$30 in New York City won’t get you far. I had a friend once say that New York is the only city where you can go out to buy a carton of milk and end up spending $100. And honestly, that’s not completely untrue. So I thought it might be fun to put together how I would spend a day on this budget.
If you are on vacation you probably have saved up for this trip. But what if you are on your last day and you realized you went way over your budget? Or your credit card gets stolen and you need to get by till you can get the replacement? Or maybe you’re a cheap ass like me and love a bargain. There are many reasons why you might want or have to be on a budget of $30 in New York City. And this is just one way to spend a day on the cheap and still have a fun and eventful time.
Breakfast At Tiffany’s
I suggested this in my last post. Get up before the crowd and head to one of the breakfast carts on the street. You can usually get a bagel with cream cheese with juice or a coffee for under $5. The one outside the place I was staying only cost me $3.50. If you can’t find a cart, just go to the corner deli. This will still be under $5.
Once you got your breakfast to go, walk up 5th Avenue and find Tiffany and Co. When my friend and I did it we actually got semi-formal dressed so we could feel like we were fancy. To this day it is still one of my favorite memories and photos I have with him. And it’s kind of fun when people ask what you did in New York and you can tell them “I had Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. The most fun I have while I am traveling is usually doing something stupid and fun.
Enjoy Some Time In Bryant Park And Visit The Library
When you’ve finished your breakfast head down to Bryant Park. Be sure to check out their website and see if there is anything fun to do. The activities are usually free and it’s a great way to pass the time. If there is not anything happening, I love sitting in this park and watching the morning rush go by. It’s one of my favorite places in New York.
The New York Public Library is right behind Bryant Park. It opens daily at 10 AM except Sundays when it opens at 1. Not only is this building iconic with the giant lion statues guarding it, but it also has cool FREE exhibits that rotate in and out of it. When I was there a few weeks ago they had this great exhibit called “Treasures”. Inside were things like the original Pooh stuffed animal, Charles Dickens’s Desk, and original ink drawings for The Wizard of Oz. It was really cool. And if you actually take your time and read the information it passes the time and you learn a little too.
And when you are finished, make sure to explore this beautiful building for a bit. There’s a lot to see and take in. And it’s quiet. Which is hard to find in New York City. I really do love it here. And it is one of those places people don’t really think about going into. They might snap a picture outside, but I’m surprised at how many people don’t actually experience what is inside.
Take A Walk On The High Line And Check Out Some Free Art Galleries
When you leave Bryant Park you can walk past the Empire State Building and the World Famous Macy’s on 34th Street to get to the 30th Street Entrance to the High Line. It’s a cool little park that used to be an above-ground train track. It can get a little crowded, but I still really enjoy it there. It gives you a second-floor view of New York.
When you walk for a bit you will see many exits all along the way. If you want to take a pit stop get off around the 20th Street exit. Roam the streets and find some free art galleries. Secret NYC put together a great list of ten Chelsea art galleries HERE. These are usually up-and-coming artists or unknowns that are selling their paintings and sculptures.
A good friend of mine who is an artist introduced me to this totally free thing to do in the city. We would go all year long to look at the new artists that are being featured. Some galleries had amazing works, while others had some that appeared to be drawn by a child. But it was no money out of my wallet, so I was cool with it.
$1 Pizza
After all that walking, you would probably be hungry for lunch. And like I said $30 in New York City doesn’t go far. But thanks to $1 pizza places all over the city, it can go a little further. These places saved me from starving when rent was due and not making much money as an intern.
Although most of these pizza-by-the-slice shops have raised their prices to $1.50 per slice. But you can still get 2 slices and a soda for $5. That’s still a pretty great deal in my eyes. Of course, you can always go get better quality pizza for a few bucks more, but I’ve grown to love these cheap slices.
Walk Along The Hudson
After you’ve stuffed your mouth with cheap pizza, head west and take a walk along the Hudson River. If it’s a hot day it is a nice way to cool down with the breeze that comes off the river. There are plenty of piers that you can stop at and take a rest for a bit. It’s a great place to enjoy a conversation with your travel companion or if you are a solo traveler pull a book out of your backpack and read. If you’re a walker like me, this is a great place to let those feet take a well needed rest.
Head To A Free Museum
After you’ve taken your rest, get out your phone and head to NYCGo and find a free museum to check out. Every day of the week at least one museum will be offering a free day or pay what you wish. The majority of these museums offer these deals after a certain time.
They can get a little crowded on these days, but if you’re on a budget, it’s worth it. I’ve gone to MoMa, the Bronx Zoo, the New York Aquarium, and many more just to save a little extra cash. If it is a pay what you will day, I tend to throw them a $1 or $2, but they don’t expect it. And they are New Yorkers, they really don’t care.
Rest And Get Ready For The Evening
If you follow this itinerary for the day, you’ve done A LOT. And the great part is you’ve only spent around $10. But, you’re probably going to be a little tired and might want to spend some time out in the city at night. I would suggest going back to your AirBnB or hotel and rest up a bit. Maybe take a power nap or just put your feet up and watch some netflix. Because the evenings can be just as jammed packed of free or cheap things to do.
Grab A Cheap Dinner
There a ton of places that have great food and under $10. I would suggest Empanada Mama if you’re in staying in Midtown. You can get two good sized empanadas for under $10. But, I also would suggest getting a couple New York hotdogs from a street vendor or one of the halal vending trucks. I’m not a “foodie”, so going out to a fancy restaurant has never really been my thing. And there is nothing more New York than eating a couple hot dogs on the side walk.
Go See A Movie Or Concert In A Park
I’m writing this in the start of summer. Since the summer is the peak season in NYC, you will find something nightly that is free. It appears on the NYC Parks page, there is a free movie every night except some Mondays. But even if you’re in NYC on a Monday, I know that you can google something and find a free event. It’s an awesome way to save money and these events are super fun and the energy of the city around you as you watch an old movie is the best.
Walk Thru Times Square At Night
If you keep up with this blog I say it every time “I hate TImes Square”. But I have to admit it is really cool to see it at night. The lights are amazing, the crowd is all a buzz, and I insisted whenever someone came to see that we go to Times Square at night. There’s something special about it. No one that lives in NYC likes it, but I think most would agree it’s a cool thing for first time visitors.
I think the perfect way to end an evening if you are in the area is stop by and get those social media pics. The shops are usually open late, so if you want to check out the M&M store or H&M to browse, go for it. If you’re on a budget of $30 you probably won’t buy anything, but it’s fun to look.
A Cookie At Schmackary’s
If it isn’t too late and you want a little snack before heading to bed, I suggest walking over to Schmackary’s and getting one of the best cookies in NYC. They average around $5, but if you didn’t go to a sit down dinner you should have enough to get one of these tasty treats. It’s located on 45th between 8th and 9th, so just a few blocks from Times Square. You won’t regret the stop.
And That’s How You Spend Only $30 In New York City
I hope you found this post helpful. New York is expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Of course spending $30 in New York City is a little more tricky in the winter, but you can definetly find fun things to do as well. Even if you can spend a little more than $30 in New York City, you can find cheap off-off-broadway shows, lectures, and many more things. But it’s just about being creative and enjoying what the city has to offer. Happy adventuring.
Arlene
Fabulous!