6 tips for traveling to New York on a budget

A trip to New York requires a significant budget, especially with the distance involved. Here are the best money-saving tips you need to know.

1/ How to Find Cheap Flights to New York?

The best way to find affordable flights to New York is to book as early as possible, when airlines start filling their planes. A study by a flight comparison site found that the best prices were typically available 8 months before departure. That said, it’s just one study—airline prices are unpredictable and depend entirely on how full their flights are.
One thing is consistent: prices are always higher during school holidays than during the rest of the year. You’ll need to decide if your travel dates can be flexible.
Also keep in mind that since borders reopened in November 2021, demand for New York has surged, and airlines know it. They’ll optimize their load factors and pricing accordingly. Book early—last-minute fares can be expensive.

Hotels are the second-biggest expense on a New York trip after flights. Keep in mind that hotels also adjust prices based on occupancy. The best rates are available when you book in advance.
Always compare prices across booking sites and the hotel’s own website. Hotels often hold rooms back or offer exclusive deals—discounts, free breakfast, or other perks—that you won’t find elsewhere. Check the websites of hotels featured in our New York hotel guide. Hotels increasingly want to attract direct bookings, and that can work in your favor.

Once you arrive, you’ll want to see New York’s top attractions, like the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and Top of the Rock. That means budgeting for admission fees. Here’s the good news: New York offers an excellent way to save money—passes. There are 6 different passes, as detailed in our New York passes guide, but they all work the same way: you buy a package that gives you a discount on multiple attractions. Every pass saves you money—that’s their whole point.
The most popular is the New York City PASS, which includes 5 attractions: the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and Top of the Rock, among others. If you added up the individual admission prices, you’d pay well above the pass price.
Another top option is the New York Explorer Pass. With this one, you choose how many attractions to visit. Once you have the pass, you can visit any included attractions up to your chosen number. You don’t need to decide in advance—just show your pass at each entrance as you go.
All 6 passes work differently, so check our New York passes guide to find the one that suits you best.

If you want a guided tour of New York, book early. Group tours fill up quickly, especially during school holidays. Wait too long and you’ll either have no availability or be forced into a private tour, which costs much more. Booking ahead guarantees your spot.
Browse our guided tours of New York section to see what’s available.

To get around New York, you’ll need the OMNY contactless card, the transit card for the MTA, New York’s public transportation authority.
Here’s how it works: after 12 trips in a week, you hit a weekly price cap, so you won’t pay more no matter how many times you ride.
If you’re planning to use Hop-on Hop-off buses, avoid paying twice for the same trip. Don’t buy a tourist bus ticket and also use OMNY on the same day.

Sightseeing is only half the battle—you also need to eat. Good news: New York has plenty of ways to eat well without spending much. Skip the big fast-food chains and try local burger spots like Shake Shack and Five Guys instead.
For a healthier meal, visit a deli—a small grocery with a sandwich counter where you can buy prepared dishes by weight. It’s practical and affordable because you only pay for what you eat. Plus, you can eat balanced meals.
For a quick lunch, head to the food court at Grand Central Terminal or Chelsea Market for a hot dog or pizza slice. Love Asian food? Chinatown has cheap street food stands.
For more options, check out this list of affordable quick-bite restaurants.