How I Vacationed in New York City for Under $400

I just got back from two days in New York City with a couple of my best friends. It was my first time there, so another bucket-list item of mine is successfully checked off!

We came up with the idea about a month ago in our group chat (of course). We were instantly jazzed and had our mind set on making this happen before the end of summer. So, we got together at my friend's apartment for dinner and a planning session.

It didn't take long for us to realize how pricey this could potentially be (especially with the crappy exchange rate right now). After a few hours of research, we reluctantly decided to scrap the idea and save it for another time. As I was packing up my things and getting ready to head out the door, I slung my backpack over my shoulder and heard one of my friends yell "OK WAIT! Let's just do it...."

Challenge accepted! We are doing NYC.. on a budget! 

This budget is based on a two-night stay and my individual cost, and I'll give you all the costs in Canadian dollars. 

Travel - $76.50

We chose to drive instead of fly and if I'm honest I don't regret the decision one bit. In fact, the drive there may have been my favourite part. The quiet two-lane highways cast a view of parts of the Appalachian Mountains practically the entire time. In between highway stretches, we went through some small towns which were highly entertaining! Culture shock. If I go back to NYC, I would drive again. I left Toronto with a full tank, filled up twice, and arrived home with an almost empty tank. Overall, it was about $180 worth of gas, split between the three of us.

The Metro in New York was fairly cheap. We took it six times and a two-way pass was $5.50.

Accommodation - $119.76

We stayed in Jersey City at a super affordable Airbnb called The Tiny House. It was clean and stylish and a stone's throw away from NYC. It was a tight squeeze for three of us but would be the perfect size for two people. To get into NYC we took a five-minute walk to the Metro and then a seven-minute train ride on the red PATH line from Grove Street station to the World Trade Centre. To put everything into perspective, the hotels and Airbnb's we were looking to stay at in NYC were between $200-$400 a night.

Food - $101.25

We anticipated the biggest risk for over-spending to be food if we weren't careful. So on the way up, we packed the car with tons of healthy snacks so we didn't have to pay for over-priced food at our pit-stops, and once in NYC, we knew that some of the most delicious food is the most affordable. We'd pick up things here and there from bakeries in China Town, a Cafe in Jersey City, and a Pizzeria in Brooklyn (Totonno's - I'm going to be bold and say it was the best pizza I've ever had). Our most expensive meal was on our final night at Sake Bar Hagi but that may have had something to do with the Sake shots..

Entertainment - $37.43 

Essentially, we did most things for free in NYC:

• Staten Island Ferry

• Brooklyn Bridge

• Times Square

• Central Park

• and more

We went to Coney Island on the second day which is where we spent most of our entertainment money. We rode the iconic Cyclone ($13.37), a less-than-impressive haunted house ($10.69), and one of my favourite parts of the trip: Coney Island Circus Sideshow ($13.37)

GRAND TOTAL: $334.85 CAD

(give or take a few dollars for the MANY coffees I chugged on the drive)

This is the first time I've come home from a trip and don't feel the pang of guilt for overspending and having nothing to show for it. It was an amazing trip filled with countless laughs, an abundance of great food, and more than enough to see and experience; and I didn't feel deprived of anything whilst pinching my pennies. I'll be travelling just like this from here on out! 

p.s. shout out to Karen Lee Roberts for all the amazing pics in this post.

Lynn