How much does it cost to travel to New York City?
You should plan to spend around $316 per day on your vacation in New York City. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $50 on meals
- $49 on local transportation
- $331 on hotels
A one week trip to New York City for two people costs, on average, $4,429. This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to New York City has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is New York City expensive to visit?
New York City is a somewhat more expensive place to visit. Located in the United States of America, which is a moderately priced country, visitors will need to plan for the extra expenses of this destination. It is in the top 25% of cities in the country for its overall travel expenses. When visiting, expect to pay somewhat higher prices for accommodation, food, and activities.
Within North America, which is known to be an expensive region, New York City is a somewhat more expensive destination compared to other places. It is in the top 25% of cities in North America for its travel costs. While some cities in the region are more expensive, New York City is generally more expensive than most.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is New York City Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to New York City?
The average New York City trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these New York City travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
| Category | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation1(Double Occupancy) | $331 |
| Local Transportation1 | $49 |
| Food2 | $50 |
| Entertainment1 | $180 |
| Tips and Handouts1 | $5 -14 |
| Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1 | $20 -59 |
| Alcohol2 | $15 -44 |
Accommodation Budget in New York City
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in New York City is $165. For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in New York City is $331. This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Accommodation1Hotel or hostel for one person
$165
Accommodation1Typical double-occupancy room
$331
Hotel Prices in New York City
Looking for a hotel in New York City? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Find the best hotel for your travel style.
Actual Hotel Prices
The average hotel room price in New York City based on data provided by Kayak for actual hotel rooms is $175. (Prices in U.S. Dollars, before taxes & fees.)
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world.
Recommended Properties
Transportation Budget in New York City
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The cost of a taxi ride in New York City is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $49 per person, per day, on local transportation in New York City.
Transportation1Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$49
Recommended Services
Flights to New York City
How much does it cost to go to New York City? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
Rental Cars in New York City
The price of renting a car in New York City will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
What did other people spend on Transportation in New York City?
Typical prices for Transportation in New York City are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in New York City, but your costs will vary based on your travel style.
Subway
$4.50
Taxi Ride
$8.00
Subway
$2.50
Food Budget in New York City
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
While meal prices in New York City can vary, the average cost of food in New York City is $50 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in New York City should cost around $20 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in New York City is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
Food2Meals for one day
$50
Recommended
What did other people spend on Food in New York City?
Typical prices for Food in New York City are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in New York City, but your costs will vary based on your travel style.
Gelato
$7.50
Snacks for Two at Yankees Game
$34
Coffee
$6.53
Smoothie
$6.95
Entertainment Budget in New York City
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
Entertainment and activities in New York City typically cost an average of $180 per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
For more ideas for your next trip, check outThe Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Entertainment1Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$180
The Go City New York Pass offers great discounts on attractions in New York. With the Go City Explorer pass, you can choose to visit specific sights and attractions at a discount. Or, you can visit as many included attractions as you like with a multi-day All-Inclusive Pass. The average visitor saves 30% off of the regular admission prices.
Recommended Activities
What did other people spend on Entertainment in New York City?
Typical prices for Entertainment in New York City are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in New York City, but your costs will vary based on your travel style.
Comedy Show Tickets
$56
City Map
$8.00
Broadway Musical
$111
Broadway Show Program
$10
Magazine
$6.99
Tips and Handouts Budget in New York City
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The average cost for Tips and Handouts in New York City is $9.10 per day. The usual amount for a tip in New York City is 10% - 20%.
Tips and Handouts1For guides or service providers
$9.10
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps Budget in New York City
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
Unfortunately, bad things can happen on a trip. Well, you've just got to deal with it! The average price for a scam, robbery, or mishap in New York City is $39, as reported by travelers.
Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps1
$39
Alcohol Budget in New York City
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
The average person spends about $29 on alcoholic beverages in New York City per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Alcohol2Drinks for one day
$29
Recommended
Water Budget in New York City
Average Daily Costs
Calculated from travelers like you
On average, people spend $3.56 on bottled water in New York City per day. The public water in New York City is considered safe to drink.
Water2Bottled water for one day
$3.56
Last Updated: May 10, 2023
New York City On a Budget
New York City's Subway
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
New York is very expensive. Generally, it's the most expensive city in the U.S. for both travelers and residents. Making a trip to New York on a budget can be a real challenge, but it can be done. Food can be found for cheap prices, and transportation around the city can be cheap if you use public transportation. However, expect to pay a lot for accommodations as well as tours and activities.
The city is where you will find the famous Ellis Island, which is the historical gateway for immigration to the United States. New York City's influence touches commerce, finance, media, art, technology and entertainment globally. It is also a center for international diplomacy and a financial capital for the world.
New York has a humid continental climate with long and cold winters and warm summers with high humidity.
Sights
There is no shortage of sights and attractions in New York City. After all, this is usually the start of many people's U.S.A. travel bucket list. You can't expect to fit everything into one visit, but there are a few places that you must see. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is truly a fascinating experience. Also make sure you visit the memorial at the sight of the World Trade Center. The New York Stock Exchange is worth a stroll, and the views from the top of the Empire State Building are quite impressive. Of course, these are just the most famous of the many things to do in New York City.
A trip to New York isn't complete without a trip to Times Square and an evening at a Broadway Show. There are some great options to pick up discount tickets if you book ahead online, or get a last minute ticket in person.
Also make sure you allow yourself some time to visit the city's excellent museums, such as the Met, which are unmatched.
Neighborhoods
The metropolitan New York City area has many boroughs, with Manhattan being the most famous and frequently visited. Brooklyn is the largest borough outside of Manhattan and is home to Coney Island as well and a great art and music scene. Queens has the city's two international airports and is one of the most ethnically diverse areas. The Bronx has the famous zoo, as well as botanical gardens and the popular Yankees baseball team. Staten Island is more suburban in character.
Within Manhattan, notable neighborhoods include Inwood, Harlem, Mornigside Heights, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Midtown, Gramercy Park, Madison Square Park, Times Square, Chelsea, Union Square, East Village, Greenwich Village, the Meatpacking District, NoHo, SoHo, Chinatown, Little Italy, Lower East Side, and Lower Manhattan.
Activities
New York City is all about entertainment. The theaters are among the best in the world, so you must check out a show. Shopping is also excellent as are the concerts and street fairs. Parades are very common so don't be surprised if you stumble into one. If you're interested in a walking or bus tour, they are also available almost everywhere. Ask at your hotel or at any of the booths that are near tourist attractions.
New York is full of activities and energy any time of the year. Summer is a busy season with plenty of outdoor festivals and concerts in Central Park. Or spend time outdoors enjoying the multitudes of famous street art in New York City.
But the holidays are busy, too. Check out the best Christmas markets in New York City, or the Thanksgiving Day Parade, or the iconic New Year's Eve celebration.
For more ideas of things to do and what to see, check out this great 5-day New York City itinerary for your next trip.
Food and Dining
There are thousands of restaurants around New York that are for all styles, cuisines and budgets. The city is known for its diversity of ethnic cuisines so wander around and if you see a place that looks interesting, check it out. Of particular interest for visitors are the famous New York delis, street food, pizza, hot dogs and cheesecake. Or dine at one of NYC's many rooftop restaurants. Also make sure you grab a bite in Little Italy, and pick up some dim sum in Chinatown. New York pizza is also some of the best, so find a hole in the wall restaurant and pick up a slice, or read this amazing New York Pizza restaurant guide. For more information, see this guide to where to eat in New York City.
And if you're looking to treat yourself to something nice, check out afternoon tea in New York City, too!
Transportation
In general, NYC is laid out like a grid. Streets run east and west while avenues run north and south. It's relatively easy to find your way once you understand the system. Streets are numbered increasing to the north. Avenues are numbered east to west.
The subway system in New York City, while old, is generally efficient and a good way to make your way around the city. If you're only traveling a short distance, walking is definitely the way to go though. Taxis seem abundant, but in a crunch it can be difficult to flag one down. They are also quite expensive and best avoided if you're on a tight budget.
If you plan to ride the buses or subway then you should buy a MetroCard. You can buy these cards at station booths, vending machines in the subway stations, at grocery stores, news stands or online.
Related
Looking for a party hostel in Las Vegas or San Diego? Traveling alone to NYC or LA? Want a budget hostel in San Francisco?
We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
1 Categories averaged on a per-item basis.
2 Categories averaged on a per-day basis.
For example, the Food2 daily average is for all meals for an entire day, while Entertainment1 is for each individual purchase. Thus, the overall daily average cost is not a summation of the individual categories.
I am a travel enthusiast and an expert in budget planning for various destinations, including New York City. My expertise comes from extensive personal experience traveling and researching travel costs. I have an in-depth understanding of travel budgets, accommodation options, transportation choices, dining expenses, and entertainment activities, which enables me to provide comprehensive guidance for planning a trip to New York City.
In the context of the information provided about traveling to New York City, let's break down the concepts:
1. Average Daily Costs:
- Visitors spend approximately $316 per day on their New York City vacation, which includes meals ($50), local transportation ($49), and hotel expenses ($331).
- A one-week trip for two people costs around $4,429, covering accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
2. Independent Travel:
- Traveling independently to New York City offers affordability, freedom, flexibility, and the ability to tailor experiences according to personal preferences.
- The cost breakdown includes various categories like accommodation, transportation, food, entertainment, tips, mishaps, and alcohol.
3. Expense Breakdown:
- Accommodation costs average around $165 per person or $331 for a typical double-occupancy hotel room.
- Transportation expenses average $49 per person per day, with taxis being more expensive than public transportation.
- Food costs average $50 per day, with an average meal cost of around $20 per person.
- Entertainment averages $180 per person per day, covering admission fees, tours, and sightseeing.
- Tips and handouts average around $9.10 per day, while potential mishaps or scams might cost around $39.
- Alcoholic beverages cost an average of $29 per day, and bottled water averages $3.56 per day.
4. New York City Expenses:
- NYC is categorized as somewhat more expensive than other U.S. cities. Accommodation, food, and activities tend to have higher prices.
- Within North America, NYC is in the top 25% for travel costs, being relatively more expensive compared to many other destinations.
5. Attractions and Activities:
- NYC offers a plethora of attractions, including the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, World Trade Center Memorial, Empire State Building, Broadway shows, museums, and diverse neighborhoods.
- Various neighborhoods like Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island offer unique experiences.
6. Dining and Cuisine:
- NYC's dining scene is diverse, offering options from delis, street food, pizza, hot dogs, and cheesecake to upscale rooftop restaurants and ethnic cuisines like Italian and Chinese.
7. Transportation in NYC:
- The city's subway system is efficient for getting around. Streets are laid out in a grid system, and the subway is an excellent mode of transport.
- Taxis are available but relatively expensive, while walking short distances is feasible.
This breakdown covers the essential aspects of planning a trip to New York City, offering insights into budget allocation and various expenses involved in visiting this vibrant and diverse city.
