We all know New York City has a reputation for being an expensive place to live and visit. There’s so much to see and do, it’s easy to get caught up and spend way more than you mean to. Trust me, I’ve been guilty of it a time or two! As your favorite travel blogger (right?), I’m here to tell you that it can be done on the cheap without it feeling that way. And the best part is visiting NYC on a budget doesn’t mean you’re not gonna have a fabulous trip.
Keep reading and see how I survived NYC on a budget of $50 a day. I had to get a little creative, but I made my New York City budget stretch far and had the best time!
Breakfast: Starting Mornings Cheap for NYC on a Budget
No matter what hotel in NYC you’re staying at, you’re never far from a bagel shop. That’s good news for doing New York on a budget! Every day I’d start off with a warm, delicious bagel near the HI
My day started with a warm, chewy bagel from Broadway Bagel on the Upper West Side. It’s close to the HI New York City Hostel, for those of you intrigued by where Luigi Mangione stayed in the city. For just a few bucks, I snagged a bagel with cream cheese and a small coffee — classic, filling, and quintessentially New York! If bagels aren’t your thing, you can also check out the street carts that serve up bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches. You can usually snag one for around $3 to $5.
If you’re staying near a grocery store and really wanna keep your New York budget trip down, you can start off by grabbing a banana or a granola bar for breakfast, instead. For me, starting the day with something affordable yet satisfying gave me all the energy I needed to kick off my day exploring the Big Apple.
Late Morning: A NYC Budget Friendly Outing
After I had my fill from breakfast, I would be off to one of the many free things to do in NYC. The first day of my trip, that was exploring Central Park! It’s honestly so big and beautiful that you can spend hours there and never get bored. There’s things to see, lots of people watching, street performers, and more that you can experience without spending a dime. Really stretches that $50 when planning how to see New York City on a budget.
I took a walk through the pathways and made my way over to the iconic Bethesda Terrace. If you’re not familiar with it, the Bethesda Terrace is a two-level spot that overlooks the southern part of the lake in Central Park. It’s not just an overlook, though, it’s also where the super famous Angel of the Waters fountain is that you’ve no doubt seen in tons of movies and TV shows. Pro tip: get there early and you might beat some of the crowds. It’s such a famous spot so there are inevitably tons of people around the closer you get to the afternoon.
If you’re not near Central Park or want something else to check out, I also enjoyed one of my mornings doing NYC on a budget at the High Line. It’s an elevated park built on a former railway line – how cool is that? Plus it’s another free option that let me check out incredible views of the city and some unique art installations without blowing my New York City budget.
Lunch: A Slice of NYC on a Budget
When lunchtime hit, I was definitely getting hungry. All that walking around had me ready to eat! When you travel to New York City on a budget, you’re not planning to hit super fancy spots for an afternoon snack. That doesn’t mean you can’t eat some great food on the cheap, though!
Now, you might’ve heard all about finding the $1 NYC pizza slices. They totally exist in some of the major tourist spots like Times Square, but I read some more about them and decided to splurge a tiny bit more for something else. Not knocking them, I read a little about some of them potentially having dubious operations and I didn’t want to participate. There are some other places for pizza that I tried and loved them all. Just do your due diligence to keep your spending down and you’ll be fine visiting NYC on a budget.
Instead of the $1 pizza slices, I hit Chinatown for some cheap eats that are delicious! I hit the famous Wah Fung No. 1 Fast Food, naturally. They’re a super popular spot with great flavor and low prices. In fact, this place is so good that the New York Times named their roasted pork over rice as one of NYC’s 25 Essential Dishes of 2021. My mouth is honestly watering just remembering the food from there! One major thing to know is that they’re cash only, though. So make sure at least some of that $50/day NYC budget is sitting in your wallet.
When I wasn’t grabbing cheap and delicious eats from Chinatown, it was hitting a local bodega or a grab-and-go spot for something yummy. The key to how to see New York City on a budget without sacrificing on the food is to avoid sit-down restaurants at lunch. I didn’t just save money that way, it also helped me explore more of the city!
Afternoon in NYC: A Little Culture and Exploration
In the afternoon, it was time to explore more. That didn’t mean my budget grew, though, so I had to make it count. I decided to hit the Met Museum and take in some incredible art.
If you’re a New York or New Jersey resident, you can take advantage of the “pay what you wish” ticket. You have to pay something, but this is a cool program that lets state residents explore the Met on the smallest of budgets. Not from around the area? Don’t worry! There are actually tons of discount days (even some that are free!) to pick from. It’s all about planning your budget trip to NYC for 50 dollars a day carefully. This is why your girl here is always thinking ahead!
There are other ways to take in the sights around the Big Apple without blowing through your daily limit. One of the afternoons during my trip visiting NYC on a budget I wanted to check out the Statue of Liberty. Instead of doing it the traditional way, I decided to take one of the local ferries. These are inexpensive but have great views of Lady Liberty without the costly ticket. It’s a museum alternative on a budget, and I was just as thrilled.
Early Evening: Dinner and Happy Hour in the East Village
Just because you’re visiting NYC on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t go out and have fun in the evenings!
First up, I needed to figure out some dinner. I hit up Han Dynasty in the East Village which was absolutely to die for. It’s a pretty informal spot with spicy Sichuan dishes like dan dan noodles that won’t break the bank. You can usually get out of there without spending more than $15 or so and still be full.
If you’re in other spots of New York, one of my favorites in Queens is the halal carts that range from $7 to $9 for a meal that will have you feeling absolutely stuffed.
Next up, I wanted to have a cocktail. After all, it’s NYC and I was out and about! There are tons of places in the East Village with great happy hour specials so you can have a nice drink while still keeping to seeing New York City on a budget. The bonus is that you’ll also be in a perfect spot to meet lots of interesting people who can share even more local hotspots to see on the cheap.
Night in the Big Apple: Seeing a Show in NYC on a Budget
What’s a trip to NYC without a show? Instead of splurging on Broadway, I scored free tickets to a live taping of Saturday Night Live (SNL). While getting these tickets required some planning and luck, it was so worth it and I had a blast.
There are other inexpensive ways to enjoy NYC’s performance scene, too. One night I went and checked out an improv show at Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB). The tickets were less than $15 for a lot of their shows, so you can check out what you’d like to see and plan for it within your daily NYC budget.
If sketch comedy or improv isn’t your thing, there are tons of bars around the city that have free live entertainment each night, too. You can check out live music, comedians, and other performers without having to spend a fortune.
Plan Your Visit to New York City on a Budget
Surviving NYC on $50 a day isn’t just possible, but I did it while having the time of my life! Sometimes I enjoy splurging but I love little getaways that don’t cost an arm and a leg, too. New York has so many ways to eat on the cheap, explore free spots, take in lots of culture, and enjoy live performances without blowing through your savings. A little pre-planning goes a long way here.
Ready to plan your trip to see New York on a budget? Check out great NYC hotel reviews from Room Cougar and tell me your favorite spots in the comments!
