New York
Money tips for New York
22 tips that really save you money. Each one checked, each with a source, as of October 2026.
Getting there
From JFK into town for a single fare
saves about US$9 per trip
Ride the free AirTrain only as far as Lefferts Blvd, then take bus Q10 or Q3 to the subway. The transfer is free, so the whole trip costs one fare ($3) instead of about $11.75 with AirTrain plus subway.
Source: davidwilliamrosales.com · checked on 28 Sept 2026
LaGuardia: the bus to the subway is free
The Q70 LaGuardia Link runs nonstop from the terminal to the subway at Jackson Heights and costs nothing. You only pay for the subway after it.
Source: mta.info · checked on 28 Sept 2026
ESTA only on the official site
The travel authorisation costs $40.27 from US Customs and Border Protection. Sites that often rank first on Google charge a mark-up for the same form.
Source: esta.cbp.dhs.gov · checked on 28 Sept 2026
Sleeping
A bed instead of a room
saves about US$90 per night
A dorm bed in New York costs roughly $50 to $65 a night, a cheap hotel room about three times as much. The hostels we list have thousands of reviews, lockers and some have their own bathrooms.
Source: booking.com · checked on 28 Sept 2026
The room rate is never the final price
Since May 2025 US hotels must include mandatory fees such as destination fees in the price. Taxes may still be left out: in New York they add 14.75% plus $3.50 a night. We already include them for every hotel.
Source: ftc.gov · checked on 28 Sept 2026
Queens instead of Manhattan
Long Island City is one subway stop from Midtown. Two of the four cheapest beds we list are there, with a skyline view at half the price.
Source: booking.com · checked on 28 Sept 2026
Getting around
Never more than $35 a week for subway and bus
Always tap the same card or phone at the gate. After 12 paid rides in 7 days, the rest of the week is free. A ride has cost $3 since January 2026.
Source: omny.info · checked on 28 Sept 2026
A cable car for the subway fare
The cable car to Roosevelt Island costs the same as a subway ride and counts towards the weekly cap. The view over the East River comes free.
Source: mta.info · checked on 28 Sept 2026
A harbour cruise for $4.50
NYC Ferry is a commuter service, but it passes under the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. A ride costs $4.50, a narrated sightseeing cruise many times that.
Source: ferry.nyc · checked on 28 Sept 2026
Food
Where you eat decides a quarter of the price
Menu prices exclude 8.875% sales tax. At a table you add 18 to 20% tip, at a counter tipping is optional. Eating at counters, carts and delis saves you about a quarter.
Source: nyctourism.com · checked on 28 Sept 2026
Full for $25 a day
A slice starts at $1.50, a halal cart platter costs $8 to $13, the bodega breakfast bacon, egg and cheese $5 to $8. The cheapest good food is in Chinatown, Jackson Heights and Harlem.
Source: helpnewyork.com · checked on 28 Sept 2026
Free things to do
The Statue of Liberty for free, from the water
The Staten Island Ferry runs around the clock, costs nothing and passes the Statue of Liberty. Stand on the right going out, and the skyline is ahead of you on the way back.
Source: freetoursbyfoot.com · checked on 28 Sept 2026
Governors Island free at weekends
saves about US$5 per trip
The ferry to the car-free island costs $5 return, and nothing on Saturdays and Sundays before 11 am. Hammocks and a view of the Statue of Liberty included.
Source: govisland.com · checked on 28 Sept 2026
9/11 Museum free on Mondays
saves about US$33 per ticket
Entry is free on Mondays from about 3:30 pm. The free tickets go online on Mondays at 7 am New York time and go fast.
Source: 911memorial.org · checked on 28 Sept 2026
The Whitney free on Friday evenings
saves about US$30 per ticket
On Fridays from 5 to 10 pm nobody pays, visitors included. Free tickets can be reserved up to five weeks ahead.
Source: whitney.org · checked on 28 Sept 2026
A Smithsonian museum, always free
The National Museum of the American Indian in the grand Custom House on Bowling Green never charges admission. It is five minutes from the Staten Island Ferry.
Source: si.edu · checked on 28 Sept 2026
Shakespeare in Central Park, free
May to September only
The Public Theater plays for free at the Delacorte Theater every summer, in 2026 from 22 May to 8 September. Tickets via the TodayTix lottery or the morning queue.
Source: publictheater.org · checked on 28 Sept 2026
In the audience of a late-night show
Tickets for tapings such as The Tonight Show are free through 1iota. Dates appear at short notice, and most shows require guests to be 16 or older.
Source: nyctourism.com · checked on 28 Sept 2026
Tickets
Broadway for $25 to $49
Most shows run lotteries or sell rush tickets in the morning, typically for $25 to $49. TodayTix rush usually opens at 9 am.
Source: todaytix.com · checked on 28 Sept 2026
TKTS in Times Square
The TKTS booth sells same-day seats at 20 to 50% off. Each ticket carries an $8 fee, so for cheaper shows the lottery is the better deal.
Source: tdf.org · checked on 28 Sept 2026
Myths not to fall for
You no longer need a MetroCard
The MetroCard was phased out in 2026. You just tap your bank card or phone, which also counts towards the weekly cap. No machine, no card left with unused credit.
Source: ny1.com · checked on 28 Sept 2026
MoMA's free Friday is not for you
UNIQLO Friday Nights are free for New York State residents only, and residency is checked at the door. Many travel blogs leave that out.
Source: moma.org · checked on 28 Sept 2026
Good to know before you go
Under 21? Check the house rules before you book
Many New York hotels only check in guests from 21, partly because of the minibar. Hostels usually take guests from 18, and so do a few hotels such as Pod 39 or Pod Times Square. If you are under 21, look for the minimum check-in age before you book.
Source: newyork.co.uk · checked on 29 Sept 2026
Deposit: bring a credit card, not a debit card
At check-in hotels usually put a deposit on your card, often $50 to $200 per night. On a credit card it is released within days; on a debit card the money can be missing for up to two weeks. Since February 2026 New York hotels must disclose such holds up front.
Source: nyc.gov · checked on 29 Sept 2026
A whole flat on Airbnb? Usually illegal
For stays under 30 nights, renting out in New York is only legal when the host lives in the flat and takes at most two guests. Cheap listings for a whole flat therefore often get cancelled at short notice. For a few nights a hostel or hotel is the safe choice.
Source: nyc.gov · checked on 29 Sept 2026
Alcohol only from 21, carry your passport
In New York you can only drink from 21, and bars and clubs check strictly. Take your passport in the evening: a European ID card is not accepted everywhere.
Source: newyork.co.uk · checked on 29 Sept 2026
Apply for the ESTA before you book the flight
US Customs and Border Protection advises applying for the ESTA before you buy flights. Approval usually comes quickly, but if it is refused you need a visa, and that takes weeks.
Source: cbp.gov · checked on 29 Sept 2026
All amounts are estimates from checked reference prices, not live prices. The provider shows you today's price.