It all starts with the French minimum wage - equivalent to US $22,000 annually. That means the daily lunch special at a cafe can run between €14-20 (a €uro equals $1.30). That is before beverage and service fee. This week we have had two expresso (€4), while escaping a rain shower and a €16 meal at the McDonalds near the Louvre. All other meals we have made in the kitchenette of our flat. Last night, for example, our dinner for two - including wine, cost about €4.
De Anne has located all the free attractions such as the Victor Hugo home a few blocks away. Hugo liked to write standing. Note the high desk on the left in his bedroom.
Hugo dining room. Painting of the hunchback of Notre Dame at left.
Our studio flat is small by American standards, but comfortable and well equipped. Renting by the month brings the price down to under $50 per night. Most importantly it is within walking distance of much of the old city and a block from main bus routes and a major Metro hub. Buying tickets in books of ten saves half the single ticket price, making a ride €1.
The canal St-Martin disappears into a long tunnel under the streets of Paris at the Bastille monument. In the picture below is the mouth of the tunnel with the subway across it, and the monument in the background. The white tents are for a 10K race scheduled this Sunday. 
Besides watching the race Sunday we will go to the local farmers market in the park across the street for cheap fruit and vegetables. I will pass on the meats having learned my lesson in Panama two years ago about street vendor meat. It does not pay to go cheap on some things.
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