Everyone knows that Paris is famous worldwide when it comes to fashion, glamor, luxury, opulence, original creations etc. Luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Cartier can all be found here, but are these products cheaper to buy here than in the rest of the world?
Could you use your trip to Paris to also indulge in one or more of these luxury products?
To find out, we did our own study. We researched and noted down the prices of 10 luxury goods to answer the question.
What was the result? Check it out.
Luxury Brands Price Investigation
Louis Vuitton
| MONOGRAM PATCH JEANS | Lockme Tender Bag |
|
| France | € 1,300 (incl tax) € 1,144 (excl tax) |
€ 2,200 (incl tax) € 1,833 (excl tax) |
| Italy | € 1,300 (incl tax) € 1,144 (excl tax) |
€ 2,200 (incl tax) € 1,833 (excl tax) |
| United Kingdom | £ 1,220 € 1,426 (+9.69%) |
£ 2,020 € 2,186 (+7.32%) |
| United States | $ 1,640 € 1,508 (+16%) |
$ 2,710 € 2,496 (+13.45%) |
| Australia | AU$ 2,660 € 1,595 (+22.69%) |
AU$ 4,200 € 2,512 (+14.18%) |
| China | ¥ 13,300 € 1,698 (+30.62%) |
¥ 21,500 € 2,751 (+25%) |
| Korea | ₩ 2,290,000 € 1,577 (+21.31%) |
N/A |
| Japan | ¥ 213,400 € 1,485 (+14.23%) |
¥ 387,200 € 2,372 (+7.82%) |
| Brazil | R$ 10,300 € 1,909 (+46.85%) |
R$ 16,800 € 3,129 (+42.23%) |
| Singapore | S$ 2,380 € 1,631 (+25.46%) |
S$ 3,900 € 2,674(+21.5%) |
| Hong Kong | HK$ 13,400 € 1,574 (+21.08%) |
HK$ 22,200 € 2,615 (+18.86%) |
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Dior
| J’ADORE (eau de toilette) (75ml/3.4oz) | Dior Bobby East-West Bag | |
| France | € 142 (incl tax) € 120 (excl tax) |
€ 2,900 (incl tax) € 2,700 (excl tax) |
| Italy | € 142 (incl tax) € 120 (excl tax) |
€ 2,900 (incl tax) € 2,700 (excl tax) |
| United Kingdom | £ 114 € 133 (-6.34%) |
£ 2,550 € 2,983 (+2.86%) |
| United States | $ 165 € 151 (+6.34%) |
$ 3,600 € 3,310 (+14.15%) |
| Australia | AU$ 226 € 206 (+45.07%) |
AU$ 3,150 € 1,890(-34.83%) |
| China | ¥ 1,580 € 213 (+50%) |
¥ 26,500 € 3,385 (-16.76%) |
| Korea | N/A | ₩ 3,900,000 € 2,860 (-1.38%) |
| Japan | ¥ 19,250 € 118 (-16.9%) |
¥ 374,000 € 2,869 (-1.07%) |
| Brazil | R$ 649 € 120 (-15.49%) |
N/A |
| Singapore | S$ 166 € 114 (-19.72%) |
N/A |
| Hong Kong | HK$ 1,300 € 152 (+7.04%) |
HK$ 29,500 € 3,467 (+19.55%) |
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Cartier
| Watch Ballon Bleu de Cartier | |
| France | € 17,800 (incl tax) € 14,240 (excl tax) |
| Italy | € 17,800 (incl tax) € 14,240 (excl tax) |
| United Kingdom | £ 15,800 € 18,485 (+3.85%) |
| United States | $ 21,400 € 19,676 (+10.54%) |
| Australia | AU$ 25,100 € 15,067 (-15.36%) |
| China | ¥ 114,000 € 15,272 (+14.22%) |
| Korea | N/A |
| Japan | 3,564,000 ￥ € 21,890 (+22.92%) |
| Brazil | R$ 110,000 € 20,447 (+14.87%) |
| Singapore | S$ 23,700 € 16,255 (-8.68%) |
| Hong Kong | N/A |
Hermès
| Bottes Jumping Jumping Boot |
|
| France | € 2,260 (incl tax) € 1,808 (excl tax) |
| Italy | € 2,260 (incl tax) € 1,808 (excl tax) |
| United Kingdom | £ 2,300 € 2,690 (+19.03%) |
| United States | $ 2,900 € 2,667 (+18.01%) |
| Australia | N/A |
| China | ¥ 24,050 € 3,072 (+36%) |
| Korea | ₩ 3,980,000 € 2,744 (+21.42%) |
| Japan | N/A |
| Brazil | N/A |
| Singapore | N/A |
| Hong Kong | 23,300 HKD € 2,703 (+19.6%) |
Gucci
| GG Marmont small shoulder bag | |
| France | € 2,000 (incl tax) € 1,800 (excl tax) |
| Italy | N/A |
| United Kingdom | £ 1,800 € 2,107 (+5.35%) |
| United States | $ 2,250 € 2,064 (+3.2%) |
| Australia | AU$ 3,695 € 2,240 (+12%) |
| China | ¥ 18,500 € 2,500 (+53%) |
| Korea | ₩ 3,090,000 € 2,133 (+6.65%) |
| Japan | ¥ 291,500 € 1,809 (-9.55%) |
| Brazil | N/A |
| Singapore | N/A |
| Hong Kong | HK$ 14,500
€ 1,701 (-14.95%) |
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Prada
| France | € 2,500 (incl tax) € 2,260 (excl tax) |
| Italy | € 2,500 (incl tax) € 2,260 (excl tax) |
| United Kingdom | £ 2,300 € 2,693 (+7.72%) |
| United States | $ 3,350 € 3,074 (+22.96%) |
| Australia | AU$ 4,800 € 2,909 (+16.36%) |
| China | 23,900 ￥ € 3,046 (+21.84%) |
| Korea | N/A |
| Japan | N/A |
| Brazil | N/A |
| Singapore | S$ 4,600 € 3,161 (+26.44%) |
| Hong Kong | 22,200 HKD € 2,604 (+4.16%) |
IWC
| PORTUGIESER CHRONOGRAPHE | |
| France | € 8,950 (incl tax) € 7,972 (excl tax) |
| Italy | € 8,950 (incl tax) € 7,960 (excl tax) (+4%) |
| United Kingdom | £ 7,600 € 8,898 (-0.58%) |
| United States | $ 8,400 € 7,710 (-13.85%) |
| Australia | AU$ 13,200 € 8,001 (-10.6%) |
| China | N/A |
| Korea | ￦ 11,300,000 € 7,803 (-12.82%) |
| Japan | ￥1,177,000 € 7,306 (-18.37%) |
| Brazil | R$ 47,700 € 8,854 (-1.07%) |
| Singapore | S$ 12,600 € 8,659 (-3.25%) |
| Hong Kong | HK$ 67,600 € 7,929 (-11.41%) |
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Jaeger-LeCoultre
| RENDEZ-VOUS JEWELLERY MOON (white gold) |
|
| France | € 59,000 (incl tax) € 52,160 (excl tax) |
| Italy | € 59,500 (incl tax) € 52,600 (excl tax) (+1%) |
| United Kingdom | £ 52,000 € 60,882 (+3.19%) |
| United States | $ 54,500 € 50,027 (-15.22%) |
| Australia | AU$ 87,500 € 53,059 (-10.07%) |
| China | ￥420,000 € 53,551 (-9.24%) |
| Korea | ￦ 78,500,000 € 54,192 (-8.15%) |
| Japan | ￥7,920,000 € 49,206 (-16.6%) |
| Brazil | N/A |
| Singapore | S$ 78,000 € 53,604 (-9.15%) |
| Hong Kong | HK$ 410,000 € 48,217 (-18.28%) |
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Bottom Line
Luxury products from brands like Louis Vuitton, Dior, or Gucci are usually 9.53% cheaper in France. In Europe, they’re about 6.64% more expensive, while the United States sees a bigger jump of 18.99%. In Asia, prices are around 17.26% higher compared to French prices.
These averages are based on the percentages calculated for the selection of luxury items above and may not represent every product or brand.
Note also that tax standards change regularly across the globe.
If you’re planning to buy luxury goods, chances are a trip to Paris will be well worth your while.
What’s more, a visit to Paris not only gives you the opportunity to visit the center of luxury product creation, but also the chance to look at and touch all the products in store (sometimes in a visit by appointment, for a tailor-made experience).
It’s also important to point out that many products are not available anywhere else in the world, and can only be found in Europe.
VAT Refund
As for the prices in Europe, here’s a little tip: when you buy something in the EU without being a resident, you can be refunded the VAT (value-added tax).
The conditions will vary a bit depending on the country and the store, but normally you have to meet the following (in France):
- Spend at least 100 euros in the same store and on the same day
- Come from a country outside the EU
- Be 16 or older
- Stay in Europe for 6 months maximum
- Have your passport with you when you’re shopping
You will then benefit from of a 12% refund on the price of each product.
You can find out more by visiting this page.
Prices without VAT are indicated in the tables by the acronym ET (excluding taxes).
A Litte Secret
Sometimes you won’t find any items, be it in the stores’ websites or in their physical shops if they’re limited edition items.
You will have to buy other items in the shop in order to have some other options “revealed” to you by the staff.
The rules are neither simple nor necessarily well-defined. Sometimes you will just have to spend some time inside the store and also spend over a certain amount on their products in order to gain access to some limited-edition items.
Where to Buy Luxury Items in Paris?
There are many neighborhoods where you can go for luxury shopping.
It all depends on what you are looking for: is it a more tranquil spot or some busy avenues? Having access to many options in the same building or location or having the opportunity to combine a nice walk with your shopping?
1) The Champs-Elysées
For anyone who’s visiting Paris, especially the ones looking for the typical tourist places, the Champs-Elysées is a must-go.
Are you the kind of person who absolutely wants to pay a visit to the “most beautiful avenue in the world”?
It’s the right place to walk all day long and discover many luxury brands. You will find items from Lacoste, Marionnaud, Hermès, Giorgio Armani, Massimo Dutti, Swarovski, Dolce & Gabbana, Levi’s, Gucci, Chanel, Christian Dior, Tommy Hilfiger, Gianni Versace, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Yves Rocher etc..
2) Printemps
64 Bd Haussmann, 75009 Paris
PrintempsHere is another very popular option among tourists: Le Printemps, the luxury department store par excellence where you will find most of the luxury brands, such as Dior, Chanel, Saint Laurent Paris, Hermès, Morganne Bello, Rolex, etc.
It is the perfect option for those looking to buy as much as they can in a limited amount of time.
3) The Galeries Lafayette
40 Bd Haussmann, 75009 Paris
Galeries LafayetteThe Galeries Lafayette is also a great option for those looking for a shopping center that gathers everything in one place.
The standard luxury brands are, of course, all represented there. You will find items from Céline, Estée Lauder, Hublot, Vanessa Bruno, Hugo Boss, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermès, Rolex, Prada, Herno, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Chanel.
4) Saint Germain des Prés
If you have a little more time in your schedule and feel like taking a walk through some traditional Parisian streets or even stopping by some places known for their history related to brands and designers, the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district is the place to go.
You will find quite a few renowned brands scattered across this neighborhood, such as Saint-Laurent, Louis Vuitton, Jérôme Dreyfuss, Dior, and Maison Deyrolle.
Do Luxury Brands Have Sales in France and Paris?
It might surprise you a bit, but yes: there are sales for luxury brands.
In Paris, you have two sales periods each year: in summer (starting from the last Wednesday of June) and in winter (starting from the second Wednesday of January). These are established by law (site in French) and last for four weeks each.
Moreover, each brand can also have its own sales.
But beware: very often, the brands will not openly display their sales. Sometimes, you just have to browse inside stores. Sometimes, the sales will only last for a few days. And sometimes, the items are only offered to regulars.
Are There Low-Cost Luxury Items in Paris?
Yes, there are, indeed. You have some options:
On private or press sales (reserved for a few journalists and other professionals involved in fashion), you will often find collections from previous years for a much lower price.
It’s quite difficult to get your hands on an invitation, as these events are often very private, but if you ever have the chance, it’s an interesting option.
Fortunately, some invitations are easy to get! For instance, those for Arlettie and IKVP (sites in French), for which you just have to register on their website.
There are some for which you have to be invited by someone who is already a member.
Sometimes, you can also get the necessary information to gain access simply by speaking directly with a salesperson of your favorite brand.
Moreover, after these events take place, some products are then resold online by the lucky ones who bought them. Among them are the Vestiaire Collective (site in French) and Yoox.
And finally, it is also possible to buy these products second-hand in stores: you will find specific boutiques in Paris for that, such as Collector Square and La Marelle.
You will sometimes be able to find incredible prices. The products are still, of course, of very good quality.
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
