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As Megan and I planned our trip to New York, we were very careful and observant in trying to find the best things to do that wouldn’t leave us broke and sad. New York is one of the most expensive cities to live in, but surprisngly we were pretty successful in stretching our money to it’s full extent. Shopping ended up being our largest money drainer. Everything else we did in New York managed to be fairly inexpensive. So here are some of our tips and tricks to visiting the Big Apple on a budget!
Moma is free on fridays: Every Friday, the Museum of Modern Art is free admission from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. It can be super busy but if you start lining up at around 3:45, it’s definitely manageable. We didn’t wait in line for long and although the galleries were crowded, it wasn’t overwhelming and we were still able to see all of the art.
Museum admissions are by donation: A lot of people don’t know this or they choose not to take advantage of this. The museum admission prices at the Met and the American Museum of Natural History are only ‘suggested’ prices, meaning you can choose exactly how much you want to pay. I wouldn’t pay only a dollar but I did pay less than the suggested price of $27.
Metrocard: There are basically three ways to get around New York City; walking, bussing, and cabbing. Walking and bussing are definitely the more affordable options. Megan and I only cabbed twice and that was only when we were going to and from the airport. Going on the subway was much quicker and much cheaper. I would definitely recommend getting the weekly Metrocard. It’s only $27 compared to the $2.50 needed for a single ride. It’s definitely the better value and is good for unlimited rides!
Window-shop: Who says you have to actually buy things in New York? Megan and I had just as much fun stopping in iconic New York stores like Tiffany’s, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and other high end shops that we will never be able to afford.
Airbnb: When I was first looking for places to stay in New York, I was stressing out. Hotel rooms are so expensive there and even for a crappy, dirty motel in a horrible location, you will be looking at paying upwards of $150 a night. So, instead, Megan and I turned to Airbnb, an online marketplace where people can list rooms for rent. We ended up finding a fantastic apartment in Brooklyn that was only $100 a night, $50 each!
Free Tourist sights: There are so many free sights to see in New York. Some of our favorites were the High Line, Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge. None of these cost a penny but were definitely great things to explore in the city!
Cheap Food: There is so much great food in New York. Sure there are a lot of gourmet and fancy restaurants where meals are going to cost an arm and a leg but there are also plenty of places to grab a bite for under $10. You can still try all of the iconic New York food like pretzels and pizza for very little money. Check out where Megan and I ate here.
Take the Staten Island Ferry: Instead of paying $28 to see the Statue of Liberty up close and take the Ellis Island Ferry (which isn’t free either), Megan and I took the free Staten Island Ferry that has fantastic views of Lady Liberty!
