Cost of living in New York

Hi everyone, I’ve traveled to New York quite a bit, but not in about 10 years. All my colleagues who’ve been recently tell me that the cost of living has become outrageous. What’s the situation really like? For hotels, I checked the usual sites, and it does seem a bit expensive but not unaffordable—if you avoid the various "peak" periods (and there are a lot of them...). Anyway, the prices seem roughly on par with Paris, at least for accommodation in Manhattan. But what I’ve heard is that restaurants are almost unaffordable for "regular" budgets. By unaffordable, I mean around $50 per person (as soon as you want a drink with your meal). Thanks to any forum members who’ve been recently for shedding some light on this. Long live VoyageForum.

Hello,

It's true—since post-Covid, and especially since 2022 with inflation, the gap between European and American salaries (especially in big cities) makes everything seem expensive from our perspective.

One evening for dinner (2 adults/2 kids), we decided we’d do a little picnic in the room instead of hitting the restaurants. At Whole Foods Market near Bryant Park, we got away with spending $90 for a "light" dinner 😐

After that, it really depends on the neighborhood... near Times Square, you’re quickly looking at $40 before tax and tips for pasta 😎 https://carminesnyc.com/assets/uploads/general/C44_Menu_Dinner_8.5x11_High_Rate_12_.2024.pdf

Hello,

As a general rule, NYC has gotten more expensive (and sometimes *a lot* more) compared to Paris...

Especially for hotels and restaurants....

Thanks for this update—prices are definitely getting high these days...

For hotels, I’m not so sure it’s more expensive than in Paris. If I take a hotel I know from when I used to go to New York, like the New Yorker in Manhattan, I was able to find nights for under $200 per night for a double room by just checking the usual sites, without really planning ahead. The location is perfect, and the hotel is historic. When I see the rates charged in Paris for some comparable hotels (3* to 4* level), I find it’s pretty much the same.

Actually, it all depends on how you travel. If you eat out every day, the costs add up fast. If you snack or grab small bites, it’ll stay reasonable. But let’s be real—prices have gone up a lot. I often travel in the West, and every time I buy stuff for a picnic, I’m quickly at $30 or $40.

True, that applies to 5-star hotels and luxury palaces. But here in Paris, you can still find places like Formule 1 or Ibis in the inner suburbs with good metro access at a reasonable price!

The city of NY has banned Airbnb-style tourist rentals for stays under 30 days (since September 2023, I think) .... hotels have taken advantage of this to significantly increase their rates!

The other option is to rent an Airbnb in New Jersey, right across the way.