Travel to New York: How Do Prices Compare to Australia?

niss200sx on 25/11/2024 - 20:12
Last edited 25/11/2024 - 20:21

I’m planning a trip to New York in April 2025, and am curious to hear from anyone who has recently visited. I last traveled to the west coast of the USA in 2022 and found that prices there were on par with, if not slightly higher than, major Australian cities.

For those who’ve been to New York lately:

  • How do accommodation, dining, and transport costs compare to what you'd expect in Australia?
  • Any particular tips for saving money while enjoying the city?

Any insights would be super helpful.

Thanks!

Travel New York North America United States

Comments

  • djkelly69 on 25/11/2024 - 20:14
    +1

    I would be more worried about the cost of the time machine

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 25/11/2024 - 20:19
    +4

    NYC is expensive af esp Manhattan and tipping their is like 18-20 percent on well over inflated costs

    Bronx and staten island island are cheaper

    use the Subway it is fast and cheap to get around

    DONT stay in Manhattan it is a rip off

    if you want me honest opinion do the main tourist parts in 3 days and gtfo

    NYC is an amazing city but it is not cheap - honestly speaking it is the most expensive city i have ever been too and ive travelled a lot of the world

    it is even more expensive then London

    • niss200sx on 25/11/2024 - 20:26
      +1

      I’ve seen comments that New York can make places like London look cheap in comparison, which is really saying something!

      • Trying2SaveABuck on 25/11/2024 - 20:29
        +2

        I would say it makes Melbourne and Sydney look cheap

        I think London is expensive but NYC is more expensive then London 'bar' maybe accommodation

        i stayed in Manhattan when i was there about 3min walk to Central park it was expensive af but when i was in London i stayed in Chelsea which was also expensive af

        But food extertainment etc is all cheaper in London then NYC

        I do see 'why people love' NYC it has something happening everywhere all the time legit it could be 2am on a monday and you would think it is New Years Eve how much the city is alive - i personally prefer a 'bit of a slower pace' place and cheap fun but if money was no issue i can see why people are 'drawn' to NYC

        i understand why Former PM Melcome Turnbull lives there it is very much the 'Rome' of modern times but it is also not a place for regular Joes like myself as there is a clear class of rich and poor and if you 'arent' mega rich then you are poor.

    • knobbs on 28/11/2024 - 09:26

      Sounds like you haven't been to Norway

  • Gunnar on 25/11/2024 - 20:22

    NYC is my favourite city on the planet. I went there after I had travelled a lot and it still managed to blow me away. Save up cash and just enjoy it. Last time I was there was 2017 so anything I have to say on price is irrelevant.

    I did however find it cheaper than San Fran

    Some tips:
    Statten Island ferry is a cheap, or more exactly free, way to see the harbour (like the ferries are in Sydney harbour)

    Bagels are a cheap and excellent meal

    Pre book your tourist places because the lines are long

    • KaTst3R on 25/11/2024 - 20:50

      I did however find it cheaper than San Fran

      Strangely, I have to agree on this. I found San Fran in general to be more expensive than NYC.

  • Ozbfan on 25/11/2024 - 20:40

    NYC is a lovely city, very costly. My financial advice would be to eat at nice restaurants before you go so that you are happy to eat cheaply while there. Pizza slices are cheap. Also do the world trade centre dinner package, it costs a bomb, but was well and truly worth it.

  • AustriaBargain on 25/11/2024 - 20:49
    -1

    Isn't NYC famous for being very expensive? You probably need to do some research to find out how to do it cheap.

  • dtc on 25/11/2024 - 20:59

    Just like Australia there are some pretty good middle eastern and Asian restaurants that don’t cost a lot; but a regular cafe or hamburger place is more expensive, at least in manhattan. 5 Guys is USD10-$14 for a burger. Coffee will run you USD6 plus tips from a reasonable cafe. Just pretend USD = AUD and you can feel less stressed

    I would always recommend just sucking up the cost and staying in manhattan if you can, for the experience. Upper West Side is a good option, much nicer than midtown and cheaper than Chelsea or Greenwich (Beacon Hotel is a recommendation). However if you can’t afford that then Brooklyn or New Jersey (especially) are a lot cheaper and not that much further away. New Jersey has a lot of Airbnb / serviced apartments which allow you to cook.

    You can look up museums and tourist attraction prices - not super cheap.

  • MELso on 25/11/2024 - 21:28
    +5

    Basically, in NYC, you'll see a price in dollars for a meal or drink and think 'that's about the same as in Australia!' Then you realise the US dollar is worth 50% more and you have to add tax and tip. Suddenly, as if by magic, your meal or drink costs double its cost in Australia…

    • mulimulix on 26/11/2024 - 01:06
      +2

      This is very accurate for the American travel experience right now. So many restaurants I see the menu and first impression is "That's cheap!" and then once it's all said and done you leave having paid around $30AUD for a fast food-tier burger and chips with maybe a drink if you're lucky.

  • altomic on 25/11/2024 - 21:58

    I heard that New York is a hell of town, You know the Bronx is up and I'm Brooklyn down
    also that they don't know my name they only know my initials

  • sumyungguy on 25/11/2024 - 23:23

    I've been doing some planning for a trip in May. Key your dates into any OTA and you'll get an idea of how much it costs to stay in anywhere in Manhattan

  • akanub on 26/11/2024 - 01:13
    +2

    Just came back from new York last week!
    Prepare to say goodbye to all your savings

    Accommodation cost around 500/night for a decent 4 star hotel.

    Food is also very expensive. A $20usd burger ends up being $40 aud after taxes, tip and currency conversion.

    Taking the subway costs you $2.75usd a trip which isn't so cheap either since they don't have a well integrated transfer system and you can end up paying multiple fares when stopping over.

  • TheRealCher on 26/11/2024 - 10:03
    +1

    get a weekly subway pass - saves so much money, and 20 minutes you can be anywhere… well, most places

    stay off anywhere below 125th street on the island - there are some great hotels, b&b's in harlem, brooklyn etc. you can also find some awesome food places that you're not going to get on the island - popeyes fried chicken puts kfc to shame, no need to go to the expensive soul food tourist traps when around the corner you can find a cheap sit in where the oldies go for half the price and double the flavour. and every five blocks you get a different culture up that way - suddenly you've got yemeni, or you cross over towards the east and you're in "spanish" harlem which is puerto rico and carribean and so so so much more.

    bagels are great for breakfast and lunch and you can get one with cream cheese and another topping - 5 bucks. there's a great diner on 9th or 10th, somewhere between west 42-50…. lots of places once you get the hell away from times square over that side, though even hell's kitchen has taken off… but you can get dinner for under 30, roughly, just don't forget to tip.

    not sure what airport you're coming in by - there's a train from jfk which is substantially cheaper. I can't imagine what a cab costs to get into the city… just don't…

    technically you don't…you didn't use to have to pay to get into the met… they've changed… nyc has changed… ugh… ok, go to the met, but plan a wonderful day if it's your thing - 4000 years of culture… the guggenheim is just up the road, and in the backyard is central part - head across and you've got the museum of natural history…

    so planning is your thing.

    sitting in parks will be great - particularly…bryant park on 42nd and 5th; central; union and washington square are good for people watching; the highline is touristy as all get out but it's free and you get a great view of the city from an interesting perspective and you get out of a lot of chaos.

    if you love books, strand on broadway east down below union is a place to get lost

    staten island ferry is awesome to get close to statue of liberty, and to get you downtown - again, subways will get you down there.

    decided what you love and you want to really embrace - is it what you've seen on tv, is it the views (get a nyc pass - and go to empire state because it's empire state, and also go to the top of the rock because it's better in a different way, especially at night), is it culture - look at some of the cheap ways to get broadway tickets or even opera tickets - the lincoln centre is awesome and cheap tickets can be found).

    feel free to reply with more questions - i haven't been there since 2020, so some stuff might have changed, but there's ways to see new york without getting stuck in that weird "this city is everywhere" nike big brand 5th avenue shops… though a visit to Tiffany's is always fun. Head to to the top floor to buy something like a bookmark that you can afford :-)

  • JimB on 26/11/2024 - 10:19
    +1

    NYC was fantastic when I was there pre-kids. Best city I've been to.

    I doubt I could afford to stay in NYC with kids these days.

  • SHPION on 26/11/2024 - 13:51
    +1

    I'm going to New York for Christmas and here is a good resource to compare basic prices in different countries and cities

    https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/New-York

  • RichardRides on 27/11/2024 - 06:06
    +1

    I was in NYC for a week in July. Super expensive.

    Stayed in a YMCA Youth hostel to save some $, but it was run-down, not particularly clean and not great.

    Ride the Citibikes. Very cheap, safe and fun way of getting around. Bike paths through NYC are pretty good.

    Went to a screening of Colbert’s show (free). There’s other TV shows that are also free to be in the studio audience, but try get these tickets as early as possible.

    Another free/fun thing was an outside broadcast of one of the breakfast TV shows. They had some band playing and big crowds.

  • niss200sx on 27/11/2024 - 06:51

    Thanks to all for the insights and suggestions.

    Starting to think that 4-5 days in NYC and then moving on to somewhere else, perhaps Florida or even Mexico for some warmer weather might be the way to go.

    Although, I've also heard that the likes of Cancun, Playa Del Carmen and Tulum are nowhere near as cost friendly as they used to be!

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 28/11/2024 - 10:07

      Mexico is on the otherside of the country…go to Nigara falls which and cross the bridge to Canada (Onterio)

      Nigara falls is in New York state (Bafflo) so it isnt a 'long flight' - it fairly cheap there (the last time i was there it was) - the falls are certainly worth seeing

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