New York from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in New York (prices from New York City), when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 26 Oct 2026.
Plan my New York tripDay to day in New York City, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £27 | £36 |
| A balanced mix | £58 | £67 |
| Mostly restaurants | £77 | £86 |
- Local transport: about £9 a day. Taxi: £2 to start, then £1.63 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £26 a day for food.
- Tourist tax: about £1 a person a night, paid at your stay.
- Tipping: about 20% where service is good.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: livingcost.org, en.wikipedia.org, nyc.gov; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
4°F
4°M
7°A
12°M
17°J
23°J
26°A
26°S
23°O
18°N
12°D
7°
The most pleasant months are May and September. February is the driest month (95 mm of rain) and December the wettest (133 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the most pleasant months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Best time to visit United States, place by placeCompare: United States or Canada · Mexico or United States · Japan or United States · Australia or United States
Visa for British travellers
Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Program, or a US visa
Fee: $40 a person.
Allow at least 7 days before you fly.
Official source: gov.uk, checked 2026-10-26. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in New York City
Central Parkpark · half a dayBethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge and Strawberry Fields are all in the southern half; hire a bike to cover more
Empire State Building observation decktower · a couple of hoursOpen late; after 22:00 the lines vanish and the city is lit up
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridgebridge · a couple of hoursStart from the Brooklyn side so the skyline is ahead of you; finish in DUMBO
Times Squaresquare · a couple of hoursBest after dark; the TKTS booth sells same-day discounted theatre tickets
Greenwich Villagelandmark · half a day
Blue Note Jazz Clublandmark · a couple of hours
Meatpacking Districtlandmark · half a day
Lower East Sidelandmark · half a day
Williamsburg, Brooklynlandmark · half a day
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Islandmonument · half a dayOnly Statue City Cruises from Battery Park lands on the island; crown tickets sell out months ahead
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in New York cost?
Food and getting around come to about £36 a person a day eating street food, £67 with a balanced mix and £86 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit New York?
The most pleasant months are May and September. February is the driest month (95 mm of rain) and December the wettest (133 mm); daytime highs run from 4 to 26 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for United States?
Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Program, or a US visa, $40. Checked on gov.uk on 2026-10-26; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in New York?
Central Park, Empire State Building observation deck, Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, Greenwich Village.
Your whole New York trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from the UK, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
Plan my New York trip