Budget · Marseille · France
Marseille on a budget
What a trip to Marseille really costs, and where the savings are.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Florent Chabaud, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Marseille is moderately priced for most international visitors. Budget roughly $75–$115 per person per day on a tight budget, $160–$260 mid-range and $380–$850 for luxury, excluding flights. Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–March and November.
Key facts
- Budget traveller
- $75–$115 a day
- Mid-range
- $160–$260 a day
- Luxury
- $380–$850 a day
- Local currency
- EUR
- Free sights
- 12
Daily budget and trip cost
AMZBooking estimates per person in US dollars, excluding flights, reviewed October 2026. Accommodation is the biggest variable; prices rise in peak months.
| Style | Per day | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $75–$115 | $225–$345 | $375–$575 | $525–$805 |
| Mid-range | $160–$260 | $480–$780 | $800–$1,300 | $1,120–$1,820 |
| Luxury | $380–$850 | $1,140–$2,550 | $1,900–$4,250 | $2,660–$5,950 |
Typical prices
Approximate prices in Marseille, October 2026. They change; use them for planning, not as quotes.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Metro, tram or bus single ticket | about €2 |
| Pastis on a café terrace | about €3–€5 |
| Bag of panisses or chichis at L'Estaque | about €3–€6 |
| Wood-fired pizza | about €12–€18 |
| Return boat to the Château d'If or Frioul | about €11–€16 |
| Calanques boat tour from the Vieux-Port | about €25–€40 |
| MuCEM admission | about €10–€15 |
| Traditional bouillabaisse | about €60–€90 per person |
Money-saving tips
- Many sights are free: Notre-Dame de la Garde, La Major, the Fort Saint-Jean gardens, the Calanques trails and the Vieux-Port ferry views.
- Fish soup with rouille gives the bouillabaisse flavours for a fraction of the price.
- Eat in Noailles and around Cours Julien for the best-value meals in the centre.
- Hike to the Calanques instead of taking a boat tour; the trails cost nothing.
- An RTM day pass pays for itself quickly if you are heading to the beaches, Notre-Dame and Les Goudes on the same day.
- Hotel prices drop sharply outside June to September.
Free things to do
- Notre-Dame de la Garde — The neo-Byzantine basilica on a 149-metre limestone hill is crowned by a gilded statue of the Virgin and Child, known to locals as la Bonne Mère.
- Vieux-Port — Marseille's harbour has been in use for more than two and a half millennia.
- Le Panier — The oldest quarter of Marseille climbs from the harbour on the site of the Greek city.
- Calanques National Park — Created in 2012, the park protects 20 km of white limestone cliffs and narrow inlets between Marseille and Cassis.
- Vallon des Auffes — A tiny fishing harbour tucked under the arches of the Corniche road bridge, with brightly painted pointu boats, fishermen's huts and seafood restaurants on the water.
- Corniche Kennedy — The seafront road runs from the Plage des Catalans to the Prado beaches, with views of the Frioul islands and the Château d'If.
Where to stay on a budget
$$ · Best for couples, culture and solo travellers
Le Panier
Hilltop old quarter of stairways, laundry lines and street art
$ · Best for budget, nightlife, food lovers and solo travellers
Cours Julien and Noailles
Street-art terraces, spice shops and the city's alternative nightlife
$$ · Best for shopping, families and first-timers
La Joliette
Regenerated docklands with offices, a waterfront mall and ferry terminals
Eating well for less
- Panisse — Kiosks along the seafront at L'Estaque and some bars and restaurants in the centre as a side dish.
- Chichi frégi — Snack kiosks on the waterfront at L'Estaque, especially on weekends.
- Navettes — The historic bakery next to the Abbaye Saint-Victor and bakeries across the city.
Getting around for less
RTM 24-hour and 72-hour passes
Unlimited travel on metro, tram, buses and the RTM boat shuttles; worthwhile if you make three or more journeys a day.
Marseille City Pass
Sold by the tourist office for 24, 48 or 72 hours, it bundles RTM transport with entry to many museums and some tours; check which boat trips are included before buying.
Questions travellers ask
+How much does a trip to Marseille cost?
About $800–$1,300 per person for five days mid-range, excluding flights (estimate), or $375–$575 on a tight budget.
+Is Marseille expensive?
It is moderately priced for international visitors. Many sights are free: Notre-Dame de la Garde, La Major, the Fort Saint-Jean gardens, the Calanques trails and the Vieux-Port ferry views.
+How much money do I need per day in Marseille?
Roughly $75–$115 on a budget and $160–$260 mid-range (estimates).
+When are hotel prices lowest in Marseille?
Usually in January–March and November.