How much money do I need for NYC?
New York trip budget per person, per day (sharing a room)
| Cost | Budget | Mid-range | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel (your half, with tax) | $100–130 | $170–200 | $300+ |
| Food and drinks | $40–50 | $80–100 | $150+ |
| Subway | $5 | $6 | $6, plus taxis |
| Sights and shows | $0–25 | $45–60 | $130+ |
| Total per day | $150–200 | $300–350 | $600+ |
Traveling solo? You pay for the whole room, so add the other half of the hotel cost. A solo mid-range trip is closer to $450 a day.
Trip to New York cost breakdown
Hotels: the biggest cost
| When | Average nightly rate, before tax |
|---|---|
| January (cheapest) | About $196 |
| Year-round average | About $336 |
| December (most expensive) | About $541 |
New York adds about 14.75% plus $3.50 per room per night in taxes. On a $336 room, that’s about $53 more a night. Staying in Long Island City or Downtown Brooklyn usually costs less than Midtown; see our guide to where to stay in NYC for every area.
Food
You can eat well in New York at almost any budget:
- Budget, about $40–50 a day: bagels and coffee, pizza by the slice, food carts, delis and food halls
- Mid-range, about $80–100 a day: a sit-down lunch and a casual dinner with a drink
- Splurge, $150 and up a day: popular restaurants, cocktails and tasting menus
Tipping 18 to 20% is expected at sit-down restaurants and bars, so add it to your budget.
Getting around
| Item | 2026 price |
|---|---|
| Subway or local bus ride | $3.00 |
| Weekly cap (after 12 rides in 7 days) | $35 |
| JFK to Manhattan, AirTrain plus subway | About $11.75 |
| JFK to Manhattan, yellow taxi | $70 flat fare, about $90–115 with tolls, fees and tip |
| LaGuardia Link bus to the subway | Free, plus $3 for the subway |
Kids under 44 inches ride the subway free with a paying adult, up to 3 per adult.
Attractions and shows
| Attraction | 2026 adult price |
|---|---|
| Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry | $25.50 ($16.50 for kids 4–12) |
| Top of the Rock or Empire State Building | About $45–50 |
| Broadway show | $131 average ticket last season |
| Staten Island Ferry, Central Park, High Line, 9/11 Memorial | Free |
Sample New York vacation budgets
4 days for a couple, mid-range
| Item | Cost for 2 |
|---|---|
| Hotel, 3 nights at $336, plus tax | About $1,170 |
| Food, $90 per person per day | About $720 |
| Subway for 4 days | About $50 |
| JFK by AirTrain and subway, both ways | About $47 |
| Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty ferry, 1 Broadway show | About $405 |
| Total, before flights | About $2,390, or $1,195 per person |
Weekend New York getaway for 2
How much does a weekend trip to NYC cost? For 2 people, Friday to Sunday, 2 nights:
| Item | Cost for 2 |
|---|---|
| Hotel, 2 nights at $336, plus tax | About $780 |
| Food, $90 per person per day for 3 days | About $540 |
| Subway | About $60 |
| JFK by AirTrain and subway, both ways | About $47 |
| Top of the Rock | About $95 |
| Total, before flights | About $1,520, or $760 per person |
Stay in Lower Manhattan for a weekend getaway, where hotel rates often drop when office workers leave.
New York vacation cost for a family of 4
4 days, 3 nights, 2 adults and 2 kids aged 6 to 12:
| Item | Cost for 4 |
|---|---|
| Hotel, 3 nights at about $400 for a larger room, plus tax | About $1,390 |
| Food, about $240 a day for the family | About $960 |
| Subway for 4 days | About $60 |
| Taxi from JFK, both ways | About $200 |
| Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty ferry, 1 Broadway show | About $790 |
| Total, before flights | About $3,400 |
Skipping Broadway saves about $525 for a family of 4. Kids under 44 inches ride the subway free, and children under 5 get into Top of the Rock free.
Are New York vacation packages cheaper?
New York packages bundle your flight and hotel, and sometimes attraction tickets, into 1 price. They can save money, mostly in the slower months, because travel sites get discounted hotel rates when they sell them with a flight.
Before you book a package, price the same flight and hotel separately, check that the hotel’s area suits your plans, and confirm whether hotel taxes and fees are included in the package total.
The cheapest and most expensive times for a trip to New York
- Cheapest: January and February. Hotels average about $196 a night in January, and NYC Hotel Week offered 25% off at participating hotels in early 2026
- Good value: weekends in Lower Manhattan, when business travelers leave
- Most expensive: December, about $541 a night on average, and the week around New Year’s Eve
Still want the holidays? See our guide to Christmas in New York for the free things to do in December.
How to save on a trip to New York
- Travel in January or February, when hotels cost the least
- Share a room and stay 1 or 2 subway stops outside Manhattan
- Use the subway, not taxis; the weekly cap means you never pay more than $35 in 7 days
- Take the free Staten Island Ferry for a view of the Statue of Liberty if you don’t need to land on the island
- Pick 1 observation deck, at about $45–50 each
- Buy same-day Broadway tickets at the TKTS booth in Times Square, or try digital lotteries and rush tickets
- Compare city passes if you plan 3 or more paid attractions
- Eat a big lunch at a food hall instead of a big dinner, and carry a refillable water bottle
For more ways to cut costs on any trip, see our budget travel tips.
FAQ
About $150 to $200 per person per day on a budget and $300 to $350 mid-range, sharing a room and before flights.
About $450 to $600 per person on a budget, or $900 to $1,050 per person mid-range.
About $760 per person for 2 nights, sharing a mid-range room, before flights.
Yes. New York has the highest average hotel rates of any major US city, but food, the subway and many top sights can still be cheap or free.
January, with average hotel rates around $196 a night.
Planning your first visit? Start with our NYC travel guide for first-timers.
Sources: Engine: New York hotel rates by month · Roommaster: NYC hotel tax 2026 · BroadwayWorld: 2025–26 season record · Statue of Liberty ferry prices 2026
