Paris is not the cheapest city. A basic hotel room in a central area can easily run you €150 a night, and that’s before you’ve inevitably spent €50 splurging on patisserie.
So if you’re on a budget, hostels are the way to go. And for me, the best hostel often means the cheapest one – so long as it’s not an absolute dump.
I lived in Paris for half a year, and I’ve been to plenty of its hostels. I even lived at one for two months (more on that below). Here are the cheapest hostels in Paris that are actually worth staying at – five I’ve been to myself, plus three more well-reviewed options.
Quick Answer: The Cheapest Good Hostels in Paris
Best value: Generator Paris (dorms from about €23, my score: 7/10)
Most social: St Christopher’s Gare du Nord (from about €23, my score: 7.5/10)
Best in summer: St Christopher’s Canal, right on the canal (from about €22, my score: 6/10)
Best location (and free breakfast): BVJ Opéra-Montmartre (from about €37, my score: 7.5/10)
Best nicer option (the best dorms): The People Paris Marais (from about €49, my score: 9/10)
Note: Prices are the cheapest dorm bed on Hostelworld, checked for weekdays and weekends from November 2026 to March 2027, before city tax. Paris hostel prices swing a lot – expect to pay up to double in summer and on weekends, so book early if your dates are fixed.
The Cheapest Hostels in Paris I’ve Been To
1. Generator Paris (From €23)
Price: dorms usually €25-50 a night
Where: Place du Colonel Fabien, 10th arrondissement, a 5-minute walk from the Canal Saint-Martin
7.7 rating from 9,400+ reviews on Hostelworld
Breakfast: not included (€9.50)
My Score: 7/10
One of the cheapest beds on this list, and possibly the best value. Generator is a big, designer-style hostel chain with hostels all over Europe.
The highlight is the rooftop bar with views of Montmartre (open in the warmer months, roughly May to October), and there’s a nightclub in the basement for when the rooftop closes. There’s also a café that’s open until 2:00 AM, and private rooms if you’re not in the mood for a dorm.
My stay wasn’t the greatest. There was a problem with the pipes and they had no running water all day, which was far from ideal. But the rooms and vibe were solid, so assuming they don’t burst their pipes every day you should be fine.
I stayed in an 8-bed dorm with a shared bathroom. One thing I’ll mention is they did not have privacy curtains – which doesn’t really bother me, because I just hang a towel. Gets the job done.
The main downside is that you’re pretty far from the main center. That being said, you’re close to the Canal, which is one of my favorite areas. You’ll have to take the metro (or bike!) to get to Paris’ main attractions.
2. St Christopher’s Gare du Nord (From €23)
Price: dorms usually €25-50 a night
Where: Rue de Dunkerque, 10th arrondissement, 2 minutes from Gare du Nord
7.5 rating from 23,800+ reviews on Hostelworld
Breakfast: not included (€7)
My Score: 7.5/10
St Christopher’s is the cheapest hostel chain in Paris, and this is the better of its two locations.
Every St Christopher’s comes with its trademark Belushi’s Bar downstairs, which makes it one of the most social places to stay in the city. Guests get 2-for-1 drinks and 25% off food, which in Paris is not nothing.
The location is great if you’re arriving by train (or plane) – it’s right by Gare du Nord, so if you’re coming from anywhere north (including the Eurostar from London), you’ll have a one-minute walk to the hostel. And the CDG Airport train passes through Gare du Nord as well.
The beds are pods with privacy curtains, too. There are options for rooms with and without a private bathroom (slightly more expensive).
All in all, I had a fine experience here. I’ve stayed here on a few occasions. It’s not center center, but at this price point the location is as good as it gets.
The downsides: there’s no (or at least very little) air-conditioning, so it gets hot in summer. The area around Gare du Nord isn’t the nicest at night, either. But it’s not too far of a walk from better areas.
3. St Christopher’s Canal (From €22)
Price: dorms usually €22-45 a night
Where: Rue de Crimée, 19th arrondissement, right on the Bassin de la Villette
7.6 rating from 25,800+ reviews on Hostelworld
Breakfast: not included (€7)
My Score: 6/10
Similar price, similar rooms, different vibe. This one sits right on the Bassin de la Villette, the big canal basin in the 19th.
In the summer, this is a great spot. The waterfront is always popping when the weather’s nice – people picnicking along the edge, boat rides, games, and even spots to swim. The 19th is one of the most underrated areas in Paris, and barely anyone goes there. But it’s the perfect place to stay in the summer.
But I wouldn’t stay here at any other time of year. You’re a fair way out from the center (about 4 km), and without the summer scene on the canal, there’s not much reason to be up here. Take it from me, I stayed here in the winter and left after one night.
The rooms are pretty much the same as the St Christopher’s by Gare du Nord, so I won’t bother reiterating.
4. BVJ Opéra-Montmartre (From €37)
Price: dorms usually €35-50 a night
Where: Rue de la Tour des Dames, 9th arrondissement, about 10 minutes’ walk from the Opéra
8.1 rating from 3,500+ reviews on Hostelworld
Breakfast: included
My Score: 7.5/10
If you want a more Parisian vibe, this is the one.
The location is maybe the best of any hostel in the city. You’re in the lower 9th, which is one of my favorite areas in Paris: walking distance to the Opéra, Montmartre and Rue des Martyrs, and close enough to walk to the Louvre and Seine.
And the lobby is insane. It’s in a historic building with a courtyard, which is kind of awesome.
I will say that the rooms are pretty mediocre. The beds are meh, and I remember there being very few power outlets in the room, or at least not near the beds – which anyone who stays in hostels knows is very annoying.
Also, I remember the towel rentals being laughably expensive (like €7 or something), so bring your own.
The price point is slightly higher than the earlier options, but the location and free breakfast arguably make up for it.
Note: BVJ is cash only – there’s no card machine at reception, and the city tax is paid in cash, too. Bring euros.
5. The People Paris Marais: The Best Nicer Option (From €49)
Price: dorms usually €50-80 a night
Where: Boulevard Morland, 4th arrondissement, at the edge of the Marais by the Seine
8.3 rating from 1,800+ reviews on Hostelworld
Breakfast: not included
My Score: 9/10
If you can spend a few euros more, this is the one. The People Marais is a step up from every other hostel on this list – especially the dorms.
When I first arrived in Paris for my study abroad, I didn’t have an apartment. I figured I’d find one quickly enough, and stayed at a hostel in the meantime.
When it was all said and done, I’d lived there for two months and had become the longest-ever client of The People Paris Marais. So I feel obligated to give them a good review. But it certainly deserves it.
The dorms are a lot nicer than anywhere else on this list. They’re modern and clean, and each bed has its own blackout curtain, reading light, plug and locker, so you actually get some privacy (and sleep). The kitchen and lounges are nice, and it has a bar on the second floor with events every now and then.
The location is perfect: an easy walk into the Marais, and close to the islands in the middle of the Seine. The People has a few other locations in Paris, but the Marais one is by far the most central.
The catch: it’s more pricey than the others (the prices have gone up recently), and it’s more boutique hotel than party hostel. You’ll meet people chilling in the lounge and kitchen as opposed to at a packed bar. Which might be a pro, depending on who you are.
More Cheap Hostels in Paris Worth a Look
Note: I haven’t stayed at these three, but they’re well-reviewed, reasonably cheap, and in good areas. Prices and ratings are from Hostelworld as of October 2026.
6. MIJE Marais (From €47)
Price: dorms around €45-50 a night
Where: in the heart of the Marais, 4th arrondissement
7.8 rating from 4,100+ reviews on Hostelworld
Breakfast: included
A hostel in 17th-century buildings, right in the middle of the Marais. MIJE is actually three hostels in three old townhouses (Fourcy, Fauconnier and Maubuisson), all a few minutes’ walk from each other, so double-check which one you’ve booked.
I was tempted to stay here on my last trip in the summer of 2026. I ended up staying at the Generator because the price was half, but I’ll get to MIJE eventually.
Breakfast is included and when you take into account its location, it’s no doubt one of the best-value places to stay in central Paris. Just know it’s a quieter, more old-school hostel: no bar, not every building has an elevator (or lift, for you Brits), and some reviewers mentioned the rooms close for cleaning in the middle of the day.
7. The People Paris Belleville (From €30)
Price: dorms usually €30-60 a night
Where: Boulevard de Belleville, a minute from Belleville metro
8.1 rating from 5,600+ reviews on Hostelworld
Breakfast: not included (from €5)
Formerly the well-known Les Piaules, now part of The People. It’s in Belleville, an interesting and polarizing neighborhood on one of the few hills of Paris.
I may not have stayed here, but I can tell from photos and reviews that the hostel itself has the same pros as The People in the Marais. Clean and modern rooms, beds with privacy curtains, lights, plugs and lockers. There’s a bar downstairs and a rooftop with views across Paris (again, Belleville is on a hill).
But the location isn’t quite as good as its counterpart. I mentioned that Belleville is polarizing – it’s a neighborhood known for its street art, which a lot of people appreciate – but to me it’s just graffiti, making the neighborhood kind of lack that Paris charm. But to each his own.
That said, it’s located close to the Belleville metro station, so you can get to the center in no time on line 11.
8. Le Regent Montmartre (From €34)
Price: dorms usually €35-45 a night, up to €75 on busy weekends
Where: Boulevard de Rochechouart, at the foot of Montmartre
8.1 rating from 7,200+ reviews on Hostelworld
Not the cheapest on this list, but you’re right below the Sacré-Cœur. Montmartre is one of the coolest areas in the city – definitely not a bad place to wake up.
There’s a shared kitchen (handy for saving money) and a terrace. Ratings are generally pretty good. Complaints are mostly about small, dated bathrooms and not enough plugs by the beds, which seems to be a recurring issue with these older buildings.
Which Area Should You Stay In?
First things first – it doesn’t matter all that much. Paris is so walkable (and bike-able!) and the metro is so good that you can get anywhere from anywhere.
That said, there’s no doubt that it’s nice to be able to walk straight out of your hostel and into a beautiful area. Plus, it’s helpful to have a place that doesn’t take 30 minutes to get back to, if you want to lie in your bed for a quick break. I’ve been there.
Here’s how I’d think about it:
Central and charming: the Marais (The People, MIJE) or the lower 9th (BVJ).
Cheap and social: the 10th (Generator, St Christopher’s Gare du Nord).
Summer: the 19th, by the canal (St Christopher’s Canal).
Montmartre: Le Regent.
For a lot more detail on each area, check out my guide to the best arrondissements to stay in in Paris.
Tips for Booking a Cheap Hostel in Paris
Book Early for Summer
Summer is peak season in Paris, and hostel prices can double. If your dates are fixed, book as early as you can. Or come in the fall – it’s my favorite time to be in Paris anyway.
Don’t Forget about the City Tax
Paris charges a tourist tax per person, per night, and most hostels add it on top of the price you booked, usually at check-in. It’s not huge, but factor it in.
Check What’s Included
Breakfast, towels and lockers are often extra. Of the hostels above, only BVJ and MIJE include breakfast. Bring your own padlock and a travel towel, and you’ll save a few euros every day.
Compare Before You Book
The same bed can cost a different price on Hostelworld, Booking.com and the hostel’s own website, so it’s worth a quick check. You can also check out every hostel in Paris on Hostelworld, if you don’t fully trust my rankings 😆.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to spend a fortune to stay in Paris. For around €25-35 a night, you can sleep a short metro ride from everything, and spend the money you save on what really matters (croissants).
Whether it be the cheapest options by the Canal and Gare du Nord, or slightly pricier options in the center, you’ll have a great time in Paris.
Once you’ve sorted out where to sleep, check out my first-time guide to Paris, the best croissants in Paris, and Les Batignolles, the trendiest neighborhood most tourists never find.
Note: Use my links if you’re going to book! They’re affiliate links (Hostelworld and Booking.com), so you pay the same price, but I get a small commission that helps keep this blog going.
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