New York City vs. Paris: Which City Is Better?
New York vs. Paris: it’s the time old tale of two of the world’s most captivating cities and which one is better.
While Paris and New York are often compared, and do share similarities, the two cities have entirely different personalities – with New York being the go-getter high achiever in the classroom who loves public speaking, and Paris being the quiet, introverted-but-opinionated poetry writer in the back.
New York City, penned as the “greatest city in the world” by many – never takes a break with its bustling crowds and incessant stimulation. Paris, on the other hand, likes to stop and smell the roses – as it’s a city drenched in history and intricate architecture.
Which city is better: Paris or New York?
As someone who has lived and spent extensive time in both cities over several years, I’m going to give you a full breakdown of New York vs. Paris.
View of Manhattan from Pebble Brook Beach; November 2024
New York City vs. Paris: Differences Between the Two Cities at a Glance
Besides being characterized for their bagels and baguettes, here’s a snapshot of some of the main differences between New York and Paris:
| Category | 🇫🇷 Paris | 🇺🇸 New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 2.1 million inside the city limits; Greater Paris region: 11.3 million | 1.5 million in Manhattan alone; Greater NYC region: 23.5 million people |
| Lifestyle | Appreciates a slower pace of life and values stress relief | All about the hustle — fast-paced, high-energy living |
| City Size | 41 square miles | All 5 boroughs: 304 sq miles (but Manhattan is only 23 sq mi) |
| Eating Habits & Cuisine | Known for sitting at restos and taking their time — long lunches and light breakfasts | Grab-and-go meals are the norm, especially during the work week |
| Climate | Grey, mild winters and long, often sunny summer days | Frigid winters, muggy summers — but more sun in winter than Paris |
| Cost of Living | Lower rent and universal healthcare via the Carte Vitale; median income is lower than in NYC | Higher rent, plus private healthcare costs — but a higher median income |
| Accessibility & Hours | Things often closed during lunch and on Sundays/Mondays; peak weekend outdoor hours start around 5 PM | The city never sleeps — it’s busy at all hours, all days of the week |
View of Paris from Hôtel Dame des Arts; July 2024
How are NYC and Paris similar?
Contrary to what most people think, New York and Paris aren’t as different as you might think – as both are densely populated cities with cosmopolitan influence.
Similarity in Size
For instance, Paris has around 2.1 million people living within the city limits, and Manhattan has 1.5 million residents – both of which are filled with foreign residents, which help to shape the personality of each capital city.
Cultural Influence
Paris is home to a lot of Middle Eastern, North African, and Asian immigrants – resulting in a lot of Asian and Middle Eastern food in the city. In NYC, you’ll see a lot of Italian and Jewish places – such as in Little Italy.
This is because Paris is more visibly shaped by post-colonial immigration from Africa and Asia, and New York was inspired by European immigration. While the two cities were influenced by entirely different cultures, they share one main thing in common: having been influenced to build their character in the first place.
Worldwide Recognized Monuments
Both cities also have distinct monuments recognized around the world, such as:
| 🇺🇸 New York | 🇫🇷 Paris |
|---|---|
| Empire State Building | Eiffel Tower |
| Chrysler Building | Sacré-Cœur |
| The Met | Le Louvre |
| St. Patrick’s Cathedral | Notre-Dame de Paris |
Did you know that the Statue of Liberty isn’t only in New York? There are 5 miniature Statue of Liberties scattered around Paris!
However, in terms of city layout – Paris is actually closer in layout to Washington D.C. than New York City – as NYC is mostly a straightforward grid, especially in Midtown where tourists dwell.
Times Square on a sunny day in New York City; November 2024
Which City Is More Difficult to Live In: New York or Paris?
New York City is infinitely more difficult to live in than Paris due to its more energetic pace and higher cost of living – as rent, healthcare, and groceries are much more expensive in New York than in Paris.
Life in New York
Healthcare: New York City is some of the most expensive in the United States as a whole, with individuals paying upward of $14,000 USD per year.
Housing: While easier to find in New York City than in Paris, is also more expensive – with the average rent for a studio in Manhattan costing $3,600 USD. This is why most people, even well into their 20s and 30s – have roommates in NYC.
Grocery Shopping: It’s more challenging to go grocery shopping New York City, and also inconvenient in NYC as opposed to Paris. In New York, affordable places to grocery shop are sparse and limited. When I lived in the West Village, the closest Trader Joe’s to me was in Hudson Square a 25-minute walk away from where I lived.
View of Empire State Building in New York; November 2024
Life in Paris
Healthcare: Living in Paris, I have access to a Carte Vitale – otherwise known as a healthcare reimbursement card that often allows up to 70% of my medical care expenses to be reimbursed. In Paris, there are strict laws for renters – such as how it’s illegal to rent out apartment with the lowest energy rating, and landlords can’t increase the rent on properties below a certain energy rating.
Housing: While housing in Paris is extremely difficult to secure, rent is ultimately much cheaper in Paris than in New York City.
Grocery Shopping: In Paris, grocery shopping is infinitely easier. You’ll find a Carrefour, Franprix, Monoprix, Auchan, or U-Express every few blocks. For instance, I live a mere 140 meters, or 460 feet, away from my nearest supermarket in Paris.
Is Living in Paris Expensive?
Everyone is always asking me if grocery shopping or living in Paris is expensive, but since I lived in New York City, San Francisco, and the Washington D.C. area – grocery prices don’t phase me in Paris. However, it’s important to remember that the price different is all relative to where you’re coming from. In other words, if you’re from a big city in the U.S. like New York – you won’t find Paris to be expensive.
View of Eiffel Tower on Rue de l'Université; Janaury 2022
Which City Is More Beautiful: New York or Paris?
Paris is without a doubt more beautiful and visually appealing than New York City. This is because New York, while enticing with all of its lights and skyscrapers, lacks the authentic, old-time charm that is conspicuous on almost every corner in Paris.
Remember, New York isn’t “pretty” – it’s high-energy and exciting.
New york vs. Paris
Here’s a full breakdown of the two cities to help you decide whether New York or Paris is right for you:
Cost of living
New York City is ultimately much more expensive to live in than Paris. On average, everything from housing, healthcare, transportation, and food is more expensive in the Big Apple than in the City of Lights.
Here’s a table breaking down the average cost of living in New York vs. Paris:
| Category | New York City 🗽 | Paris 🇫🇷 |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries (Weekly) | $45 USD | €40 EUR |
| Public Transport (Monthly) | $132 (MTA) | €86.40 (Navigo) |
| Healthcare (Monthly) | Min. $600 | €40 |
| Rent (1BR Apartment - City Center) | ~$3,400/month | ~€1,400/month |
| WiFi + Phone Plan | ~$120/month (Verizon or AT&T) | €74/month (Orange – 80GB data + high-speed WiFi) |
Tourism
You can’t go wrong when choosing to travel to either New York or Paris, as both cities are distinct and offer a lot to see and do for both long and short stay trips.
Both New York and Paris are some of the most desirable places to visit in the world. In fact, France is the most visited country in the world –with over 100 million visitors in 2024 alone. Paris had 48.7 million tourists in 2024, with New York welcoming 64 million visitors.
Paris is a great place for a vacation if you want to simply exist. While the city is known for iconic monuments such as the Sacre-Cour, Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower – Paris personality shines most in its quiet moments in parks or cafés. If you’re up for a holiday to read, people watch, and eat your heart out in French pastries – Paris is the better option.
New York, on the other hand, is the place to go if you want a world tour in a week – and are interesting in a “trip” over a “vacation”. This is because New York City always has something to do at any and all hours of the day or night. Plus, neighborhoods like Chinatown and Little Italy can provide you with a cultural and culinary whirlwind to occupy you once you’ve finished your New York City bucket list.
Which city is more affordable for tourists?
Honestly, every time I go to New York – I end up spending more money than I do in Paris. I find Paris easier to enjoy “for free” as a tourist with more free views of the city, affordable meals from local bakeries, and enjoying the city’s best parks.
I do think that eating out, souvenirs, and excursions are more expensive in New York (i.e., visiting the State of Liberty, going up the Top of the Rock) in comparison to Paris.
Is New York or Paris Better for Solo Travelers?
Both Paris and New York are excellent solo travel destinations, as Paris was the first city I traveled in solo at 18 without an issue and also having traveled NYC by myself around the same age. The only thing I would say that could make Paris more difficult as a solo traveler is the potential language barrier if you don’t speak French.
Should I Go to Paris or New York?
Both cities can easily keep you entertained for a full week and are amazing to visit on vacation, but in terms of which one is better depends on what you’re looking to get out of your trip. If you’re up for non-stop travel days, a lot walking, and trying foods from all over the world in one place – traveling to New York City is the better option. However, if you want a more slow-paced vacation, leisurely meals, and museum wandering – I’d pick to go to Paris.
Winner: Tie
View of the Eiffel Tower from the top of the Panthéon in Paris; June 2024
Housing
As explained before, housing in both of the cities comes with its own challenges – but rent in NYC is ultimately more expensive than in Paris.
It’s true that it’s easier to afford to live alone in Paris than it is to rent out your own apartment without roommates in New York. However, cost aside, the buildings in New York are newer and more maintained than those in Paris – as the old, Haussmann are prone to poor insulation, mold, and out-dated piping if not maintained.
There are stricter laws for tenants in Paris, such as it being near impossible to kick someone out during the winter – which could bring renters in Paris more relief than in New York City.
This all being said, it is much easier to find and maintain an apartment in New York than it is in Paris
Winner: NYC
Transportation
New York and Paris are known for their iconic subways and metros respectively, with both being known for their caveats – especially as NYC has faced several subway accidents over the past year.
As a whole, I find NYC’s subway much more confusing than Paris’s metro system – but New York’s subway carts are much bigger than the metro carts in Paris. This is also because the seats are on the side instead of in the middle, which allow for more people to stand and avoid overcrowding – something that Paris’s metro is known for.
New York is making a consistent effort to improve subway safety, and Paris is currently revamping and expanding old metro lines to make public transportation more accessible for everyone.
Winner: Tie
View of New York City from Hudson River Pier Park; November 2024
Architecture
New York City and Paris couldn’t look anymore different on the outside, with Paris valuing old architecture and New York being a more modern city – constantly building and tearing down things in favor of newer, more modernized architecture.
In terms of aesthetics, there’s no competition – Paris is visually more appealing than New York City in every which way. The city’s cobblestone streets, seine river, and green spaces make it a painting come-to-life that New York can’t compare with.
Winner: Paris
Food & Cuisine
Both cities offer incredible food, but if I had to pick one city to eat in forever – it would be in New York City.
As a vegan, New York has so much more to offer – and its international influence means any kind of food I want can be available to me at any time of day (or night). Whether it’s sushi, burgers, tacos, or pasta – I can usually satisfy my craving a lot easier in NYC than in Paris.
Vegan sushi at Beyond Sushi in New York City; November 2023
However, I am still in love with the fresh baguettes and pastries I get to enjoy in my daily life in Paris – even almost 4 years after living here. This alone makes Paris a close runner up, as I couldn’t imagine being without my local boulangerie anymore.
Winner: NYC, but Paris as a close second!
Dining Out
Eating out in Paris is far more enjoyable than in New York City. In the U.S., waiters will continuously check on you hoping for a nice tip at the end, and then attempt to push you out of the restaurant by bringing you the bill.
In Paris, and the rest of France, you’ll order your meal – and sit there for as long as you want.
I have never felt out of place people watching or writing in my journal at a restaurant in Paris the way I have in New York City.
It may be challenging at times to get the waiter’s attention for the bill, but I would rather eat out in Paris than in New York City any day.
Winner: Paris
Eating a crêpe in Paris; February 2023
Shopping
Both Paris and New York are known for high end fashion, such as the stores to be found on the Champs-Élysées or on 5th Avenue.
However, if we’re putting fashion aside and considering all shopping – such as toiletries, house supplies, and other various items you might need to buy for you daily life – New York City wins by far.
In Paris, you may have to go to a very specific store if you need something – such as Fnac (an electronic store) for a portable battery or Leroy Merlin (a home improvement store) for command strips. In New York, I could go to Target and get everything I need in one shot.
Winner: NYC
Culture
The two cities couldn’t be more different culturally, as Paris is a about work-life balance whereas New York City prides itself on hard work, growth, and never-stopping until all your dreams come true.
Paris, while not as exhausting as New York in some ways, can prove exceptionally challenging for foreigners – as language and immigration status can be emotionally taxing and failing to speak French can make it difficult to complete everyday tasks.
French Culture is much more traditional than in New York, as in Paris – you’ll find everyone to be wearing basic colors such as white, black, and beige. New York is more gaudy, buoyant – than Paris could ever be. This is where I once more refer to my “student in a classroom” example I mentioned at the start of the article.
In Paris, people enjoy drinking à la terrasse for hours on end – whereas someone in New York isn’t as likely to sit for a coffee for the sake of watching the world go by.
View of Jardin des Tuileries in Paris; July 2021
On a personal note, I have struggled to fit in with Parisian culture much more than I ever did with New York City.
Paris is more historically-rich and traditional, whereas New York is more modern and open-minded with influences from other countries and its heavy international feel.
There are things I adore about Parisian culture, align with on New York culture, dread about Parisian culture, and can’t stand about New York… making it impossible for me to choose one over the other – they work best as a pair, where one brings something to the table that the other never could.
Winner: Tie
Cleanliness
This one is a toss-up, as in New York – dozens of trash bags can accumulate on the sidewalks of NYC for days at a time, of which I almost rarely see in Paris.
On the other way, Paris doesn’t have a law requiring people to clean up after their dogs – resulting in dirty streets in otherwise charming neighborhoods.
Winner: Tie
Washington Square Park as the leaves change in New York City; November 2024
Lifestyle & City Pace
The way I explain New York City’s pace to people is by sharing this story from my college days.
One summer, my friends and I from high school took a day trip to New York City. We met with our mutual friend, Alex, who had been living in the city for 7 months by the time we visited in August.
I took a trip to NYC in March of that year, when Alex had just moved to the city. He was in the East Village, loving walking around, taking photos, trying new foods – living his best NYC life, if you will.
When we sat down for lunch in the West Village that August, I asked him,
“Hey Alex, how are you?”
His replied to me, deflated,
“This city… has taken… everything… out of me…”
I think a lot of people would like to live in New York City in theory, but in reality – few can handle its exceptional pace of life. In this sense, Paris is more approachable – as Paris likes to go to sleep and New York City never does.
Paris is moody, contemplative, reflective, and resigned – whereas New York City is determined, electric, and running on fumes.
Ultimately, daily life in Paris is much easier than in New York City. That being said, surrounding towns in the Île-de-France region and being situated in Europe allow for more travel adventures than in New York, where, like the rest of the U.S. – you’ll really need a car to properly explore.
Personally, once again, I prefer a mix of the two – I want New York City’s chaos to re-energize me, and I want Paris to let me collapse into my thoughts when I’m feeling lost.
Winner: Tie
Sunset along the seine with a view of the Eiffel Tower; January 2022
People
Everyone loves to talk about how rude New Yorkers are, but the truth is – New Yorkers aren’t trying to be rude to you. They just have places to be, people to see, and things to do – meaning they don’t have the patience to answer you calmly.
I can’t say the same for Parisians. After living here for several years. Even speaking decent French, Parisians are much more likely to be flippant – and I attest that to cultural differences. They aren’t warm to you in restaurants as they don’t rely on tips for a living. They aren’t eager to help you find what you need in a store because their culture isn’t set-up to require them to work.
In the U.S., if something bad happens, nothing and no one is coming to save you – you have to save yourself. In France, if you lose your job or get hit by a bus – the government and public healthcare system is coming to your rescue.
New Yorkers have initiative that Parisians simply don’t have, and that isn’t meant to be an insult – but an observation of how culture can shape our personalities.
If you’re wondering if it’s actual thing that Parisians are rude, when it comes to customer service, the answer is yes – but it doesn’t mean there aren’t kind people in France at all… but they are a little more challenging to find, as the French are like coconuts.
I’ve met wonderful French people. My neighbors, my colleagues, and some waiters that were more personable than in NYC… but if I had to choose, I would go with the people in New York.
Winner: NYC
View of the Chrysler Building in New York City at night; November 2024
City Ambiance
I like to think of the difference in ambiance between New York City and Paris as the difference between following your head and your heart.
New York City is more logical, likely to suppress what it’s feeling and “power through” – whereas Paris is capable of slowing down, and taking a moment to identify what it’s feeling. New York City is more about resilience, and Paris is more about acceptance.
Paris depicts the beauty of getting lost, begging you to wander in its streets a reminisce on the past, while New York pushes you to keep moving forward – in a straight line, where any wrong turn can be easily corrected.
I personally believe that both cities have something unique to offer and one city may draw you more depending on the time of your life and what you may be needing most.
In fact, I often refer NYC and Paris as the ultimate power couple – as each city has something to offer that the other never could, making them the perfect complimentary pair.
Winner: Tie
Street view of Paris; January 2022
Which City Should I Live In: New York or Paris?
If you want to be in a place that motivates you to work non-stop until all of your dreams come true, choose the hustle and bustle of New York. However, if you’re looking for a more balance lifestyle conducive to a slower place that could prove challenging for NYC to offer – Paris is the better choice.
Ultimately, New York vs. Paris depends on what you’re after in life… but together, the two cities make for an unstoppable power couple that many of us can only dream about being a part of.
Want to hear more about the differences between New York and Paris? Watch my video below!
Last updated: June 6, 2025