New York City is a top travel destination for people from all over the globe. However, visiting NYC can seem financially challenging for those on a limited budget. 

Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to make a New York trip possible without breaking the bank.

 

Hotels & Lodging

One of the most expensive parts of any New York City vacation is… lodging!

The average price of a hotel room in NYC is higher than almost any other city in the country. Stay for a few nights, and a hotel bill will quickly start to rival your rent. For this reason, travelers on a budget should consider alternate forms of lodging.

 

Hostels

Hostels are a great place to start looking, especially for students and young adults.

While they usually aren’t upscale by any means, the cost per night to stay in a hostel is often about 10% of the cost of a typical hotel room.

Also, hostels generally sleep multiple people per room, which makes them worth considering for larger groups looking to stay together.

Storage at hostels often comes at a premium, by the way, so it’s best to pack like a pro and travel light.

 

Vacation Rentals

If you want something nicer than a hostel but cheaper than a regular hotel room, vacation rentals, such as an Airbnb, are a great way to go. People all over NYC rent out their places to travelers and charge less than a hotel.

Vacation rentals are also a great option for those looking to have a more authentic New York City experience, as staying in someone’s apartment is much less touristy than staying at a hotel.

Want some more NYC hotel inspiration? Check out our list of the top 10 most unique New York hotels!

 

Things to Do

Once you’re in NYC and have found a place to stay, half the battle is already over. Simply being in New York City practically guarantees you’ll have a unique vacation since the Big Apple is unlike anywhere else on the planet. 

Of course, sightseeing is a major part of any NYC vacation, and luckily there are lots of cheap or free ways to tour New York City.

First, avoid the urge to take taxis and Ubers to get around. New York City is highly walkable, and when you need to travel farther, the subway system is easy to figure out. 

Download one of the many free navigation apps out there, such as Google Maps, onto your smartphone and see how easy it becomes to get around.

 

Parks

Next, take advantage of all the greenspaces around New York. As a general, but not all-encompassing, rule, if it’s located outside in New York, you can probably access it for free. 

There are some great parks, including the High Line in Chelsea, Bryant Park in Midtown, and, of course, Central Park, where you can spend hours strolling and sightseeing. Several of these parks also offer great skyline views.

 

Theater District

Times Square is also free to visit, though you’ll find that many of the things to do there sport quite the price tag. 

However, just seeing the bright lights and flashing billboards of Times Square makes it worth visiting if you’ve never been there before. It’s also fun to window shop the massive stores that line the streets. 

Another perk to Times Square is that it’s located in the center of the Theater District, and there are many ways to score discount tickets for a Broadway show. 

Most shows offer student tickets or discounted rush tickets available day-of. Usually all you need to do is spend a little time waiting in line, and you can end up with tickets to some of Broadway’s hottest shows for a significantly discounted price. 

Shows also offer a lottery where you are told by email if you won a ticket for a show that day, which is definitely worth signing up for if you know you’ll be in the city.

 

Statue of Liberty

Another one of the signature sights of NYC is the Statue of Liberty, the beacon of freedom shining from her perch on the Hudson River. 

Unfortunately, visiting Lady Liberty can be quite costly if you plan on taking a ferry out to the monument.

For some, simply taking pictures of the statue is exactly the experience they’re looking for, and it’s easy to do that for free! Just hop aboard the Staten Island Ferry at the station on the southernmost tip of Manhattan.

The ferry, which costs nothing to ride, floats right past the Statue of Liberty, so you can get great pictures without having to spend a dime. 

Once you arrive in Staten Island, either get a bite to eat near the ferry terminal or board the ferry back to Manhattan.

 

Museums

For those wanting to experience a little culture, visits to the city’s museums are often high on the list of must-do’s.

While some of these museums are expensive, a few of them cater specifically to those on a budget.

For instance, the American Museum of Natural History allows visitors to “pay what you can.”

The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers free admission if you’re a student from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut with a valid ID. New York residents can also make use of the “pay what you can” policy at the MoMa. 

 

These tips only scratch the surface of the many ways you can have a New York City vacation on a budget. 

Just because you’re visiting the most expensive city in America doesn’t mean you have to go broke while you’re there. Simply budget your trip before you go, and you’ll find that you can have a wonderful trip to NYC without breaking the bank.