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New York City is one of the most incredible cities in the United States. It is extremely diverse and so many nationalities and ethnicities are represented here. New York City is known for fashion, theatre, high-end dining, and luxury. The whole idea of doing “NYC on a budget” sounds like a complete oxymoron. It’s two things that everyone knows do not coexist. I feel a bit insane for writing about this topic, however, it is very realistic because I had to do New York City on a budget recently this summer! Sticking to a budget in New York is very difficult since it’s not the typical “budget-friendly” destination. It may not be Southeast Asia or Eastern Europe, but it is possible to do NYC on a budget with the right planning.
I am hoping to bring you some helpful tips for exploring this incredible city without completely going broke! Even if you’re not necessarily having to stick to a particular budget, saving money is never a terrible thing.
Flights to NYC
Obviously, depending on where you live in proximity to the city, there are other options besides flying, however, most of us aren’t close enough to take a train or bus so that leaves us with flying.
Google Flights is one of the best ways to search for cheap flights. It will compare the flight prices based on the airlines and where you are flying from. It will also tell you which airport would be cheaper to fly into. New York City has three main airports to fly into (I prefer LaGuardia over the others though). January and February are most likely going to be the cheaper months to fly to New York and flying during the week rather than on the weekends will save you some money as well!
When I signed up for my American Airlines credit card, I was awarded 50,000 bonus miles to use and I ended up using some of those to purchase flights for me and my fiance to fly to Newark! I think per person it was only about 20K miles and then a $6 fee on top of that. So that was one expense out of the way.
One thing to consider when choosing an airport to fly into is how you’d like to get from the airport to the city- JFK is the most convenient since the Airtrain links up with the subway. LaGuardia is technically closest, but would require a taxi or uber for transportation which could be quite expensive especially if traffic is busy!
Places to Stay
One of the most significant budget items will be the accommodations. Even if we had had to pay for our flights, it wouldn’t have been near as expensive as the cost to stay there. Cheap accommodations in New York City are hard to come by, I’ll be completely honest. There aren’t a ton of hostels in the city to choose from either. Staying outside of Manhattan or coming during the shoulder seasons can help offset costs though. Here is a list of recommended accommodations:
- HI New York City Hostel
- Aloft Brooklyn
- The Local Hostel NYC
- Broadway Hotel & Hostel
- POD Brooklyn
You can use Hostelworld to find additional hostels or to search the ones listed above!
Getting Around the City
- Public Transportation- New York City and its boroughs are well-connected by the subway, even parts of New Jersey can be reached this way as well. Using the subway can get you wherever you need to go, or at least close to it. When you get a MetroCard, you can load however much you choose, but each journey will cost $2.75. There is a 7-day unlimited pass for only $33 which would be a great deal if you plan on using the subway at least 12 times during your visit! It is also very simple to add money to your MetroCard if you run out of money.
- Uber/Lyft- I’ve read in some places where using a rideshare option can be cheaper than taking a taxi, but in my experience, it was almost comparable. We did use Uber more often because it was much easier to get a ride and with a fixed fare, we knew what the price would be ahead of time. Typically it would end up being a little cheaper, but not by much compared to a taxi.
- Taxis- Taxis are definitely not going to be the best way to visit NYC on a budget. They are by far the most expensive way to get around the city. The minimum fare starts at $3.90 and goes up another $3 per mile. Taxis used to be difficult to hail, but now there is an app that is advertised around the city that is similar to any ridesharing app. Download Curb to make finding a taxi easier!
- Walking- depending on where you are staying and what your plans are for each day, walking may be difficult. The city is huge and it can take a long time to get around on foot. However, during heavy traffic, it may almost be quicker. to walk than to sit in traffic. If you can plan to visit attractions or sites that are all within walking distance, it can save you a lot of time and money because walking is FREE!
Things to Do
One of the best sites to find activities and tours is Get Your Guide. It’s a huge marketplace that offers tons of options from cooking classes to walking tours, and more!
Additionally, I would recommend looking into the CityPASS for New York City. Every time I’ve been to NYC, I’ve always gotten the CityPASS because I know I plan to do many activities that are covered under that pass and it’s a great way to save money.
Here are a few FREE things you can do in New York City:
- Wander Times Square
- Meander through City Park
- Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
- See Grand Central Terminal
- See Federal Hall/ Visit Wall Street
- Ride the Staten Island Ferry
Food- What to Eat on a Budget
There is any and every type of cuisine in New York City. You can find a meal at any price range too, but knowing what will work in your budget will help you to plan out your meals for your trip.
- Pizza slices can be found for around $3-5 per slice
- Hot dogs are around $3-5
- A bagel with cream cheese (a staple) is also about $3-5 — I recommend Liberty Bagels
- Street vendors offer meals between $5-10
- Sandwich shops and cafes have meals starting at around $10
From there, the prices begin to go up, especially when you factor in drinks, dessert, and a tip! Also, I recommend Dunkin’ Donuts over Starbucks to save money on your morning coffee as well.
Final Money-Saving Tips
- Find discounted Broadway tickets at the TKTS stand in Times Square. Visit first thing when they open to snag discounts up to 50% off select shows The selection varies and you should be prepared to wait in line for a while, but it could. be worth it since regular-priced tickets are SO expensive!
- Use airline miles or hotel points to save on flights on accommodations.
- Look for the days that the museums offer free entry or “pay-what-you-wish”.
- Get an unlimited MetroCard for the subway.
- Visit in January or February for the off-season– if you can bare the cold weather.
- Plan in advance! Don’t wait until the very last minute to plan anything New York City-related!
I hope that this roundup of info for visiting New York City on a budget was helpful in planning your next trip! If you have any extra tips or info you’d like to share, please let me know. I always learn so much before going back to the city. If you are planning your first trip to New York, just know that you will not be able to see everything on this first trip (or your second, third, fourth…)!
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