New York City Travel Cost - Average Price of a Vacation to New York City: Food & Meal Budget, Daily & Weekly Expenses | BudgetYourTrip.com (2024)

FAQs

How much money should you budget for a week trip to New York City? ›

The average price of a 7-day trip to New York is $2,057 for a solo traveler, $3,694 for a couple, and $6,926 for a family of 4. New York hotels range from $74 to $506 per night with an average of $196, while most vacation rentals will cost $250 to $610 per night for the entire home.

If you plan to stay at a 5-star hotel and dine at upscale restaurants in Manhattan, then a budget of $1000 is definitely not going to cut it. However, if you book a mid-tier hotel and take advantage of the many free things to do in New York, then a budget of $1000 is just fine.

How much money will you need for your trip to New York City? You should plan to spend around $238 per day on your vacation in New York City, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, $37 on meals for one day and $39 on local transportation.

What is a good budget for New York City? Approximately $1,000 per person weekly is enough for a comfortable budget trip in New York City (not including flights). This should be enough for a private room or hostel, food, activities, and souvenirs.

As you might well have guessed, the cheapest months of the year to travel to NYC are from January through March. It's in these 3 months that the costs of both a flight and hotel are on average the lowest for the whole year.

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.

How long to spend in NYC? 5 days in NYC is actually the perfect amount if it's your first visit. You can spend 3 days in New York City, but it's cutting it close–and you'll need to come back again. If you have only one day in New York City, you can still see Manhattan!

Fall and spring are considered by tourists and locals as the best times to visit, and you can expect pleasant temperatures to reign in the months from April to June and September until November.

break it up and do both. You'll find places that won't accept debit/credit, so you can't go wrong with carrying cash. You'll also see some places (like a local deli i would go to) that had a minimum purchase if using a card). I always carry no more than about $200 in cash at a time.

New York City has a reputation for being one of the most expensive dining destinations in the world. It's easy to wander into high-end restaurants without realizing it and walk away with the idea that dining out in NYC is wallet-busting.

Do you need cash in NYC? ›

Credit cards are accepted everywhere. In New York (and in the rest of the US) people that use credit cards are more common than those that use cash. In many ways, it is comparable to using a debit card. If you don't have a credit card or you'd like to pay in dollars, you can request the free Revolut Debit Card here.

Cost: $33 (7-day) or $127 (30-day). You have unlimited swipes on the subway and local buses for either 7 or 30 days. Your MetroCard can only hold one Unlimited Ride refill at a time. You can't pause an unlimited ride card once you've started using it.

Riding the subway is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to get around the city. For most riders, the subway fare is $2.75. Reduced fares are available for people 65 and older, people with disabilities, and low-income New Yorkers. Learn more about fares.

The average price of a Weekend 3-day trip to New York City, United States is $1059 for a solo traveller, $1801 for a couple, and $2330 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.

MTA—Subways and Buses

It's inexpensive, environmentally friendly and a great way to see sights throughout the five boroughs—and it operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All public transit buses are accessible to passengers with visual, hearing and mobility disabilities, and so are portions of the subway system.

You should also consider expenses such as the deposit, utilities, and mover fees. According to Luke Demaria, a financial advisor at Client Focused Advisors, a good rule of thumb is having at least 4 months worth of expenses saved up before you move to New York.

Book at least 2 weeks before departure in order to get a below-average price. High season is considered to be June and July. The cheapest month to fly to New York is February. Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest New York flight deals.

The most famous street for shopping in New York is Fifth Avenue between 49th Street and 60th Street. It's home to luxury brands' eye-catching stores.

How much do I tip in New York? ›

Porters and bellhops: $1–$2 per bag. Housekeeping: $1–$2 per day of your visit, or as much as $5 per day. Waitstaff and bartenders: 15–20 percent of total bill. Bartenders typically expect at least a $1 tip for every beverage they serve you.

NYC Budget Breakfast Options & Prices

A bagel with cream cheese will cost between $2-$4. A bagel sandwich with eggs and cheese will run you around $5-$8. For a cheap, no-frills bagel with bacon, egg, and cheese, simply stop into just about any bodega. Basic coffee and croissant will set you back about $4-$6.

If it's your first time in New York (or you have a short trip), stay in Midtown. It's as central as it gets, walkable to Central Park, and full of the unbridled energy that makes NYC special. We will say that it gets a little overwhelming near Times Square.

Is a trip to New York worth it? A trip to New York is worth the expenditure of time and money if you set realistic expectations, but probably not if you're expecting your life to be changed. New York is a diverse, dynamic city with some of the best food and most recognizable landmarks in the world.

January is the coldest month in New York City. The daily mean temperature in January is 32.6 °F (0.3 °C). However, temperatures of 10° F (−12° C) or less can occur several times each winter while on the other hand mild spells to 50°F (10 °C) or more occur several days each winter month as well.

Rain falls throughout the year in New York City. The month with the most rain in New York City is April, with an average rainfall of 3.7 inches. The month with the least rain in New York City is February, with an average rainfall of 2.2 inches.

Deep in winter, January is the coldest month of the year in New York thanks to its continental climate.

Supplement your cash with credit

While cash can be useful to have on hand, a credit card is much more secure than carrying around a wad of dollar bills in your pocket. Plus, using a credit card responsibly (paying off your balance in full and on time every month) can help you build a better credit score.

What is the safest way to carry cash on a plane? ›

If you have to take cash, keep it in a carry on bag. Never put your cash, financial instruments, or precious metals in a checked bag. Keep your cash and other valuables out of public view. Keep your baggage and belongings in sight when passing through a security checkpoint.

Always keep cash and other valuables with you in a carry-on bag. Never leave such items in checked baggage. Don't forget to declare the cash to customs if you're traveling internationally.

It should come as no surprise that New York City—home of several three-figure figures including Serendipity's $295 Le Burger Extravagant—tops the list with the country's most expensive burger average at $9.52. Los Angeles, the home of Umami Burger, comes in a close second at $9.44.

It's a foodie dream to try it all, but you never will. According to data from Open Table, you can eat at a different spot once a day for 22.7 years and never go to the same place twice.

The average price of a Weekend 3-day trip to New York City, United States is $1059 for a solo traveller, $1801 for a couple, and $2330 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.

While your travel costs will depend on your travel style, generally speaking New York is best for travellers with some spending money. Accommodation costs are generally on the high side and food and drinks are relatively expensive.

With 3 days in NYC, you can see most of the major sights and landmarks. But to make the most of your time and money, remember your New York Pass. A lot of the activities and attractions mentioned in this post are included.

Spending 4 days in New York City is a great introduction to the Big Apple, but as I mentioned earlier it's not enough time to absorb everything, so go easy on yourself because you'll see a lot of things but you won't see everything.

New York City has a reputation for being one of the most expensive dining destinations in the world. It's easy to wander into high-end restaurants without realizing it and walk away with the idea that dining out in NYC is wallet-busting.

How safe is NYC for tourists? ›

New York is a largely safe city to visit. It may have a reputation for crime – of all kinds – but New York is about as safe as any other megalopolis city in the Western world. It has gentrified in the main visiting areas, especially Manhattan.

The best view is inside the area known as the Bowtie" (where Broadway and 7th Avenue intersect.) This area will fill up first. The "prime" viewing area is between 42nd and 48th St where you can see the ball drop and also the huge video screens at 1 Times Square are easily visible.