New York is my favourite place on planet Earth! There is just something about it and I love it so much. I went once to “get it out my system” but fell in love instead. I’ve been back on two more subsequent trips but a visit involves a lot of planning and saving between trips. New York City, in particular the Island of Manhattan, is an extremely expensive places to go. If you are clever though – you can fill a lot of your time with free or really cheap activities allowing you to fit more in! Here’s my favourite things to do when in New York on a budget.
There are loads of free walking tours available in New York. One of my favourite websites is freetoursbyfoot.com. They also offer other destinations in the world but there is a whole selection of ones available in New York. Whatever your interests – finance, architecture, history or shopping – you will find something that is perfect for you. They are all free although you can tip the tour leader if you want at the end. My favourite walking tour I did was through ztrend– it was a vintage and thrift store shopping tour. The guide took us to several stores – all of which were amazing. She clearly knew her stuff, and where to find things. This was one of my highlights of my most recent trip to NYC! You can of course go for a self guided tour with a map – but it is up to you! 🙂
The Staten Island Ferry goes from the South Ferry on the southern Tip of the Island of Manhattan, over to Staten Island. It is 100% free and it is amazing! It runs 24/7 and gives amazing views of the Statue of Liberty. You will have to get off the ferry at Staten Island and then get back on again to return to Manhattan (you can’t just stay on-board) but it’s a small price to pay for such a brilliant trip! It can get a bit windy but it is worth the experience.
Central Park is arguably the most famous park in the world. There is so much you can do there and it is free to walk around it. You might want to visit some of the famous monuments such as the Bethesda fountain or the Alice in Wonderland statue. Taking advantage of the space and air, picnics are a firm favourite. Make the most of opportunities to people watch and take in the scenery as well as climb up to the Belevedere Castle. You could easily spend a day in the park and not spend a penny (or a cent)!
I love a bit of celebrity spotting! New York is full of them so it’s best to keep your eyes peeled. My top tip for seeing them is to browse the theatre listings. See who is in what show and at what time. My favourite (and first) celebrity spotting in New York was a complete accident. We’d just arrived in New York and taken our bags to the hotel. We went out for a walk and as we turned a corner we saw a crowd of people outside of a theatre. I realised that the sign was for a show that one of my favourite celebrities is in, but that I couldn’t budget time or money to see on that trip. It had just finished a matinee performance and he was outside talking to fans! I went over and apologised for not seeing the show but I had literally just stepped off the plane. I told him I was a massive fan, and he welcome me to New York and I got a picture!
Dule Hill – star of Psych, The West Wing and Suits!
Walking the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most amazing and iconic experiences you can have in New York. It is completely free – just watch out for the thousands of other tourists doing the same. You can also get great views from the far side of the bridge back across to Manhattan.
So many TV shows and films have been filmed or set in New York. There are numerous tours that you can pay for to visit these sites but if you are clever and do your research you can do them for free. My favourite ones that I’ve visited are the corner of “Grove & Bedford” – the building used as the setting for Friends, Carrie’s steps from “Sex and The City” at 64 Perry Street, and McGee’s Pub which inspired McLarens from “How I Met Your Mother”.
FAQs
My husband and I budgeted about $2000(for personal expenses not including hotel room or air travel which were separate). It was more than enough. We still a had a couple of hundred dollars left over after our trip, even with the shopping, tours, Broadway tickets, and eating out.
Is $100 a day enough for NYC? ›
If visitors are cautious about planning their travel, accommodations, transportation and itinerary, it is absolutely possible to visit New York City on a budget and still have a great time. Here are some tips on how to successfully do New York City on $100 a day.
Is it possible to do New York on a budget? ›
Endless free and affordable experiences await locals and visitors from around the world at every corner. From alluring parks to iconic bites and historical sites to star-studded summer performances, we've curated a list of 19 ideas to keep you wide awake in the city that never sleeps, all at low cost or no cost!
Is 3,000 dollars enough for a week in New York? ›
Have fun on your tirp smf, although it sounds like you will have no problem doing that! Carry about $100 a day in cash. Use credit cards for the rest. The $3,000 each is a reasonable budget for 7 days on vacation.
Is $1000 enough for 4 days in New York? ›
Overall, this type of trip could cost you $1,000 for 4 days. So while a trip to New York City is still not cheap, you can save money depending on how much you are willing to budget for your trip and by finding ways to cut down on your spending.
Is $300 dollars a day enough for New York? ›
Yes just for one. Mainly food, drink, a couple of museums/galleries and the odd taxi. Should be plenty. Food and drinks can be surprisingly inexpensive in New York depending on where you go.
What is a realistic budget for NYC? ›
On average, you need $1,238 monthly to live comfortably in New York, excluding rent. It isn't surprising that rent makes up for the largest part of your monthly budget, followed by groceries and leisure. Depending on your lifestyle, your living expenses in New York will vary.
How much money do you need for 4 days in New York City? ›
In total, we spent $1,235 per person for 4 days including flights and hotel. If we exclude flights, each day costs about $190 per person – of which more than half goes to the hotel.
How much spending money for 1 week in New York? ›
I used to average around $100 per day but it's gotten up closer to the $150 the last few trips. I recommend buying some of your sightseeing in advance such as Broadway, sightseeing tickets such as the observatories and SOL.
Should I carry cash in New York? ›
Key Takeaways. Cash is widely accepted in NYC, including at local businesses and for transportation. Carrying cash provides a tangible and controlled way to manage spending.
Best Cheap Eats in New York City
- Los Tacos No. ...
- Xi'an Famous Foods.
- Grandma Slice at Scarr's Pizza ($6)
- Smash Burgers at 7th St Burger ($7)
- Breakfast Sandwiches at Daily Provisions ($10)
- Mamoun's Falafel ($7)
- Peanut Noodles at Shu Jiao Fu Zhou ($4)
- Trapizzino ($10)
Skip the Taxis and Ubers
This is one huge tip for how to save money living in NYC, as those surge prices can add up quickly! Living in NYC means getting very familiar with the trains, or try walking or biking if you're sick of the subway. Bonus: Save by not having to go to the gym!
What is a livable salary in NYC? ›
A single adult living in New York City would need to make $138,570 a year in order to live comfortably, according to the study. That equates to an hourly wage of $66.62. To cover the cost of just necessities as a single person in New York City, you would need to make an estimated $70,000, according to SmartAsset.
How much is a meal in New York? ›
Lunch figure $10-15/person assuming sandwiches, pizza, salads or ethnic (Chinese, Thai, Indian etc.) Dinner figure $20-30person without drinks for casual or prix fixe meals. Add this up to $45/person/day WITHOUT drinks and I'm including sodas in that.
How much should I budget for 3 days in NYC? ›
The average price of a Weekend 3-day trip to New York City, United States is $1109 for a solo traveller, $1885 for a couple, and $2440 for a family of 4. New York City city centre hotel range from $322 to $806 with an average of $403 per night, while Airbnb rentals will cost you $101 per night for the entire apartment.
How many dollars do I need for 5 days in New York? ›
You should plan to spend around $326 per day on your vacation in New York City. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
How much money to bring on a 5 day vacation? ›
Deciding where to go and what to pack is stressful enough, let alone trying to determine how much money you need to bring. The general consensus is that you should have $50 to $100 in cash per day for each traveler. However, this amount could vary considerably depending on where you are vacationing.
How much money do you need to take to New York for 4 days? ›
I would say around $100 per person per day is the minimum you need to not be on a serious budget. $200 would let you be very comfortable and do pretty much anything within reason. If you purchase your Broadway ticket in advance (which many of us recommend anyway), that takes one uncertainty out of the equation.
How much does it cost to spend 4 days in NYC? ›
In total, we spent $1,235 per person for 4 days including flights and hotel. If we exclude flights, each day costs about $190 per person – of which more than half goes to the hotel.
