Which place is cheaper, Reno or New York City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for New York City and Reno. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
New York City is a one-of-a-kind, vibrant, and energetic city. Visitors will also find so much to do here because it's a large city with many sights and attractions. New York City offers plenty of beauty for visitors. It's also popular because of the theater, nightlife, and live music. See New York City travel costs.
Reno is a growing, vibrant, and energetic city. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Reno travel costs.
You'll generally find more things to do in New York City than Reno. New York City is bigger than Reno, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. New York City is more touristy than Reno and is known for its high-reaching skyscrapers, iconic landmarks, world-class theater scene, and endless energy. Also, New York City is famous for The Statue of Liberty. Reno is well known for its casinos and nightlife scene.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Reno and New York City. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
New York City is renowned for its museums and history. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its museums and landmarks.
With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, New York City has many famous sights for visitors. The sights and museums around the city are too numerous to list, but some of the most famous include the Statue of Liberty, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, and the Empire State Building. This is a city that is filled with iconic landmarks and you could spend weeks here and still not see it all.
Reno is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Museums in town range from art and history to local or quirky. The National Automobile Museum, the Nevada Museum of Art, Fleischmann Planetarium, and the Anthropology Museum are some of the favorites.
New York City is renowned for its shows and theatre. However, Reno is not a theatre destination.
The theater and performance venues in New York City draw crowds from around the world. Visiting Broadway is a quintessential NYC experience. Whether you enjoy the theater or simply want to experience something new, seeing a Broadway show is a true bucket list activity.
Reno is not a theatre destination.
New York City is renowned for its restaurants. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.
For foodies, New York City is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The city has a diverse variety of restaurants, with everything from local dives to Michelin star options. There are many neighborhoods that are notable for their ethnic cuisine, particularly Little Italy and Chinatown. Quintessential NYC dishes include NYC pizza, NYC hot dogs, bagels, and Chinese dim sum.
Reno offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The food scene has been growing in recent years and you'll find plenty of casual restaurants that serve hearty and filling comfort foods.
New York City is renowned for its evening party scene. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife.
New York City is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. Known as the city that never sleeps, you can be assured that NYC has some of the best nightlife in the world. There are world class bars and clubs, but also local venues that have a more relaxed atmosphere. Several famous clubs include Paul's Cocktail Lounge, Le Bain, and Avant Gardner.
The people in Reno know how to have a good time. There's a big nightlife scene with a huge number of bars and entertainment options. There are also a growing number of breweries in town.
New York City is renowned for its music scene. However, Reno is not a live music destination.
New York City has become a mecca for musicians from around the world. Popular music venues include Music Hall of Williamsburg, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, and Forest Hills Stadium.
Reno is not a live music destination.
New York City is renowned for its shopping areas. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for shopping.
Many people travel to New York City specifically to go shopping. The shopping is as diverse as the city itself. Head for Fifth Avenue for high end shopping or check out any of the many street markets for local items. New York is known for its many flea markets where you can find vintage items at a good price. And if you're looking to pick up a souvenir shirt or knick knack, there are plenty of souvenir shops around town as well.
Reno is a great destination for shopping. In addition to your standard suburban shopping malls and strip malls, there's the Midtown District, which has local retail shops and an eclectic and alternative vibe. The area has thrift shops, music vendors, and more.
New York City is a popular place for its scenery and beauty. However, Reno is not a destination known for its beauty.
New York City offers plenty of beauty for visitors. The beauty of the skyline at night or the views from the top of the Empire State Building will take your breath away.
Reno is not a destination known for its beauty.
New York City is an excellent place to visit for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.
You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in New York City. The city has many activities for kids of all ages including world class museums, beautifully designed playgrounds, and theater shows designed just for young ones. There are many kid-friendly restaurants as well and older kids will enjoy visiting the iconic landmarks in this world-class city.
You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Reno. You'll find some arcades and entertainment options for kids in some of the casinos. There's also the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, which has kid-friendly, hands-on exhibits, and the largest zoo in Nevado, the Sierra Nevada Zoological Park.
New York City is renowned for couples. Also, Reno is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.
New York City makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. From a beautiful carriage ride through Central Park, to a romantic river cruise at night, there is an endless list of unique activities that couples can enjoy in the city. Whether you're interested in theater, the arts, music, or nightlife, this city has it all.
Reno is a nice destination for couples. There are outdoor parks and scenic walks like the Truckee River Walk or the Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. There's also several great museums and some interesting restaurants.
New York City is an excellent place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Reno is lacking in options for backpackers.
Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit New York City. It isn't a particularly budget-friendly destination, but it does get its share of backpackers, so you'll find a nice list of hostels and affordable hangouts that are perfect for the backpacker crowd. This is probably one of the most popular cities for backpackers in the entire United States.
Reno is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not really on the backpacker circuit so you won't find any real hostels in town.
New York City is renowned for its student-friendly activities. However, Reno is not popular with students.
Many students frequent New York City. The city has a diverse population, and international students will feel right at home here exploring the city. There are also plenty of major universities including NYU, Columbia University, and Cornell University.
Reno is not popular with students.
New York City is renowned for times when you don't have a car. However, Reno is lacking in options for its public transit.
New York City has a great public transit system. The city has one of the largest subway systems in the world. There's also an elaborate bus system, ferry system, and yellow taxis all around town.
Public transit is generally limited in Reno. There's a public bus system with routes around town.
New York City is renowned for its ease of walking around. However, Reno is lacking in options for its walkability.
It's very easy to get around on foot in New York City. The majority of the neighborhoods in Manhattan are very walkable and easy to explore on foot. Most people prefer not to drive here as it can be overwhelming and chaotic.
Reno is generally not very walkable. While there are some reasonably walkable neighborhoods, you really need a car to get around town.
For even more information, also check out Is New York City Worth Visiting? and Is Reno Worth Visiting?.
Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both New York City and Reno. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in New York City than in Reno. Usually, 3-7 days is a good amount of time for New York City, and 1-3 days is enough time in Reno.
Families should spend more time in New York City than Reno. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in New York City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in New York City than Reno. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in New York City that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in New York City than Reno if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in New York City.
New York City is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.
Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the energetic destination of Reno. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.
New York City is a fun place to experience. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Reno. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.
New York City is a cosmopolitan big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend five days in the area when traveling. Five days is often enough time to do most activities.
Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the growing destination of Reno. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.
New York City is a vibrant city where you can fill many days. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.
You'll find food and shopping around the city of Reno. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from New York City, The Best 2-Week Tours from Anchorage, The Best 2-Week Tours from San Francisco, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Los Angeles.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
The average daily cost (per person) in New York City is $363, while the average daily cost in Reno is $184. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for New York City and Reno in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in New York City or Reno? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
Also for New York City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Reno:
Also for Reno, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Prices for flights to both Reno and New York City 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.
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
For New York City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
For Reno, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for New York City's activities, tours, and tickets:
For New York City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For Reno, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
For more ideas for your next trip, check out The Best Things to do in New York City with Kids, Things to Do in Central Park in NYC, and The Best Museums in New York City.
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Reno:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New York City and Reno, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Reno much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Reno would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Reno 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 Reno.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is New York City Expensive? and Is Reno Expensive?.
New York City has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Reno. When comparing the sizes of New York City and Reno, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.