Daily costs per person in USD. New York is expensive, but between dollar slices, free museums, and the subway, you can do it on less than you think.
Daily cost breakdown
Currency: USD ($) (1 EUR ≈ $1.08)
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Splurge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $40–80 | $150–250 | $350+ | Hostels → boutique hotels → luxury hotels |
| Food | $25–40 | $60–100 | $150+ | Bodega/dollar slices → casual dining → fine dining |
| Transport | $5–10 | $15–30 | $50+ | Subway unlimited → subway + Uber → Uber/taxi everywhere |
| Activities | $0–20 | $40–80 | $150+ | Free sites & parks → museums + observation decks → Broadway + VIP |
| Drinks | $10–20 | $30–50 | $80+ | Bodega beers → happy hours → rooftop cocktails |
| Daily Total | $80–170 | $295–510 | $780+ | Budget → comfortable → luxury |
Money-saving tips
Free experiences
Staten Island Ferry (Statue of Liberty views), Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge, 9/11 Memorial pools, High Line, many museum free nights, and street art in Bushwick and DUMBO.
Dollar slice culture
Dollar pizza slices ($1–1.50) are on every other block in Manhattan. For better quality, $3.50 slices at Joe's Pizza, Prince Street, or Juliana's are world-class.
MetroCard savings
Get a 7-Day Unlimited MetroCard for $34 — pays for itself in 12 rides. OMNY tap-to-pay auto-caps at $34/week too. Covers subway and all local buses.
Museum hacks
MoMA is free Fridays 4–8pm. The Met is pay-what-you-wish for NY residents. Many galleries in Chelsea and the LES are always free.
Happy hour culture
NYC bars offer 4–7pm happy hours with $6–8 beers and $8–12 cocktails. East Village and LES have the best deals. Dive bars always beat rooftops for prices.
Bodega breakfasts
The classic BEC (bacon, egg, cheese on a roll) from any bodega costs $4–6 and is a proper New York breakfast. Better and cheaper than any sit-down brunch.
