Backpacking New York City (The Definite Budget Guide)

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Find your Perfect Hostel in New York City

If New York feels “too expensive” to backpack, welcome to the club—I said the same thing until I hacked the subway, found $2 pizza (I don't like pizza, but at 2$, I do), and slept in a dorm with a view of the Empire State Building’s backside.

This backpacking New York City guide packs every money-saving nugget I learned after multiple trips so you can skip rookie mistakes and jump straight into rooftop sunsets.

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International Student C...9.0

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The Local NY8.6

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Budget & Estimated Daily Costs in New York City

NYC is pricey but survivable with strategy.

• Shoestring: €70-90 covers a dorm bed, three cheap eats, and a MetroCard.
• Comfort: €110-140 adds craft-beer nights, a Broadway lottery ticket, and better coffee.
• Splurge: €160+ buys a private hostel room and nonstop avocado toast.

Reality check: dorm beds eat half your budget, but free city parks and pay-what-you-wish museums keep costs sane.

Typical Daily Expenses in New York City

• Accommodation (dorm): €55 in shoulder season; €75+ in summer.
• Food total: €25-35.
• Breakfast: €5-7—bagel + coffee from a corner cart.
• Lunch: €8-12—halal platter or deli sandwich.
• Dinner: €12-18—ramen, tacos, or dollar-slice crawl.
• Local transport: €2.90 per subway ride; weekly pass breaks even after 12 rides.
• Attractions: €0-15 per day if you target free hours and city passes.
• Entertainment & extras: €10-20 for thrift finds or happy-hour beers.

Overall, €80 a day is a lean backpacker target; €120 adds breathing room.

Short and crisp: The Best Hostels in New York City

1. American Dream Hostel - best for Digital Nomads, Solo Traveller, Youth Hostel
2. Big Apple Hostel
3. The Pod Hotel - POD 51 Hostel - best for Capsule Hotels, Female Solo Traveller, Solo Traveller
4. HI New York City Hostel - best for Digital Nomads, Family-Friendly Hostel, Female Solo Traveller, Quiet Rest, Solo Traveller
5. International Student Center New York - best for Couples, Family-Friendly Hostel, Female Solo Traveller, Solo Traveller, Youth Hostel

American Dream Hostel

8.6

Manhattan - Midtown East

"…This was my first time at a hostel. Stairs at entrance can prove difficult when carrying heavy more

from

$65.57

Big Apple Hostel

8.1

Manhattan - Midtown West

"…I was on a shopping trip with four other girlfriends so having a private room to ourselves was more

The Pod Hotel - POD 51 Hostel

8.1

Manhattan - Midtown East

"…Walking distance to UN, St.Patrick's, Rockefeller Centre, 5th & Madison Avenues Shops, 2 Blocks more

from

$96.66

HI New York City Hostel

8.5

Manhattan - Upper West Side

"…I had no idea where I would stay. This hostel was at the top of my list -- the first place I more

from

$24.22

International Student Center New York

9.0

Manhattan - Upper West Side

"…A great place to meet people (from Germany, France, NZ, Australia, Great-Britain). Excellent more

from

$38.58

Money-Saving Tips

• Grab a 7-day MetroCard even for a 4-day stay; unlimited swipes add freedom.
• Book hostels Sunday-Wednesday—weekend rates leap.
• Use pay-what-you-wish slots at the Met (Friday night) and Whitney (first Friday).
• Skip airport taxis—AirTrain + subway costs under €10.
• Download the Too Good To Go app for discounted bakery boxes after 8 p.m.
• Fill a bottle at public fountains; bodega water creeps to €3.
• Walk the bridges—free skyline views beat any observation deck fee.

Getting Around New York City on a Budget

• The subway runs 24/7 and reaches all boroughs; late nights ride in busy cars.
• Ferries cost a subway fare and double as mini-cruises—try the South Brooklyn route.
• Citi Bike day pass is cheap cardio; docks blanket Manhattan and Brooklyn.
• Walking is legit—uptown to downtown takes 90 minutes if you window-shop fast.
• Skip yellow cabs unless you split the fare, or it’s pouring sideways.

Best Free & Budget-Friendly Attractions

Free Things to Do

• Central Park ramble + Bow Bridge selfies.
• Grand Central Terminal celestial ceiling gawking.
• Staten Island Ferry past Lady Liberty.
• High Line sunset stroll with street performers.
• Brooklyn Bridge walk at dawn—zero tourists, all vibes.

Low-Cost Attractions

• MoMA Friday evenings (free, but book online).
• Top of the Rock student ticket—cheaper than Empire State.
• Off-Broadway rush tickets from €25.
• Yankees bleacher seats on weekday games.

Food and Drinks on a Budget

Eats

• Dollar-slice joints on 8th Ave keep carbs high and costs low.
• Chinatown dumpling houses offer €4 plates—look for steamed windows.
• Food trucks at 53rd & 6th serve legendary chicken over rice—huge portions.
• Smorgasburg weekend markets: sample gourmet bites without sitting fees.

Drinks & Nightlife

• Happy hours in the East Village start at 4 p.m.—lager for €4.
• Look for hostel pub crawls; free entry often beats €25 covers.
• BYOB comedy shows in Brooklyn: laughs plus cheap wine from the corner shop.

Experiences for Backpackers

• Harlem gospel service (donations welcome, dress modestly).
• Free Central Park walking tour—tips only.
• Street-art bike ride through Bushwick murals.
• Cooking class in Queens: make dumplings with local grandmas.
• Summer film nights at Bryant Park—picnic blanket, new friends.

9 Hidden Gemz in New York City (by Hostelgeeks)

How it works

Additional Tips & Final Thoughts

1. Best Time to Visit: Late spring and early fall offer tolerable prices and sweater weather.
2. Booking in Advance: Reserve hostels at least four weeks ahead—female dorms vanish first.
3. Avoid Tourist Traps: Skip chain restaurants around Times Square; head two blocks over for half the price.
4. Safety First: Keep valuables in hostel lockers, ride crowded subway cars, and trust gut vibes.
5. Cultural Respect: Stand on the right side of escalators, let riders exit the train first, and tip 20 percent—it’s NYC karma.

Backpacking New York City is a juggling act of budget hacks and bucket-list thrills. Pick a strategic base, swipe that MetroCard like a pro, and never underestimate the power of a well-timed dollar slice.

See you in the city that never lets your sneakers stay clean.

Backpacking New York City? Here’s What You Need to Know

These are the guides I wish I had before visiting. I’ve been there, had fun, did some minor mistakes, and now I’m passing the best tips on to you. Safe travels!

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About the author: Nour De Wilde Salhab

A Lebanese-Congolese-French-Belgian girl as likely to be found climbing a volcano in Indonesia or reading a sci-fi book by the sea in the South of France. Always on the hunt for remarkable experiences. My two favorites so far: volunteering in emergency medical services in Lebanon and solo backpacking around the world. Life is enjoyable in all its facets, from its healthy extremes to its mundane slows.