11 Tips For Doing NYC On a Budget (Updated 2026)

One of the most visited cities in the world, New York, is no stranger to tourists, and how to take advantage of them financially. Tourists need to be very cautious in this massive city. My 11 tips for doing NYC on a budget will help you plan an affordable, yet comfortable trip.

This post is all about NYC on a budget

About New York City

New York City is home to 8.5 million people and is made up of 5 boroughs. (Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, and The Bronx) The most densely populated borough is Manhattan which is in the center of them all.

How To Stay Safe In New York City

You have probably heard some crazy stories about New York, and that's because it's a crazy place. While New York, overall, is a safe place to visit there are some little things you definitely need to be aware of before your trip.

Visiting Times Square briefly is a great idea because there really is no other place like it, but don't spend too much time there. Times Square is a scammers and pickpockets playground. If you see someone in a dirty elmo costume try to take a picture with you, they are not being kind or fun, they want your money.

How To Get Around NYC

NYC has amazing public transportation! The subway is all you need to get anywhere in New York.

If you need to get over to Staten Island you can take the free Staten Island Ferry (can see views of the Statue of Liberty) that will take you from Manhattan to Staten Island.

11 Tips For Doing NYC On a Budget

1. Choose Your Accommodation Wisely

In New York you could pay an absurd amount of money for a mediocre hotel. It is very important to choose your accommodation in NYC wisely. I love a good price but I would never recommend accommodation without good reviews and being in a good location.

I would recommend staying at Broadway Plaza Hotel in Manhattan because of it's great location and reasonable price.

Hotel Indigo (photo above) on Wall Street is sleek and modern with a great price.

The Gotham Hotel located in Midtown is in a great location and offers a rooftop deck everyone staying at the hotel can enjoy. The Gotham Hotel is clean and modern with an amazing price and great reviews!

You could also consider staying in my favorite borough - Brooklyn. Brooklyn is still busy but way calmer. Checkout our guide to the 15 best hotels in Brooklyn.

2. Free Things To Do In New York City

Located in the upper west side, the American Museum of Natural History is completely free for residents of New York and New Jersey. If you are not from New York or New Jersey the museum is free from 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm everyday.

The Vessel in Hudson Yards is one of the best free things to do in NYC. This amazing art peace, created by Thomas Heatherwick, has a spiral staircase that you can walk to the top of and can see an amazing view of New York.

When in NYC you should definitely visit Time Square in Manhattan. While Times Square is not my favorite place, it is quite amazing to see. Just don't eat the food their or interact with any of the people dressed in costumes.

Visit the Brooklyn Bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge is a 1.3 mile bridge that connects Manhattan to Brooklyn. The Instagram famous bridge is completely free. The best time to walk the Brooklyn Bridge is during sunrise, sunset, or late at night because you will see all of the NYC lights.

Take the Staten Island Ferry. I think of the Staten Island Ferry as a free cruise of New York. You will see statue of liberty from a distance and be able to really appreciate how enormous New york it's from the water. Once you get to Staten Island take the ferry back as there is nothing to really do on Staten Island.

3. Go In The Off Season

New York is a tourist hotspot year round, although the busiest and most expensive times to visit New York are the holidays and the summer. So if you are doing NYC on a budget don't go during the summer or over the holidays. New York in the fall is the best in my opinion.

4. Take The Subway

New York's Subway is known for having massive rats and horrifying smells, but it's part of the NYC experience. The subway is the cheapest way to get around New York. You can buy a metrocard at any subway station; it's really easy don't worry.

5. Be careful Where You Eat

In New York it is so easy to spend way to0 much money on a sub-par meal. So you need to be careful where you eat.

Everyone loves to go out to dinner or try local cuisine while on a trip, it's part of the experience. In New York local eats means pizza. I loved Pugsley Pizza in the Bronx and Mama's Too on Broadway. If you are not in the mood for pizza then check out Super Taste in Chinatown

6. Stay Away From Manhattan

Although Manhattan is a great place to see while in New York it is extremely expensive. While you should definitely take the time to explore everything Manhattan has to offer, spend most of your trip in the other boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx), except maybe Staten Island as there is not much to do.

7. Discounted Broadway Tickets

Broadway has gotten extremely expensive! That doesn't mean you can't go.

Here is how you get discounted Broadway tickets:

Don't book online. You have to be flexible about which show you want to see. Go to the theatre right before the show and ask if they have any tickets left, sometimes they will, sometimes they won't. If they don't go to another theater and ask. If they do, the tickets will be seriously discounted. I was in the 6th row at Hamilton for $70!

8. Visit Parks

The Parks in NYC are so nice! Whether you want to go on a run, bike ride, or just need a break from the city parks are perfect. Some of the best parks in New York are Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Prospect Park, Bryant Park and Washington Square Park. All of these parks are free!

9. Free Guided Tour

There are free walking tours to go on in New York. There are free tours of DUMBO (Brooklyn Bridge area), Soho, Chinatown, Little Italy and Grand Central Station. All of these tours start in the morning. I loved Free Tours By Foot.

10. Go Thrifting

As you can probably imagine, the thrifting scene in New York is amazing, and cheap. You can find some amazing things in these thrift stores. Some of the best thrift stores in New York are AuH20, Beacon's Closet, Cure Thrift Store, and Crossroads.

11. You Can Drink The Tap Water

Believe it or not you can drink the tap water in New York. You will save tons of money and help the environment by just bringing a water bottle. New York Cities water comes from upstate New York from Hudson Valley and Catskill Mountains.

NYC On a Budget FAQs:

Can you do NYC on a budget?

Yes! While at first glance doing NYC on a budget can seem daunting, it is actually quite doable - especially if you use our 11 tips in this article.

What is a reasonable budget for NYC?

Well it depends on how long you are planning to stay, how many people, flights, ect. - but for a 4 day trip you could do it with $1000 (give or take).

What's the cheapest way to travel in New York?

Walking and the subway are definitely the cheapest ways to get around!

What is the cheapest month to travel to NYC?

Early winter is the cheapest time to visit NYC, although it's always quite busy you will find the cheapest prices on hotels and airfare in these months.

11 Tips For Doing NYC On a Budget Wrap Up

I hope that these 11 tips to do NYC on a budget helps you plan a fun and affordable trip to New York! If you liked this post we think that you will also like Bahamas on a Budget, The Best Weekend Trips From New York City, and London on a Budget.

Happy Travels,

Daisy