In a nutshell
- Yeah, New York City is not cheap – but honestly, it’s worth every penny.
- In this post, we’re breaking down what a trip to New York really costs – straight from our own experiences after a few visits.
- The priciest part of your NYC trip? Definitely the hotels. A night in a decent hotel will set you back around $250 for two.
- In New York, you can expect a daily budget of $95 to $225 per person for activities and meals.
- If you’re planning to see a bunch of sights, grab a New York Pass — it saved us a ton.
How Much is a Trip to New York? Costs at a Glance
Before we tell you the costs of a trip to New York in detail, here is an initial overview:
- Getting there: varies greatly depending on where you come from; therefore not included in our calculation
- Hotel: from $280 per night for two people ($140 per person)
- Transportation: $33 per person for seven days of unlimited metro travel
- Meals: approx. $40 to $100 per day per person
- Activities: approx. $200 p.p. and upwards
Extra costs if you’re not from the US
- Internet: between $20 and $55 (depending on usage and tariff)
- Visa (ESTA): $21 for citizens from Visa Waiver Program countries
- International health insurance: often from $25 (varies depending on the country)
Costs to Get to New York
Flights to NYC can vary a lot depending on where you’re flying from: Europe, the US, Australia – it makes a big difference.
For example, some flights from Europe to New York cost between 390 and 670 dollars per person per flight, depending on the time of year and when you book.
We booked our 2024 flights from Germany pretty last-minute and paid about $480 each. To save on baggage fees, we only traveled with hand luggage (small carry-on suitcase and additional backpack).
Since flight prices are all over the place, we didn’t include them in our budget breakdown — just add your own.
Costs for Overnight Stays in New York
NYC’s expensive – and yep, that includes hotels.
The cheapest, but still well-rated hotels start at around 280 dollars per night for two people (140 dollars per person). These are often simple hotels that are nevertheless well maintained and comfortable.
Prices for hotels in New York can vary greatly, and there are almost no upper limits.
We’ve tracked hotel prices over time, and it really pays to keep checking — deals pop up when you least expect it.
On our last visit to New York, we stayed at the Pod Hotel Times Square. A simple, but still good hotel. Small, practical rooms, central location and great connections.
Total: from $280 per night for two people ($140 per person)
Take a look at our article about where to stay in New York:
Cost of Getting Around New York
There are many ways to get around New York City, but the subway is by far the best and cheapest option. It also gets you from JFK Airport into the city.
A subway ride costs $2.90. However, there is a maximum cost of 33 dollars per week.
Once you hit $34 in subway rides in a week, the rest of your rides are free. This is the case after 12 journeys. And it doesn’t matter whether you pay by credit card, Apple Wallet or via OMNY-card. But it must always be the same payment method!
A week starts when you use the metro for the first time, not on Monday or so – so it doesn’t matter which day you arrive.
Total: max. $34 p.p. per week
You’ll find costs for boat trips or hop-on hop-off buses under ‘Costs for activities’ below.” We do not include them in the typical means of transportation.
Cab fares in New York
If you are traveling with children in New York, you should also check the current cab and Uber prices.
In our experience, cabs and Uber services in New York are unexpectedly cheap. And they are also more relaxed with kids than the subway.
We paid a total of 12 dollars for four people for a cab ride of around 2 kilometers, including tip.
The average Uber price in New York is between 15 and 30 dollars for 3 to 6 miles (5 to 10 kilometers).
Cost of Food in NYC
Eating out in NYC can burn through your budget fast — but there’s plenty of cheap eats too.
Here is a small price overview for food and drink in New York:
Snacks
- Hot dog from a food truck: $5–6
- Fruit cup to go in Central Park: $4
- Soft ice cream from the ice cream truck: $8
- Slice of pizza: from $4
- Bagel: $6–10
Full meal
- Breakfast at the hotel: from $20 (or included in the hotel price)
- Breakfast in a café: from $10
- Burger in the restaurant: from $10
- Avocado bread with 2 eggs: from $20
- Dinner: from $20 per main course
- Salad bowl: $15 for a bowl (sweet green)
- Tacos: from $12
- Ramen: $20
Beverages
- Americano: $4-6 (up to $10 in specialty cafés)
- Beer: $8-10
- Cocktail: from $15
Good to know: It is perfectly normal in the States to give the waitress your credit card. They then make the payment. It may feel strange at first, but we didn’t have any problems with it.
Total: $45 to $75 per person per day
Tipping in New York
In restaurants in the USA, you are expected to tip. Usually between 18 and 25 percent of the bill.
When paying by card, you can select the tip directly on the card reader, where various amounts are preset (18%, 20%, 22% or 25%).
For a coffee to go or another snack, however, it is also possible and okay to leave little or no tip. No stress – just tip what feels right and fits your budget.
And an important note: some restaurants in New York now charge a service charge directly, which is then added to the bill. You should therefore always check your bills carefully before paying so that you don’t tip twice.
For more details, take a look at our World Tipping Guide.
Costs for Activities in New York
NYC’s packed with cool stuff – skyline views, boat rides, museums, and more. Here’s an overview of the most important costs:
- New York observation decks: $38-56 (depending on time slot and platform)
- New York boat tours: from $30
- New York museums: approx. $25 (there are also cheaper ones)
- Citi Bike: approx. $10 per 30 minutes
- New York Hop-on Hop-off bus: approx. $50-80
- Broadway musicals: approx. $50-200 and up (depending on show and seat e.g. at TodayTix)
Most people cram in 2–3 big sights per day, especially if it’s their first time.
Of course, you don’t have to spend a ton of money on sightseeing every day. There are also some really great free activities in New York.
Total: $50-150 p.p. per day or $300-800 p.p. per week
Save Money with a New York Citypass
If you want to take in as many attractions in New York as possible, a Citypass can be worthwhile for you.
A City Pass is basically a bundle deal — pay once, see a bunch of top spots for less. There are 4 different passes in New York:
- New York All-Inclusive Pass (from $154)
- New York Sightseeing Pass (from $155)
- New York Explorer Pass (from $84)
- New York Citypass ($147)
Also read our New York Pass comparison
Cost of Internet in New York
You have two options for mobile network in New York:
- eSIM tariff for your existing SIM card: e.g. from Saily or Holafly for 20 to 55 dollars
- Buy a new SIM card locally: e.g. from T-Mobile or AT&T for around 55 dollars
We recommend the eSIM. It’s cheaper and less complicated.
After purchasing an eSIM plan of your choice, you will receive a QR code by email that you can scan to install the eSIM. Activate it when you arrive in New York.
Total: $20 to $55 depending on the tariff
Costs for a New York Visa (ESTA)
As a citizen from one of the Visa Waiver Program countries (e.g. Australia and New Zealand), you generally do not need a visa to enter New York if your stay is less than 90 days and the purpose of your visit is tourism or business.
Instead of a visa, you must apply for an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).
Do it only on the official U.S. Customs website — tons of scam sites out there and in worst case, you won’t get across the border.
The application must be submitted online at least 72 hours before departure and costs $21.
You will then receive the ESTA authorization by email, in most cases within 24 hours. You do not need to print anything out. The data is entered electronically into the US border authorities’ system.
It is valid for two years and allows you several stays within this period.
Important: If your ESTA application is rejected or you are not covered by the Visa Waiver Program, you must apply for a regular visa at the US embassy.
If you are not from a VWP country (e.g. India), you will need to apply for a regular visa to enter the USA, which is significantly more expensive than an ESTA.
The cost of the tourist visa is 185 dollars. Additional service fees may also apply.
Total: $21 for VWP citizens / $185 for Non-VWP citizens
Costs for International Health Insurance
We highly recommend an international health insurance for New York.
Most health insurance from your home country does not cover you in the USA, and even simple medical treatment can quickly cost several thousand dollars.
To be covered in an emergency, you should take out suitable insurance. The costs vary depending on the provider, scope of services and on the country in which you take out the insurance.
We recommend comparing prices online to find the best offer for your trip.
Total: mostly from $25
Total Amount: This is How much a Trip to NYV Costs
A trip to New York is an unforgettable experience – but it comes at a price. And this depends on the time of travel, the accommodation chosen and personal preferences.
For a one-week trip to New York, you should expect to pay around 1.400 to 3.400 dollars (+ flight costs) per person.
If you’re a citizen of the United States, it’s going to be cheaper than if you’re traveling from another country. The biggest costs are the flight and accommodation.
Then you’ll have costs for food and sightseeing. These quickly add up to a daily budget of 95 to 225 dollars per person.
New York public transport, ESTA and insurance are comparatively inexpensive. If you need a regular visa, it’s a bit more expensive.
In short: Bottom line? NYC’s amazing — but it ain’t cheap. However, with careful planning and a few money-saving tips, you can still experience a lot without breaking your budget.
Read our money-saving tips below!
Cash or Credit Card in New York?
In New York, almost everything is done by credit card – we didn’t need cash once during our stay. You can easily pay even small amounts by card and many stores no longer accept cash at all.
In most cases, you can pay tips directly with your credit card. If you do want cash, a few dollars will suffice for emergencies or tips in bars and hotels.
So you can’t do without a credit card in New York. It is required in hotels, restaurants and also at subway machines and ticket counters. You can take a debit card with you, but you will hardly ever use it.
New York Saving Tips: How to Make it Cheaper
Finally, we have a few tips for you to make your trip to New York a little cheaper:
- New York is usually at its cheapest during the off-season, which is January through March. During this time, prices for flights, hotels and activities are usually significantly lower. Prices are cheaper then, especially for hotels.
- You can get flights to New York cheaper if you book them as early as possible. Use flight comparison portals such as Skyscanner and set price alerts to find the best deals. Flights are also often cheaper during the week than at the weekend.
- Hotels are often cheaper away from the tourist hotspots. So check out neighborhoods like Queens and Jersey City. And read our tips for affordable hotels in New York.
- Walk as much as you can – it’s free, faster than traffic, and honestly the best way to take it all in.”
- Instead of eating in expensive restaurants, you can enjoy delicious street food in delis, bodegas or at food stalls. This also gives you the real New York experience.
- Combine paid and free activities. For example, a walk through Central Park with a visit to the Empire State Building.
That was our breakdown of what a trip to New York costs
How much did your trip to New York cost? Or do you have a really good money-saving tip? Then write us a comment. We look forward to hearing from you!