How Much Does a Trip to New York Cost? My 7 Day Budget Breakdown

All GBP figures are approximate conversions using an indicative exchange rate of $1 = £0.745. The costs reflect my trip and the prices I paid or saw at the time, not guaranteed prices for future travel.

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How Much Does a 7 Day Trip to New York Cost?

For my 7 day trip to New York, I spent approximately $2,015 (£1,501) per person.

Here’s a quick breakdown of my costs:

Expense	Cost per person
Return flights	$450 (£335)
Hotel accommodation	$937 (£698)
Transport	$67 (£50)
Food and drinks	$525 (£391)
Attractions	$36 (£27)
Total	$2,015 (£1,501)

This works out at approximately $288 (£215) per person per day, including flights and accommodation.

One thing to remember is that this wasn’t my first visit to New York, so I didn’t feel like I needed to do all the main tourist attractions again. I’d already ticked off some of the big sights on previous trips, which meant I could spend less on attractions and more time exploring different neighbourhoods and enjoying the city. Your total could be quite different depending on whether it’s your first visit, when you travel, where you stay, how much you eat out and how many attractions you want to visit.

How Much Do Flights to New York Cost from the UK?

Flights were one of the better- alue parts of my trip. I flew return from Manchester to JFK with Virgin Atlantic and paid $450 (£335) per person. Considering I was travelling at the end of June and into the 4th of July period, I thought this was a really good price for return flights to New York.

Flight prices can vary quite a lot depending on the time of year, how far in advance you book and whether you’re travelling during school holidays or major events. Summer and Christmas can be particularly expensive periods, so I’d always recommend comparing a few different dates if you have flexibility.

I’d also look at flights from different UK airports if you’re not tied to one location. Sometimes flying from London or Manchester can make a difference to the overall cost, especially once you factor in getting to the airport.

My flight costs: $450 (£335) per person for return flights.

How Much Does a Hotel in New York Cost?

Accommodation was the biggest expense after flights, but it’s also where I chose to spend a little more because I love staying in nice hotels and wanted somewhere I was excited to come back to after a day exploring the city.

I stayed at Motto by Hilton New York City Chelsea in a Landmark Room with a view. The total cost of the hotel for our stay was $1,875 (£1,397), which worked out at approximately $937 (£698) per person when split between 2 people.

I loved the location and having a room with a view made the stay even better. It’s worth remembering that New York hotel rooms can be quite small compared with what you might be used to in the UK, so I’d always look carefully at the room category before booking.

If you’re travelling with friends, it’s also worth checking the different room configurations available. Some hotels have rooms that can accommodate more than two people, which can help bring the cost down when you’re splitting the room between a group.

Hotel prices in New York vary hugely depending on the neighbourhood, time of year and type of hotel. Staying during Christmas, New Year’s Eve or major events can make accommodation considerably more expensive.

My advice would be to decide what matters most to you before booking. If you’re going to spend most of your time out exploring, you might prefer to save money on the hotel. But if you love having somewhere lovely to come back to, it could be worth allocating a little more of your budget to accommodation.

My hotel cost: $937 (£698) per person for the stay.

READ MY FULL REVIEW OF MOTTO HILTON CHELSEA HERE

How Much Does Transport Cost in New York?

I spent $67 (£50) per person on transport during the week, which I thought was really reasonable considering how much travelling around we did. I didn’t use any taxis or Ubers during the trip. Instead, I used a combination of the subway, airport train, PATH and NYC Ferry.

Here’s how my transport costs broke down:

Transport	Cost per person
7-day MetroCard	$35 (£26)
AirTrain to and from JFK	$17 (£13)
Return PATH journey to Hoboken	$6 (£4)
NYC Ferry	$9 (£7)
Total	$67 (£50)

At the time of my trip, I bought a 7 day MetroCard for $35 (£26), which I used to get around the city. I also used the AirTrain to travel between JFK Airport and the city, took the PATH to Hoboken and used the NYC Ferry during our stay.

One thing to know if you’re visiting now is that New York uses contactless payments through OMNY. You can tap a contactless bank card, phone or OMNY card at subway and bus readers, rather than needing to buy the MetroCard I used on my trip.

OMNY also has a 7-day fare cap of $35 (£26). With each eligible ride costing $3 (£2.24), you’ll reach the cap after 12 paid rides. Once you’ve hit it, any further eligible subway and local bus rides are free for the rest of that 7 day period, as long as you keep using the same payment method.

This is worth knowing if you’re planning to use public transport regularly, as you won’t need to buy a separate weekly travel pass. Just make sure you use the same contactless card or device for every journey so your fares count towards the cap.

If you’re visiting New York for a week, I’d definitely factor public transport into your budget rather than relying on taxis. You’ll probably find yourself walking a lot too, especially if you’re exploring different neighbourhoods.

My transport cost: $67 (£50) per person for the week.

Read my guide on how to spend 4 days in New York here

How Much Does Food Cost in New York?

I spent $525 (£391) per person on food and drinks during my 7 days in New York.

That covered breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the week. We mainly ate at casual restaurants, cafés and food spots rather than booking expensive restaurants every evening, so I think this is a realistic example of what you could spend if you want to enjoy plenty of food without making dining out the biggest part of your budget.

New York has so many different places to eat, and you definitely don’t need to spend a fortune every time you sit down for a meal. There are plenty of casual restaurants, pizza spots, delis, bakeries and food markets where you can get something delicious without paying luxury restaurant prices.

I’d recommend mixing up where you eat. You could grab a bagel or coffee for breakfast, pick up something casual for lunch and then choose a restaurant for dinner. There are also plenty of food markets where you can try different things without committing to a full sit-down meal.

One thing I’d make sure you budget for is tax and tipping. The price you see on a restaurant menu generally won’t be the final amount you pay, as sales tax is added to the bill and tipping is customary at many sit-down restaurants.

If you’re planning to visit some of New York’s more expensive restaurants or rooftop bars, I’d allow extra money for those separately. For my trip, I spent an average of around $75 (£56) per day on food and drinks, which covered all three meals.

My food and drink cost: $525 (£391) per person for the week.

Read my full travel guide to New York City here

How Much Do Attractions Cost in New York?

I spent $36 (£27) per person on attractions during my trip, which covered my visit to Edge at Hudson Yards.

This was quite a low attraction budget because I’d visited New York before and had already done some of the main tourist attractions on previous trips. I didn’t feel the need to book everything again, so I was able to spend more time exploring different neighbourhoods and enjoying the city.

If it’s your first time in New York, I’d recommend allowing more money for attractions because there are so many places you’ll probably want to visit.

Some of the experiences I’d consider adding to your itinerary include:

• Edge: The outdoor observation deck at Hudson Yards, with incredible views across Manhattan.
• Top of the Rock: A great option for views of the Empire State Building and Central Park.
• Empire State Building: One of New York’s most iconic attractions and a classic first-time visitor experience.
• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: A brilliant way to learn more about New York’s history and see the city from the water.
• 9/11 Memorial & Museum: An important and moving experience if you want to learn more about the events of 11th September.

If you’re planning to visit several paid attractions, it’s worth comparing individual tickets with a sightseeing pass. At the time I checked, the New York Pass option for up to five attractions was around $179 (£133) per person. Prices and pass options can change, so check the current offer and make sure the attractions you want to visit are included before buying.

I’d also recommend leaving some time in your itinerary for the things that don’t cost anything. Walking around Central Park, exploring neighbourhoods like SoHo and Greenwich Village and seeing the city from the Brooklyn Bridge are all great ways to enjoy New York without constantly paying for activities.

My attraction cost: $36 (£27) per person.

Read my full guide on the best things to do in New York City here

How Much Spending Money Do You Need for a Week in New York?

If your flights and hotel are already paid for, I’d use my food and transport costs as a starting point and then add an allowance for attractions, shopping and anything else you want to do.

Based on my trip, I spent:

• Food and drinks: $525 (£391)
• Transport: $67 (£50)
• Attractions: $36 (£27)

That comes to $628 (£468) per person for the week, excluding flights and accommodation. I’d personally allow more than this if it was your first visit, especially if you want to do several observation decks, visit museums, book a Broadway show or enjoy a few nicer dinners. New York is also a city where it’s very easy to spend more than you planned, so having a rough daily budget in mind can be helpful.

Is New York Expensive to Visit?

New York can be an expensive city, particularly when it comes to hotels, but I don’t think you need an unlimited budget to enjoy a week there.

For me, the biggest expenses were flights and accommodation. Once those were covered, I found it relatively easy to manage my daily spending by using public transport, choosing casual places to eat and being selective about which attractions I paid to visit.

I also think it’s worth deciding where you want to spend your money before you go. If you’re someone who loves a luxury hotel, allocate more of your budget to accommodation. If you’re more interested in restaurants, rooftop bars and experiences, you might prefer to choose a more affordable hotel and spend the difference elsewhere.

The time of year you visit will also make a big difference. I travelled over the 4th of July period, so it was a particularly exciting time to be in the city, but major events and popular travel dates can affect hotel and flight prices.

If you’re travelling from the UK, I’d also remember to leave some room in your budget for things like travel insurance, your ESTA, airport transfers, shopping and any extras you might want to book while you’re there. These weren’t included in my total.

My Final New York Trip Budget

So, how much does a trip to New York cost?

For my 7 day trip, I spent $2,015 (£1,501) per person, including return flights from Manchester, accommodation, food, transport and attractions.

Here’s the final breakdown one more time:

Expense	Cost per person
Flights	$450 (£335)
Hotel	$937 (£698)
Transport	$67 (£50)
Food and drinks	$525 (£391)
Attractions	$36 (£27)
Total	$2,015 (£1,501)

I think this shows that you can enjoy a week in New York without spending thousands on expensive restaurants and activities every day. The key is deciding what matters most to you, booking your flights and hotel at a price you’re happy with and leaving yourself enough spending money to enjoy the city.

I’d definitely recommend doing a little research before you go, particularly when it comes to hotels and attractions, as these are two areas where prices can vary considerably.

And if you’re planning your own trip, don’t forget to check out my other New York guides for more recommendations on where to stay, what to do and how to make the most of your time in the city.

Check out my other New York guides here:

• New York City Travel Guide for First Time Visitors
• 31 Best Things To Do in New York City
• 4 Days in New York City Itinerary
• 4 Days in New York Christmas Itinerary
• The BEST Hotels in New York City With a View
• How to Get From JFK Airport to Manhattan by Subway (Under $20)
• New York Monthly Guides