How much budget to plan for a trip to New York?

1/ Flights and Hotels

Transportation and accommodation will be your two biggest expenses for a New York trip. These are unavoidable costs—you need to get there and have somewhere to sleep. Here’s what to budget:

• For flights, if you book in advance, you can find round-trip tickets from Europe to New York for around $600. Anything under $500 is a good deal. Prices vary by season: during peak times in July, August, and December, expect to pay closer to $800 or even $1,000. Check out my tips for finding cheap flights to New York.
• Hotel prices depend entirely on your comfort level. A 5-star hotel costs far more than a youth hostel. For a decent hotel, budget around $200 per night for a double room. Below that, expect basic amenities. Above it, you’ll get more comfort as you spend more. It’s up to you. For more guidance, see my article on finding affordable hotels in New York.

2/ Getting Around the City

Once in New York, you’ll need to get around. Plan for two essential transportation costs:

• First, you’ll need transfers between the airport and your hotel, both ways. You have several options, as explained in our guide to airport transfers in New York. A taxi transfer typically costs around $70, including tolls, tip, and rush hour surcharge (charged between 4 pm and 8 pm on weekdays).
• Second, you’ll need an OMNY card to get around New York. A weekly unlimited pass costs $32. OMNY gives you unlimited access to the subway and buses.

3/ Sights and Activities

You’re coming to New York to see the city and its major landmarks, museums, and attractions. Expect to pay $20 to $50 per attraction.
To save money, consider buying a pass based on what you want to see. These passes give you access to multiple sites and monuments at a much lower price than individual tickets.
Several different passes are available, each with its own focus.

• The most popular choice for first-time visitors is the New York City Pass. It includes 6 major attractions—from the Statue of Liberty to the Empire State Building, plus Top of the Rock and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. You can book passes on the New York City Pass page. Expect to pay around $125 per pass.
• You can also choose the Explorer Pass, which lets you pick your attractions from a list of about 50 sites. Great if you want flexibility. Book on the Explorer Pass booking page. Prices start around $90 for 3 attractions and go up to $215 for 10 attractions.

Not sure which pass to choose? Follow our guide to choosing the right pass.

4/ Meals

Budget for meals in New York too. If your hotel includes breakfast, you only need to cover lunch and dinner.

• For lunch, grab something quick. New York has plenty of affordable options. Check out my picks for sandwiches and bakeries in New York. Budget around $20 for lunch, including afternoon drinks.
• For dinner, you’ll want something more substantial. New York has restaurants at every price point, but to save money, try diners, pizzerias, and burger joints and delis. Budget around $30 for dinner.

In total, plan on at least $60 per day per person for meals.

5/ Shopping

Shopping in New York is the hardest to estimate because it depends on what you want to buy! 🙂
If you just want a few souvenirs—a t-shirt, a cap, some decorative items—budget around $100 total.
But if you’re after designer clothes, sneakers, stacks of vinyl records, an iPhone, or camera gear, costs can add up quickly.
If you plan to shop seriously, I’d suggest budgeting around $500. That should give you plenty to spend.

BUDGET SUMMARY

Here’s what to budget for a week in New York:

• Flights: $600 per person.
• ESTA: $40.27 per person (price as of October 1, 2026).
• Hotel for 7 nights, including taxes: $1,400 (based on a double room), or $700 per person.
• Airport transfers, round trip: $75 (2 × $37.50).
• OMNY subway card: around $32 per person.
• Sights and activities: $130 per New York City Pass.
• Meals, drinks, and water: $500 per person.
• Shopping, souvenirs, and extras: $200 per person.
• TOTAL trip budget: around $2,400 per person for a week in New York.
• TOTAL for daily expenses, excluding flights and hotel: around $1,000 per person.

For more tips on visiting New York while keeping costs down, check out our full guide.