🇺🇸New York City
The city that never sleeps — Broadway marquees, a skyline you already know by heart, and a subway that gets you anywhere at 3am if you're patient.
In photos
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Quick facts
Money & what things cost
Cards (and phone tap-to-pay) work essentially everywhere, including the subway — you can tap a contactless card or phone directly at the turnstile via OMNY, no MetroCard needed. Cash still helps for a few food carts and tipping in cash if you prefer. Sales tax (about 8.875%) is added at checkout, not included in listed prices, and tipping 18–22% at sit-down restaurants is close to mandatory culturally, not optional.
What locals earn
| Average monthly salary (NYC metro) | ≈ $5,800 | gross; take-home is significantly lower after federal, state, and city income tax |
| Minimum wage (NYC) | $17/hour | one of the highest in the US, reflecting the cost of living |
Food & drink
| Item | Local price | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Dollar slice of pizza | $1.50–3.00 | $1.50–3 |
| Food cart lunch (halal, hot dog) | $8.00–12 | $8–12 |
| Casual sit-down meal, per person (before tip) | $20–35 | $20–35 |
| Mid-range restaurant dinner, per person (before tip) | $50–90 | $50–90 |
| Coffee | $4.00–6.00 | $4–6 |
| Beer at a bar | $8.00–12 | $8–12 |
Transport
| Item | Local price | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Subway/bus ride (OMNY tap or MetroCard) | $2.90 | $2.90 |
| 7-day unlimited MetroCard | $34 | $34 |
| Yellow cab/Uber across Manhattan | $15–30 | $15–30 |
| JFK Airport → Manhattan (AirTrain + subway) | $11 | $10.90 |
| JFK Airport → Manhattan (taxi, flat rate) | $70 + tolls/tip | $70+ |
Where to sleep & what it costs
| Tier | Per night | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hostel dorm | $50–90 | Clustered in Chelsea, the Lower East Side, and Long Island City |
| Budget hotel | $140–220 | Small rooms are standard even at this tier — space is the real luxury in NYC |
| Mid-range hotel | $220–400 | Best value in Midtown West, the Financial District, or Long Island City |
| Luxury | $600+ | Central Park-adjacent and Fifth Avenue properties |
Getting around
- From the airport
- JFK connects via AirTrain + subway (~$11, 60–75 min) or a flat-rate yellow cab (~$70 + tolls/tip, ~45–60 min). LaGuardia (LGA) has no direct subway link — take the M60 bus to a subway connection or a taxi/rideshare (~$40–60). Newark (EWR), in New Jersey, connects via AirTrain + NJ Transit into Penn Station.
- Subway
- Runs 24/7 and covers the whole city — tap a contactless card or phone via OMNY directly at the turnstile, no need to buy a MetroCard first. It's the fastest way to get almost anywhere, if not always the cleanest or most predictable.
- Walking
- Manhattan's grid layout makes walking genuinely practical for exploring — many first-timers underestimate how much of the city is walkable, especially below 59th Street.
- Uber/Lyft/taxis
- Plentiful and metered/fixed-price, useful late at night or with luggage, but traffic can make them slower than the subway at peak hours.
- Citi Bike
- NYC's bike-share system is extensive and a great way to see the city, especially along the Hudson River Greenway or through Central Park.
Neighborhoods to stay in
- Midtown Manhattan
- Walking distance to Times Square, Broadway, and Rockefeller Center — the classic first-timer base, if a bit touristy and pricey.
- Greenwich Village / West Village
- Charming, low-rise, tree-lined streets with great restaurants — a quieter, more residential feel close to downtown.
- Financial District (FiDi)
- Near the Statue of Liberty ferries and the 9/11 Memorial, good value on weekends when business hotels drop rates.
- Williamsburg, Brooklyn
- A short subway ride from Manhattan, with its own thriving restaurant and nightlife scene and often better hotel value.
- Long Island City, Queens
- One subway stop from Midtown, notably cheaper hotels, with skyline views across the East River.
Tipping & etiquette
- New Yorkers walk fast and expect you to keep to the right on sidewalks and subway stairs — stopping suddenly to check your phone or take a photo mid-flow draws visible annoyance, not danger.
- On the subway, let people exit before you board, and offer your seat to elderly, pregnant, or disabled riders — these are taken seriously.
- 'New York rude' is mostly just directness and efficiency, not hostility — a brusque tone usually isn't personal.
- Jaywalking is technically illegal but extremely common and rarely enforced — cross carefully, since drivers don't always stop for it.
- Restaurant reservations for popular spots should be made well in advance, sometimes weeks ahead for the most in-demand tables.
Safety & common scams
New York City is safe for a major world city, including for solo travelers, and violent crime affecting tourists is rare in the areas visitors actually spend time in. The real everyday friction points are pickpocketing in dense tourist crowds, subway platform awareness, and the general high cost of everything, rather than personal danger.
Scams to know
- Unofficial 'CD' or bracelet sellers near Times Square who pressure a purchase or 'donation' — decline firmly and keep walking.
- Costumed characters in Times Square who pose for photos then aggressively demand payment — agree to a tip only if you actually want the photo, and know it's expected if you engage.
- Unlicensed 'gypsy cabs' outside official taxi stands, especially at airports, quoting inflated flat fares — use the official yellow cab line or a rideshare app instead.
- Ticket scalpers for Broadway shows selling fake or wildly overpriced tickets — buy through the official box office, TodayTix, or the TKTS discount booth in Times Square.
Emergency numbers: 911 (police/fire/ambulance) — walk into any police precinct or ask an MTA subway employee for help if needed
Phone & internet
Most major US carriers (T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon) offer tourist eSIMs, or set one up in advance via Airalo or a similar service before you land — pay-as-you-go physical SIMs are also available at airport kiosks and phone shops. Coverage and Wi-Fi are strong throughout the city, including on many subway platforms (though not always mid-tunnel).
First-timer FAQs
Do I need a visa?
Visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries (UK, most of the EU, Australia, and others) can apply for ESTA authorization online instead of a visa, valid for stays up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries need a standard US tourist visa — check current requirements for your passport well before booking.
How many days do I need?
Four to five days covers Midtown, Downtown, Central Park, and a Brooklyn neighborhood at a reasonable pace without feeling rushed. A week lets you slow down and add a museum day or two.
Is the subway safe and easy to use?
Yes — it's the fastest way around the city and runs 24/7. Stick to well-lit, populated cars late at night, keep bags zipped, and use a navigation app since signage can be inconsistent between lines.
Should I buy tickets for major attractions in advance?
Yes for anything popular — the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island ferry, the Empire State Building, and most Broadway shows sell out or have long walk-up lines; book online ahead of time.
Is New York as expensive as everyone says?
Yes, particularly for hotels and sit-down meals — but there's a real budget path through food carts, dollar pizza, free attractions (walking the Brooklyn Bridge, most parks), and the subway, so it's possible to visit without a Fifth Avenue budget.