How To Visit New York City on a Budget
New York is considered one of the world’s most expensive cities. Here’s how to stretch your travel funds further, and visit New York City on a budget!
The Big Apple is an amazing city, and should be on any traveller’s bucket list. I’ve visited twice, and I’m already itching for a return visit – no matter how long you spend there, it feels like you’ve only just scratched the surface.
Make no mistake – NYC can definitely be an expensive city to visit. With extensive paid-for attractions, expensive hotel accommodation and high-end restaurants, your spending can quickly add up.
However, travelling to New York on a budget (relatively speaking) is still possible, in my opinion. As a mid-budget traveller, I like to mix finding affordable accommodation, flights and places to eat with special experiences worth spending on. The city has plenty of free things to do, cheap eats and more affordable areas to stay, if you can find them.
Which is where this budget-friendly New York guide comes in!
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When’s the best time to visit New York on a budget?
January, February, and March are generally regarded as the cheapest time to visit New York, considered the off-season. The weather is colder and you’ll need to wrap up warm (especially in January!) but it can be worth it for the savings you’ll make on flights and accommodation.
We visited in April, and managed to get a good deal on our flights and accommodation. To avoid higher costs, avoid visiting in high summer (June-August), on major holidays (Christmas and New Year’s Eve), or during the month of December in general.
Check whether your planned dates clash with a major event in the city, such as New York Fashion Week, as hotel prices will be higher during these times.
Budget travel tip: Some attractions charge different prices for peak and off-peak times – visiting during a weekday can sometimes save you money on tickets!
Finding cheap flights to New York
Flights to New York can be suprisingly budget-friendly if you book at the right time and find a good deal.
To find our flights, we started off using Skyscanner. We were heading to New York for a specific event but were flexible on dates on either side of that, which really helps if you want to find the cheapest deals. Booking your flights through an online provider (I regularly use Trip.com) can sometimes be cheaper than direct with the airline, but always compare prices first.
Make sure you check your inclusions, as many budget flight quotes won’t include baggage, and you’ll need to factor this in.
The main airport for New York is JFK Airport; however you may be able to find cheaper flights into Newark or La Guardia, which are both well-connected to the city via train. Taking the train is much cheaper than a taxi, and very simple to navigate.
Affordable New York accommodation
Hotel prices in New York can be pretty pricey, and tend to go up the sooner your booking is – so my advice would be to find something with free cancellation (I always use booking.com) and no upfront payment, as soon as you’ve booked your flights.
We paid £800 for five nights in a double room at Aloft Manhattan Downtown in the Financial District. The location was great – yes, it’s away from some of the main Manhattan sights, but only a short subway ride away. The hotel was in walking distance of One World Trade Centre, the Brooklyn Bridge and the departure point for the Statue of Liberty Ferry. The room was small but clean, well equipped and comfortable – which is all we needed.
If you’re travelling solo (or with people who don’t mind that sweet dorm life), hostels are another affordable option.
Budget-friendly hotels in New York:
- Holiday Inn Wall Street is a well-located branch of the affordable hotel chain in the Financial District
- The Ridge on the Lower East Side features a terrace with amazing New York skyline views
- Manhattan Bowery Lodge is a no-frills hostel-style hotel with private rooms & shared bathrooms
Affordable hostels in New York:
- HI Hostel NYC is a stone’s throw from Central Park
- Chelsea International Hostel is a no-frills dorm spot in the stylish Chelsea neighbourhood
- Kama Central Park offers private pod-style dorm beds
With a city like this, you’ll pretty much just be crashing out, so unless you want to treat yourself, a fancy hotel isn’t at all necessary to the New York experience.
Budget Travel Tip: Take advantage of cashback sites when you book to get money back on your spend! My favourite in the UK is TopCashback – use my link for a free £30 when you sign up!
Saving money on attractions in New York
Okay, so a lot of the big things to do in NYC might have a price tag attached. But you can definitely find deals in New York on everything from main attractions to theatre tickets, if you know the right places to look!
Attraction passes are a great way to bring down the entrance fees if you’re looking at doing lots of sightseeing. We chose to get New York passes, valid for 2 days each, and saved £88 on visiting all the attractions individually!
Read more: Is the New York Pass worth the money?
Budget-friendly tours in New York
If you love taking guided (or self-guided) walking tours to acquaint yourself with a city, here are some of New York’s best affordable tours:
- Free Tour of New York – tip-based
- Self-Guided New York Audio Tour – $10
- Hello New York: Your First Adventure in the Big Apple – $15pp
- Brooklyn Street Art Walking Tour – $20pp
The cheapest way to get around New York
New York is HUGE, with an extensive public transport system to get you from place to place. Even if you’ve booked a hotel within walking distance of main attractions, chances are you’ll need to go further than your legs will take you!
The cheapest way to travel around New York easily is by taking the subway. A single fare costs $2.90, and you can pay with your contactless card or buy a Metro Card for $1. The maximum cap for 7 days is $34.
Free things to do in New York
Want to keep costs super low? There are plenty of free things to do in New York too!
- Times Square: See the bright lights and experience the buzz of Times Square, completely free of charge.
- Central Park: Visit the world’s most iconic park and explore the beautiful surroundings without spending a penny.
- Brooklyn Bridge: Stroll across one of the most famous bridges in the world and enjoy skyline views.
- Staten Island Ferry: See the Statue of Liberty for free from the Staten Island Ferry.
- High Line: Stroll along the 1.5 mile park built on an old elevated railway line.
- New York Public Library: Browse the extensive collection in one of America’s most beautiful public libraries.
- Beer lovers can take a free tour of the Brooklyn Brewery.
- Find your own way to iconic movie sights with a DIY film location walking tour.
Certain museums offer free admission on certain days of the week, discounted or pay-what-you-want admission:
- Museum of the Moving Image: Thursdays from 2-6pm
- The Jewish Museum: Saturdays & some Jewish holidays
- Whitney Museum of American Art: Fridays from 5-10pm & second Sunday of every month – the museum is also always free to under 25s. Booking recommended.
- Morgan Library and Museum: Fridays 5-7pm (booking in advance required)
- Neu Galerie: First Friday of every month from 5-8pm
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum: Pay-what-you-want on Mon & Sat from 4-5.30pm (minimum $1)
- New York Historical Society: Pay-what-you-want on Fridays from 5-8pm.
- The International Center of Photography: Pay-what-you-want on Thursdays from 6-9pm (minimum $5).
- Cooper Hewitt (Smithsonian Design Museum): Pay-what-you-want daily between 5-6pm.
- Museum of Arts & Design: Half-price entry on Thursdays
Read more: The Best Views in NYC For All Budgets
Cheap entertainment in New York
New York is synonymous with some of the world’s best entertainment, and checking out a show should be on your New York to-do list! Many of the best seats at the biggest shows come with a hefty price tag, but there are some secrets to finding budget-friendly live entertainment.
- The TKTs booths sell heavily discounted New York theatre tickets on the day of the show for Broadway and off-Broadway shows. For smaller queues, head to the Lincoln Center or South Street Seaport booths, rather than the Times Square one.
- If you’re able and willing, consider standing tickets when available – we booked rock-bottom price Chicago tickets in a standing area in the stalls, with a great view!
- Check out TodayTix for last-minute deals and discounts.
- If you’re not too bothered about the big-name musicals, look for new and off-Broadway shows which usually have cheaper ticket prices.
- For something to tickle your funny bone, check out a free comedy show.
- Browse free live music listings on Eventbrite.
Cheap eats in New York
I’ve already written an in-depth post on affordable eats in New York, which has 14 recommendations that cost less than $20 a meal!
One of my best tips for finding cheap places to eat when you’re travelling is doing some research before you go, and creating a Google Map of the places you’ll find. That way, wherever you’re at, you’ll be able to find somewhere nearby without being drawn in by pricey tourist trap restaurants when you’re at your hungriest!
Food markets are also a great place to find street food eats that won’t blow your budget. Chelsea Market is well known as one of the best, but you could also check out Turnstyle Underground Market, Smorgasburg in Williamsburg, and DeKalb Market Hall in Brooklyn.
Some of my favourite New York affordable eats:
- Joe’s Pizza (various locations)
- Los Tacos No1 (close to Times Square)
- Xi’an Famous Foods (various locations)
- Zucker’s Bagels & Smoked Fish (Tribeca & various others)
- Open Market (Financial District)
For cheap drinks in New York, check out the TPSI app for happy hour deals across the city.
If you’re a foodie looking to sample some of NYC’s high end eats for less, visit during New York Restaurant Week for fixe-prixe meals at 100s of restaurants at lower prices than usual.
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