The road is long, but the destination is worth every step you’ll have to take.
There is a never-ending debate going around for years about which city is best between Paris vs New York. Both are so different on so many levels and yet so similar.
New York, the city that never sleeps, the jungle of concrete, is one of the greatest cities in terms of energy and creativity.
Paris, the city of light, the city of love, is known for its rich history and joyful lifestyle.
These 2 cities have inspired the world, whether in the fashion industry, the food scene, the movies, and many other fronts.
Let’s see which one you should visit next based on different categories.
History
Paris
Paris was founded in 259 BC when a Celtic tribe settled on the Seine. Before getting the name of Paris, the city was known as Lutetia. It was only during the 11th century that Paris started to be more prosperous. Unfortunately, the economic growth stopped due to a lot of riots and uprisings. That eventually led to the decline of the monarchy, and it’s only in 1871 that the city began its real economic growth.
To have a better understanding of the history of Paris, you should read ‘Les Miserables’ by Victor Hugo.
New York
New York was founded officially in 1614 with the Dutch settlers, although Natives were already here. Around the year 1675, the Brits took the city and 12 others, forming the 13 colonies. And then came the American revolution, cutting ties with Europe and creating the United States of America as we know it today. In 1789, after the war, New York became the capital of the US until they changed it for Washington DC.
One of my favorite movies of all time, called the Patriot, is about the American Revolution. You can really have an insight into American psychology and understand better why they are the way they are.
Winner: Paris! So much older and gorier. The history of the city is unbeatable, from riots to beheadings. Paris plays a role in so many important events throughout history. And by the way, the United States of America wouldn’t exist without the Treaty signed in Paris.
Statistically…
| Paris | New York | |
| Population | 2.2M | 8.4M |
| Tourism (in 2019) | 35.4M | 66.6M |
| Average income | 41 000$ | 32 300$ |
Winner: Tie! New York is a lot more crowded and eventful, whereas Paris is a lot more laidback. The energy and lifestyle are different, which can appeal to different crowds.
Weather
New York Paris
Winner: Paris! I love both summers. The temperature is pretty similar, and it’s the range I’m comfortable in. What made Paris win this round; it’s the winter situation. New York often has snow that quickly turns into black ice and slush. They also have snowstorms, and even though it might not be as bad as in Canada, the population is never prepared for them, and the city falls into chaos. In Paris, you will experience rain and no extreme temperatures.
Public transport
| Paris | New York | |
| Subway/buses | 85$/5 days | 127$/month |
| 1 ticket | 2.15$ | 2.75$ |
| Bike – Membership | Vélib’ – 10$/month | Citi Bike – 15$/month |
| Uber/Lift | Flexible | Flexible |
| Taxi | Flexible | Flexible |
| Ferry | No | Yes |
| Airports | 0 in the city but a few around the city (Orly, CDG, Beauvais) | 3 (JFK, EWR, LGA) |
Paris doesn’t offer a monthly pass for the subway and the busses; instead, they charge per ride. They do have 5-day tickets for tourists that visit Paris for 2, 3, or 5 days. For visitors, this is definitely a better option. For locals that use the metro often, it could get quite expensive.
Winner: New York! It has one of the best subways systems in the world that goes anywhere in the city! It includes busses, metros, and the tram. You can use their app to navigate the system the most efficiently way. Even if you are visiting the city for a short time, it costs only 2.75$ per ride. Although most of the time you can walk from one place to another.
Housing
New York: For a 1 bedroom, the average rent is 3 165$. For a studio, the average rent 2 695$
Paris: For a 1 bedroom, the average rent is 1 440$. For a studio, the average rent 1 100$
Winner: Paris! Even though Paris is considered one of the more expensive cities in Europe, it’s still cheaper than New York. And considering on average the yearly income of Parisians is higher the lifestyle seems a lot better.
Accommodation while traveling
Paris: The average hotel on the cheaper side, offering only the bare minimum, costs about 110$ per night. And it can go up to 500$ a night for more luxurious places. You could go a bit outside of the city for better prices. Keep in mind that it’s nicer to stay closer to the center where the action is!
New York: The average price is about 300$ per night.
Winner: Paris! It’s a lot more affordable, considering hotels are not the only options you have, you could get away with spending even less on accommodation.
Architecture
New York being a younger metropolis is obviously a lot more modern. It has skyscrapers because the city was built in height instead of width.
Paris, on the other hand, has more ancient architecture. The city doesn’t have enormous buildings because most of the town was built before elevators.
Winner: New York! I’m really a city girl, and I love the city life and modern architecture. I love to see gray, tall buildings with reflective glass. It’s a no-brainer for me.
Food life
France is often mentioned when speaking about the best cuisine in the world. It definitely goes in the top 10. What you should get in Paris is the croissant, fresh baguette, crepes, cheese, wine, macarons, and so much more!
Thanks to immigration, there is an enormous influence of North African and Asian cuisine in France, so you can easily find places that serve that sort of food.
New York is most known for the number of different restaurants you have access to. Recently it was announced, to try every food spot in New York, it would take you almost 23 years. Which is completely insane!
The city that never sleeps is a melting pot of all the cuisines you can imagine and more. What they like to do is to take an existing meal and make its own version of it.
Winner: New York! I love the fact that you can get anything you want at any time of the day. No matter what you crave, you will find it in New York, and I find that having options is never a bad idea!
Touristic sight
Paris
- Eiffel Tower
- Louvre Museum
- Notre-Dame cathedrale
- Arc de Triomphe
- Palace of Versailles
- Champs-Élisées
- Luxembourg Gardens
- Moulin Rouge
- Le pont Alexandre III
- Panthéon
New York
- The Metropolitan Meseum of Art
- Central Park
- The Museum of Modern Art
- Statue of Liberty
- Empire State Building
- Times Square
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Coney Island
- Flatiron Building
- 5th Avenue
Winner: Paris! I find that there is a lot more history and greenery. However, it all depends on what you are looking for; New York could have easily won this round!
And the big winner is…
PARIS!
I’m very surprised by these results because I would’ve picked New York at first sight, but I guess Paris is the place to be! This is why comparisons like Paris vs. New York are so important before choosing your next travel destination!
You might also like Montreal vs Toronto.
Until next time,
Sofyah,
*Please note that the currency in France are euros and for the purpose of comparison, we have converted all the prices in USD
