8. Seating is frequently arranged in the middle, making standing crowds feel tighter.	Still crowded, but generally better structured with seating along the sides, making trains feel more spacious and organized.
🧼 Cleanliness	About the same overall — functional, but not sparkling clean.	Comparable to Paris; cleanliness varies by line and station.
🔊 Noise Level	Much louder — the system is older, and even newer trains tend to make significant noise.	Noticeably quieter and smoother in comparison.
🗺️ Network Reach	Extends well beyond the city center and deep into the suburbs.	Also stretches far outside central London into surrounding suburban areas.

Ultimately, as someone who lives in Paris and despises taking the metro – I prefer London’s public transportation when I travel. That being said, I do think that Paris’s public transportation is far simpler to navigate and much easier for tourists to understand – making it better for travelers in a pinch. I didn’t start getting the hang of the London metro after 3 trips to the city, whereas Paris I understood right off the bat.

There are pros and cons to both, but I ultimately think that taking London’s public transportation is less miserable than in Paris.

However, I do find that London’s bus system is more developed and well-known than in New York City. Personally, as a long-time New Yorker – I find the edge that New York City has over London is that at the end of the day, you can walk to where you need to go in Manhattan, and the same can’t said of Central London.

Winner: London

Architecture

As I mentioned earlier, both London and Paris have that “big European city” vibe to everyone – with an old-world feeling that can’t be replicated in cities like Tokyo or New York City.

Some people who visit London enjoy the sharp contrast of its old buildings against the newer ones such as the Shard, O2, and Canary Wharf. However, as someone who consider Paris as the most beautiful city in the world (and still calling it that after years of living here) – I truly think the architecture in Paris is more stunning.

Nothing in London can beat gorgeous monuments like the Sacré-Cœur, Notre-Dame, Palais Garnier and Haussamnn style buildings as a whole.

Winner: Paris

Paris Haussmann style buildings; August 2025

Food & Cuisine

Food is well renowned in both London and Paris, but London as a whole has more to offer for everyone – especially people with special diets from veganism to gluten free.

Paris is better for people truly enjoy French cuisine, pastries, and cute bakeries – whereas I find London better for bottomless eaters, where anything your heart desires can be found. This is because London not only offers its own fun cuisine such as Yorkshire pudding, sausage rolls, and the classic English breakfast – but incredible international cuisine.

Winner: Tie (both have their moments!)

Dining Out

There’s no contest: I definitely prefer dining out in Paris over London.

While London is indeed calmer than places like New York City, and doesn’t rush its guests out the door for a high turnover rate – there is a certain art to eating in a café or brasserie in Paris that can’t be replicated elsewhere.

Plus, I don’t have a service charge in London – and no one comes to bother me asking how the food is. That being said, if you prefer more traditional service and being waited on, you may prefer dining out in London over Paris.

Winner: Paris

Café in Paris; December 2025

Shopping

As someone who is lived in Paris for years, let me tell you… it’s hard to shop here.

Whether it be for arts and crafts, home supplies, or a basic blazer for a job interview – it’s hard to not find things at an affordable price without stepping into a couture or department store.

London is more like the United States, as in its easier to shop for affordable or daily household items you might need in a pinch. This includes larger pharmacies like boots, more stores like Primark, and even having TK Maxx (the UK’s version of TJ Maxx).

Without a doubt, I personally find it easier to shop in London in Paris – as there is a wider variety of options in a more adorable price range, with the option to also shop more “designer” if you wish to. That being said, there is a lot of quality in Paris department stores like Galeries Lafayette is known to be good – but I am not someone to spend a lot of money on clothes, so I prefer London’s approach to shopping.

Winner: London

Culture

 London and Paris may both be European cities, but culturally – they are completely different.

Paris sees a glass half full, contemplates its surroundings, and deems itself as resigned. London, on the other hand, likes to reminisce a bit – but it’s more rooted on the ground in present day reality, and doesn’t think how much beer is in the pint: it just drinks it.

“London is satisfied, Paris is resigned, but New York is always hopeful. Always it believes that something good is about to come off, and it must hurry to meet it.”

— Dorothy Parker

Ultimately, London is more of a mix of European culture and American culture – whereas Paris is its own culture entirely.

The table below will compare the culture between London and Paris:

🎭 Cultural Differences — London vs. Paris 🇬🇧🇫🇷

Category	🇫🇷 Paris	🇬🇧 London
💍 Marriage & Single Life	Paris still subtly views women alone as “less than,” especially past a certain age. There’s often an unspoken expectation of partnership, even if it’s never said outright.	I haven’t spent enough time in London to know fully, but it appears closer to NYC — where career-oriented lives and remaining single longer are far more socially accepted.
🌴 Vacation & Work-Life Balance	Paris offers significantly more time off. Between paid leave and RTT, many full-time workers (myself included) get around 33 days off per year, not including sick leave.	The UK legally mandates 28 days of paid leave per year (including bank holidays), which is still far better than the U.S., but less generous than France. Source: UK holiday entitlement
🗣️ People & Social Interaction	In Paris, politeness is essential before expecting any help or response — starting with a “bonjour,” and often followed by additional flattery or courtesy. This dynamic is perfectly illustrated in Emily in Paris .	I find people in the UK generally have a better sense of humor and are easier to approach. Conversations feel lighter, and social exchanges often happen more naturally.
☕ Pace of Life	Paris finds any excuse to slow down — lingering in cafés, parks, or over long lunches. Productivity exists, but enjoyment of the present moment is prioritized.	London strikes a balance between hustle and relaxation — fast-paced during the workweek, but equally committed to unwinding over a pint.

I live in Paris, so many may presume I prefer the culture here over London – but honestly, I have an affinity for the cultural vibe in London, too. Again, I think each one has its pros and cons – and it depends what you value most (i.e., independence or more vacation days).

Winner: Tie

Cleanliness

I’ve heard so many comments over the years that “Paris is dirty” – but I think this is because thee statements came from travelers from exceptionally clean cities like Tokyo or Perth. In other words, if you’ve been to New York, London, or Rome – you won’t find Paris to be dirty.

That being said, London is pretty clean considering the big city that it is. At the end of the day, I would say that both cities are as equally clean as they are dirty.

Winner: Tie

Oxford street in London during Christmas; December 2025

Lifestyle & City Pace

London and Paris, while sharing some lifestyle similarities, ultimately have very different lifestyles – with London being arguably far more energetic than Paris ever ventures to be.

Paris has cafés and London has pub culture, so both like to take a moment away from work to let the air breathe – but the difference in the air itself in each city is palpable.

London has a much more “big city” vibe than Paris does, meaning it’s awake for longer hours in the day and moves at a faster pace than Paris wants to, even in the middle of the day.

New York is electric, relentless, and determined at any hour of the day – whereas London is more laid-back, satisfied, and willing to change the tempo to a slower one every once in a while.

As a whole, I find London more suitable for people who need an in between balance – and New York City best for people who like something new every second.

Personally, living in Paris and having also lived in New York City – I appreciate London as it has almost a hodgepodge lifestyle of the two cities, but on a day to day basis I do prefer Paris.

Winner: Tie (Depends on what you want/what you’re looking for in a city)

Walking around Covent Garden in London; December 2025

People

The people in London and Paris couldn’t be more different. From my experience, people in London are almost always willing to help – this includes customer service and strangers on the street alike. In Paris, I don’t dare to ever ask a stranger for something on the street – and customer service is known to be a hard pass in France.

That being said, Parisians aren’t always as rude as they seem – but from my experience, it isn’t the norm. I would say out of every 5 workers in a store, maybe 1 will be helpful. However, you can get lucky – as my local pharmacy near the Eiffel Tower has the nicest people in it.

I haven’t lived in London, but it’s more international and cosmopolitan vibe in comparison to Paris leads me to believe that it’s more similar to New York – as in that the expats and longtime London locals are far less rigid that Parisians are.

Ultimately, I do prefer the people in London – as there’s less of a toss-up and they are generally less annoyed.

Winner: London

City Ambiance

Paris and London couldn’t have more different auras. As a whole, Paris is much moodier than London – who prides itself on maturity and pragmatism.

London has a very steady and satisfied atmosphere that Paris doesn’t even attempt to relate to, but that’s part of the beauty of Paris – she’s resigned, stuck in the past, and still tries to emit beauty despite that fact.

Ultimately, for me – I do prefer Paris’s ambiance over London as it’s more congruent with my current life, but I also appreciate London’s atmosphere whenever I visit.

Winner: Paris (But I appreciate London, too!)

View of Eiffel Tower in the sun on the seine; December 2025

Which City Should I Live In: London or Paris?

If you enjoy high-energy cities with a mix of old history and new, cutting edge skyscrapers with a dose of dry humor on the side – you’ll fall in love with life with London. But for those who love long leisurely walks, contemplating the past, and savoring small treats or sips of coffee – Paris is the better place to be.

Like this article about the differences between Paris and London? 

Be sure to read my other posts on London and Paris – as I’ve lived in or visited both cities extensively and can help if you’re planning a trip to either city!

Additional articles you may find helpful include:

• 20 Best Things to Do in London

• 10 Most Prettiest & Charming Streets in Paris

• 10 Underrated & Non-Touristy Places to Visit in Paris

• 10 Best Neighborhoods in Paris: Where to Stay (A Local’s Guide)

Last updated: January 6, 2026