How to Save Money in NYC (25 Most Effective Ways & Tips)

You can definitely save money in NYC if you read this insightful article.

It reveals some really awesome ways and tips for saving money in NYC that most people don’t know about.

 

Importance

There are not too many cities that personify the apex of being a dynamic central hub of activity in all areas of life.

One such city is the city of New York.

New York City is synonymous with culture and entertainment through the variety of shows and entertainment on Broadway, it is the heart of the financial world as indicated by Wall Street, and is the gateway of freedom for many an immigrant through the welcoming lighted torch of the Statue of Liberty.

New York City is the complete package.

Consequently, the cost of living and visiting this exciting city is expensive in direct proportion to all that the city that never sleeps offers.

Fortunately, there are options to save money that would even make Rockefeller happy.

 

25 Most Effective Ways & Tips to Save Money in NYC

 

1. Taxis 

Unless you are willing to walk, it is important to find the most economical way of traveling around the city.

The reality is that taxis and even the use of driving services such as Lyft or Uber can quickly add up and take a bite out of your budget.

As the saying goes when in Rome do as the Romans do.

The same is true as when in New York do what New Yorkers do.

New Yorkers buy a weekly transit pass and with that pass, they can ride or be transported by subway or buses on an unlimited basis for the week.

 

2. Mid-Town

It’s important to remember that there is more to New York City than just the hustling and bustling downtown area.

In other words, don’t be hypnotized by the sights and sounds of the more famous areas of Times Square and Macy’s Herald Square.

The further away from the mid-town area that you can travel and away from the attractions you will find other areas are just as spectacular.

Also, the more you will save.

 

3. Broadway Shows

Of course, one of the highlights of a trip to New York City is viewing Broadway shows.

However, there are tips and tricks as to where to pick up less-expensive tickets to see a Broadway presentation.

In particular, if one was to travel to downtown Brooklyn or the South St.,

Seaport area you would be able to get tickets a little bit cheaper and wouldn’t have to wait in long lines.

Another option for the adventuresome traveler is to partake in a ticket lottery.

The lottery is available in the early morning of show day when a small number of tickets go on sale.

These tickets are known as “Rush Tickets.”

These tickets can cost anywhere from $25-$30 and you might even be successful in gaining a seat in the front row center.

 

4. Ms. Liberty

No trip to New York is complete without taking in the magnificent Statue of Liberty.

To get to Ellis Island there is a free Staten Island ferry that runs 24/7 and is the most economical way of seeing the Statue of Liberty.

There are also water taxis available that shuttle passengers from Wall Street.

The number 11 to the IKEA Brooklyn.

These taxis run Monday through Friday with the shuttle costing five dollars but if you spend $10 you get a five dollar credit towards your next purchase when you show your taxi ticket.

 

5. Eating

What’s a trip to a new and exciting city if you don’t take in the local cuisine?

The biggest bargain by far is the one-dollar slices of pizza.

By consulting this map you will see a significant number of them listed and even if you cannot find a dollar pizza slice they are usually around three dollars and are a pretty heavy and satisfying meal.

Other favorites of New York visitors include the purchase of a bowl of ramen or bagels that will cost you about $1.80.

 

6. Shopping

Another item on the list of must things to do is to go shopping in New York City.

There are several high-end stores in which an individual can shop and the merchants are more than willing to take your money.

However, there are options to these pricey high-end stores available through discount shopping.

To learn more about discount shopping in New York one can access this website https://www.nycinsiderguide.com/shopping-in-new-york-city.

 

7. Airport Travel

If flying into New York City, there are several ways that one can find reasonable transportation to the city from the airport.

The three major airports in the New York City area are LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark International Airport.

Transportation can be accomplished by hailing a taxi, utilizing Uber, Lyft, or taking a shuttle service such as Go Airlink Shuttle.

 

8. Museums

Free is a good thing whether you live in the Midwest or whether you are visiting New York City.

A great opportunity of visiting significant exhibits and public institutions is to go museum hopping in New York.

Some of these museums can be costly but there are days when the museum offers an option of “pay what you want.”

Admission utilizing this option is limited to residents of the tri-state area.

For further information about one such museum, you can click here.

 

9. Free Events

Also, as part of the hospitality of New York City, there are free events that are offered to both visitors and residents.

In particular, during the summer months, Bryant Park often will host outdoor movies as well allow obtaining free tickets to a performance of Shakespeare in the Park.

By accessing https://www.timeout.com/newyork/things-to-do/free-things-to-do-today you can subscribe to their email newsletter and be kept up-to-date as to free events that are happening or will be happening on future dates.

 

10. Tours 

The city is not completely capitalistic in that they offer free walking tours around the city.

This would be a great opportunity to be guided around the various buildings and hear some of the great history associated with the city.

Although the tour is free it is always an accepted courtesy to provide a gratuity to your tour guide.

Free tour possibilities include The Grand Tour or Free Tours by Foot.

 

11. Airbnb 

It is no secret that lodging, regardless of what city you visit, is a major expense as it relates to visiting.

New York City has no exception.

Therefore, a suggested possibility for your lodging needs would be to look at Airbnb lodging opportunities.

To get started on your search you can click here for any possible Airbnb lodging opportunities.

 

12. Timing 

Timing is everything especially as it relates to saving money while visiting New York City.

Although the city is busy all year round and never sleeps, certain peak tourist times should be avoided.

Those times include the summer months and during the holiday seasons.

Therefore, if you plan your visit from January to early April or from September to November you will be able to take advantage of more inexpensive timing as it relates to reduced costs.

 

13. Flying 

If considering flying into New York there are airfares that can be fairly reasonable.

When searching for your destination airport, you can choose one of three airports.

Those airports include LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark.

One of the better sites to do comparative shopping for airline schedules and costs would be to log onto Google Flights to come up with the best airline fare package.

 

14. Hotels 

If opting to lodge at a hotel there are many ways that you can endeavor to get the lowest price for your lodging.

One of those ways is to speak to family or friends that have traveled to New York for a visit and asked them what accommodations they may have taken advantage of.

Another way is to use one of the travel websites such as www.Expedia.com or www.hotel.com to see what sort of deals you can get through these websites.

Also, one particular hotel seems to have struck a lodging chord with an individual. The name of that hotel is Kimpton Muse Hotel and the guests indicate that it was a wonderful stay.

 

15. Happy Hour 

If you want to enjoy New York City while sipping on a cocktail, it is important to realize that this plan of action can be fairly pricey.

Therefore the best way to accomplish this activity is to find a restaurant or pub that has a happy hour and get the benefit of enjoying the ambiance of New York City by sipping on a beverage that is cheaper at certain hours.

 

16. Plan Your Extravangas 

It may be safe to assume that your vacation or trip to New York City is a dream that is finally coming true.

You certainly don’t want to miss out on anything that you wanted to take in and enjoy.

The only advice as it relates to saving money is to enjoy those indulgences and not worry about the saving of money as you most likely have planned accordingly with your budget.

 

17. Budget 

While staying in New York City you certainly don’t want to be worried about money and what to spend and what not to spend.

A good strategy, before going to New York City, is to sit down and figure out your budget.

A good way of doing this is to determine the amount of money that you have available and wish to budget and then go ahead and expense those costs of note to match the budgeted income.

The one caveat to thinking about your budget while on vacation is just simply monitored your spending to make sure that you are staying within your budget limitations.

Also See: How to Save Money in Vegas &  How to Save Money in Disneyland.

 

18. Must-See Attractions 

As with any city your visit would not be complete until certain attractions had been experienced.

The city of New York is no different as it relates to certain must-see attractions that should be experienced by the visitor.

Fortunately, these attractions are at no cost.

Specifically, the individual visiting New York City should see:

• Central Park
• The Highline
• Trinity church
• 9/11 memorial
• Times Square
• Battery Park
• Federal Hall
• Brooklyn Bridge

 

19. Go Beyond City 

New York City is more than Manhattan and Times Square and all of the other famous points of interest.

New York is also the area of Queens, the Bronx, etc.

Therefore as part of your complete package of visiting New York City, it is important to go beyond the city itself and take in the sights and sounds of these other well-known districts.

 

20. Tourist Pass 

An option for tourists as they visit New York City is to buy a tourist pass.

The pass offers a variety of day combinations which can include a one, two, three, four, five, seven, or 10-day consecutive day pass.

Included are all the top attractions and activities and the provision of one digital pass for entry into these places.

To learn more about this opportunity you can go to www.newyorkpass.com/en-us.

 

21. Coupons

When visiting America’s city it is important to use America’s way of savings.

This American way of saving is through the use of coupons.

Therefore, by logging on to a website, such as www.groupon.com, you might be able to obtain some coupons that will bring value at a discounted price on your excursion to New York City.

 

22. Chinatown 

A great segment of New York City is Chinatown.

Not only will you be enveloped in this segment of New York City that exudes the culture of China but you will also be able to enjoy the food at reasonable prices.

Also, if wishing to purchase souvenirs, Chinatown is the optimal place to make these purchases.

 

23. Currency 

If visiting from out of the country a savings tip as it relates to the actual use of money is that it is not necessary for there to be a currency exchange.

Most of the attractions and places of business in New York City will accept credit cards with the use of cash being fairly minimal.

Therefore, this would be saved by not having to convert foreign currency into American currency.

 

24. Eat at Food Trucks 

Although New York is noted for its wonderful restaurants and delicious cuisine, just as equally nutritious and good food can be found at restaurants that are on wheels.

A good way of saving money and not breaking the bank as it relates to eating is to buy your meals at the vast array of food trucks that are found in the city.

 

25. Water Bottle 

An important item to take along with you on your trip to New York City is a water bottle.

This will not only keep you hydrated due to the possibility of your walking and enjoying the sights and sounds but also help to minimize costs associated with buying beverages.

 

Personal Story

I’ve not had the wonderful experience of walking the streets of New York City.

It certainly is on my bucket list of things to do.

However, I have been to other exciting cities and one that comes to mind is San Francisco, California.

I would imagine the cities are different but also there can be some similarities.

There is nothing like walking the streets of the downtown area and taking in the excitement that the city has to offer.

I recall one time I went to San Francisco and we had gotten in around 9 p.m. and were looking for a place to eat.

While walking the streets looking for an open restaurant, the sounds of a saxophonist and the haunting tune that they were playing was echoing off of the building walls.

The sounds of that musician were haunting, energizing, and exhilarating,

There is nothing quite like big city life and taking in all of the aspects that the city gifts to those that are visiting or that live there.

 

Saving Money in NYC FAQs

 

How Many Tourists Visit New York City in a Year?

In 2018 New York City had 65.1 million visitors.

In 2019, approximately 66.6 million visitors flocked to the Big Apple.

In 2020 Covid-19 hit which severely impacted tourism.

It is anticipated that 2022 will see a rebound of tourism to the city.

 

Why is NYC Called the Big Apple?

One would think that the reference or nickname of New York City as the Big Apple has to do with fruit.

Surprisingly, it had to do with horseracing.

Around 1920 there was a reporter by the name of John Fitz Gerald whose reporting venue was the horse racing track.

While walking in the stable area he heard some stable hands that referred to going to New York City and used the term “the Big Apple.

That stuck with the reporter who began making mention of the Big Apple in his columns and the name became popularized later in a promotional campaign to attract tourists as they were invited to take a bite out of the Big Apple.

 

You Can Do It

With a little creativity and taking advantage of a variety of cost-saving measures, New York City is a city that should be on an individual’s bucket list of places to go, sites to take in, and memories to create.

 

Conclusion

There are cities and then there are cities.

New York City is one of those cities that if an opportunity avails itself one would certainly want to visit.

To make it more affordable there are several ways that an individual can save money and be able to take in all of the ambiances of the city and still not break the banks on Wall Street.