Should you visit Austin or New York City?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Austin or New York City, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Austin
Located in the Texas Hill Country, Austin is the capital city of the state. It is a relatively small city with a compact downtown area and many sprawling suburbs stretching out along the interstate. Austin prides itself on its eclectic culture and alternative vibe which is epitomized by the city's unofficial slogan "Keep Austin Weird." The University of Texas at Austin is also located downtown. The school's large student population helps give the city a youthful feel with a lively nightlife and no shortage of activities on weekends. The city is also the self proclaimed live music capital of the country. As such, it has many music venues and bars, most of which are clustered around the 6th Street area downtown. There are also many free outdoor concerts, particularly during the summer months.
New York City
The most populated city in the United States, New York City, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River and encompasses both the island of Manhattan as well as the surrounding land on Long Island, most of which is known as Brooklyn. It's a cultural, culinary, theatrical, and art center that has much to offer domestic and international travelers alike. The city covers an area of 305 square miles and has a population of about 8.2 million people in the city proper with 18.7 million in the metropolitan area.
Which city is cheaper, New York City or Austin?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Austin is $114, while the average daily cost in New York City is $238. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Austin and New York City in more detail.
Accommodation
A hotel room in Austin is about $90 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
For a normal double-occupancy room in New York City, $274 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in New York City, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $137, such as in a hostel.
Food
The average traveler spends about $28 per day in Austin for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
New York City food costs typically run travelers around $37 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Austin $28
New York City $37
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Austin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Austin.
-
Austin Food Tour by Bus with Live Band On Board:
$93
-
Austin Beer and Food Tour by Bike:
$97
-
Private Secret Food Tour of Downtown Austin:
$103
-
East Austin Urban Farms & Brewery Food Tour by Bike:
$106
-
Wood Fired Dinner Series at the Austin Winery:
$159
-
Secret Food Tour of Downtown Austin w/ Private Tour Option:
$221
-
Secret Food Tour:
$288
Typical Food prices in New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in New York City
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
New York: Dumbo Food Tour:
$13
-
SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown Lunch or Dinner Tour:
$48
-
Chinatown Food Tour:
$50
-
Brooklyn: 3-Hour Williamsburg Bites Food Tour:
$56
-
New York Pizza, Beer, and History Tour:
$69
-
Midtown Manhattan: Sights & Bites Food Tour:
$69
-
New York Lower East Side Food Tour:
$75
-
Lonely Planet Experiences: Brooklyn Small-Group Food Tour:
$79
-
Brooklyn: 4.5-Hour Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour:
$82
-
Food Tour of Chinatown New York:
$89
-
New York City Food Tour:
$89
-
New York Chinatown and Downtown Walking and Food Tour:
$114
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Austin is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $38 per person, per day, on local transportation in Austin.
To get around in New York City, the average visitor spends $39 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Austin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Austin:
-
Transfer from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Austin:
$109
-
Private Departure Transfer to Austin Bergstrom Airport AUS:
$40
-
Private Austin Transfer: Hotel to Airport:
$114
-
Private Austin Transfer: Airport to Hotel:
$128
-
Private Arrival Transfer from Austin Bergstrom Airport AUS:
$40
-
Private Airport and Hotel Transfer Services in Austin:
$86
-
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport One Way Transfer:
$69
-
Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Round-Trip Private Transfer:
$187
-
Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) to Austin City - Arrival Private Transfer:
$93
-
Austin City to Austin-Bergstrom Airport (AUS) - Departure Private Transfer:
$93
Typical Local Transportation prices in New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
-
Subway
$4.50
-
Taxi Ride
$8.00
-
Subway
$2.50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in New York City
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Airport Limousine Transfer one-way - John F Kennedy Airport - Lincoln MKT:
$239
-
Airport Limousine Transfer one-way - LaGuardia Airport - Lincoln MKT:
$194
-
Airport Limousine Transfer one-way - Newark Liberty International Airport - MKT:
$256
-
EWR Private 1-Way Transfer from NYC City Center Hotels:
$144
-
EWR to NYC City Center Hotels: 1-Way Private Transfer:
$161
-
JFK - Executive Class Airport Sedan/SUV/Van Transfer:
$119
-
JFK to Manhattan Cruise Port: Private Car Transfer:
$135
-
JFK to NYC City Center Hotels: 1-Way Private Transfer:
$157
-
LGA Private 1-Way Transfer from NYC City Center Hotels:
$126
-
LGA to NYC City Center Hotels: 1-Way Private Transfer:
$141
-
LaGuardia - Manhattan Cruise Port Private Transfers:
$99
-
LaGuardia Airport-Brooklyn Cruise Port Private Transfer:
$96
Is it cheaper to fly into Austin or New York City?
Prices for flights to both New York City and Austin change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Austin typically cost an average of $22 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
In New York City, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $77 per person, per day.
Typical Entertainment prices in Austin
Here are a few typical costs in Austin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
Tours and Activities in Austin
Here are a few actual costs in Austin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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48-Hour Austin Hop-On Hop-Off Blue Line City Tour:
$45
-
Austin Biker Gang E-Bike Adventure:
$62
-
Austin Capital Photo Tour:
$21
-
Austin City Landmarks and Taco Tour by Bike:
$97
-
Austin Digital Private Scavenger Hunt Adventure:
$11
-
Austin E-Bike Tour:
$69
-
Austin Electric Bike Tour: Let it Ride:
$71
-
Austin Electric Minibike Adventure Tour:
$77
-
Austin Famous Ghost and Bat Segway Tour:
$59
-
Austin Indoor Skydiving Experience with 2 Flights & Personalized Certificate:
$81
-
Austin Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour:
$33
-
Austin Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour:
$30
Typical Entertainment prices in New York City
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Comedy Show Tickets
$56
-
City Map
$8.00
-
Broadway Musical
$111
-
Broadway Show Program
$10
-
Magazine
$6.99
Tours and Activities in New York City
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
-
New York: Brooklyn Heights & DUMBO Self-Guided Walking Tour:
$6.00
-
NYC: Battery Park and Statue of Liberty Self-Guided Tour:
$6.00
-
Grand Central Terminal Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$9.00
-
9/11 Tribute Museum Admission Ticket:
$12
-
Central Park Zoo General Admission Ticket:
$14
-
New York Self-Guided Audio Tour:
$14
-
Brooklyn Museum General Admission Ticket:
$14
-
NYC: 9/11 Tribute Museum & Optional Memorial Walking Tour:
$15
-
9/11 Tribute Museum Ticket:
$15
-
New York: 2-Hour Superhero Walking Tour:
$18
-
New York: The Rubin Museum of Art Admission Ticket:
$19
-
New York Aquarium Admission Tickets:
$20
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Austin may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $23 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Typically, people visiting New York City spend on average $23 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Sample the Local Flavors in Austin
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Austin:
-
Austin Bar Hunt: Sixth Street Spree: Austin Bar Crawl:
$12
-
More than a Pub Crawl:
$24
-
Haunted Austin Ghost and Pub Walking Tour:
$27
-
Brewery Tours through East Austin via Motorized Pedicab:
$40
-
Austin Pedicab Brewery Tour with Beer Flights Included Option:
$46
-
The Brew Bus: Austin Brewery Tour with Live Band:
$81
-
Half-Day Craft Beer and Brewery Tour:
$82
-
Private Texas Hill Country Half-Day Wine Tour from Austin:
$140
-
Texas Hill Country Wine Tour by Limousine:
$175
-
Customizable Austin Distillery and Brewery Tour:
$206
-
Half-Day Brewery and Craft Beer Tour in Austin with Tastings:
$240
Sample the Local Flavors in New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
-
Greenwich Village Pub Crawl:
$20
-
Pub Crawl Tour of Historic Stone Street:
$40
-
New York Hell's Kitchen 3-Hour Pub Crawl:
$75
-
Wine Tasting Sail Aboard The Classic Schooner Shearwater:
$101
-
Long Island Wine Tour:
$105
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Austin and New York City, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Austin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Austin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Austin and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in New York City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New York City than you might in Austin.
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