Which place is cheaper, Woodstock or New York City?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit New York City or Woodstock?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for New York City and Woodstock. 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.
Where Should I go: New York City or Woodstock?
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.
Woodstock
While this town does lend its name to the 1969 Woodstock Festival, the legendary event was actually held on a dairy farm almost 60 miles away in Bethel, NY. So if you are looking to see the field where it all happened and a museum dedicated to its history, you will need to take a day trip outside of town.
Woodstock, New York, however, does stay true to the spirit of the arts. Since 1903, the place lay home to Byrdcliffe Art Colony, the oldest of its kind in the nation, and even attracted artists of the Hudson River School during the late 1800s. Today, artists from all disciplines-visual, ceramic, music, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, playwriting, and poetry-take up residence at the colony and have works displayed in galleries open in the main part of town.
Tinker Street and Mill Hill Road are lined with a mix of restaurants and shops all teeming with the essence of hippie living, arts, and spirituality. From shops selling Woodstock paraphernalia, incense, and Himalayan products, to yoga studios, vegan restaurants, and local art galleries-the town of Woodstock is one dedicated to keeping the spirit of the Woodstock Festival and the arts alive.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America, and The Best Contiki Tours to United States of America.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayNew York City $326Woodstock $154
The average daily cost (per person) in New York City is $326, while the average daily cost in Woodstock is $154. 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 Woodstock in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personNew York City $175Woodstock $81
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomNew York City $350Woodstock $162
Compare Hotels in New York City and Woodstock
Looking for a hotel in New York City or Woodstock? 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.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: New York City Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.New York City $49Woodstock $60
Typical Local Transportation Prices in New York City
Some typical examples of transportation costs in New York City are as follows:
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Subway$4.50
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Taxi Ride$8.00
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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:
- Manhattan: Bus Transfer from/to Newark Airport: $21
- New York: 1-Way Transfer to/from JFK & Grand Central Station: $27
- Midtown/Lower Manhattan -JFK: Private Airport Departure Transfers: $29
- Newark Liberty International Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to / from NYC: $34
- Private Departure Transfers from Upper Manhattan to JFK Airport: $34
- EWR to Manhattan: One Way Shared Arrival Transfer: $34
- Manhattan to EWR: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $34
- Manhattan to JFK: One Way Shared Departure Transfer : $34
- Manhattan to LGA: One Way Shared Departure Transfer: $34
- NYC: One-Way Shared Transfer to or from Newark Airport: $36
- NYC: One-Way Transfer to/from JFK Airport and Manhattan: $36
- Manhattan: Shared Transfer to or from LaGuardia Airport: $36
Is it cheaper to fly into New York City or Woodstock?
Prices for flights to both Woodstock 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayNew York City $50Woodstock $34
Typical Food Prices in New York City
For New York City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Gelato$7.50
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Snacks for Two at Yankees Game$34
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Coffee$6.53
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Smoothie$6.95
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, Queens Culinary Stroll : Food Tour on Foot: $23
- New York City Pizza Crawl: Best of Manhattan route: $37
- Lower East Side and Essex Market Multicultural Food Tour: $39
- Half-Day Private Pizza Crawl in Manhattan: $40
- Shared Food Tour Bohemian Greenwichvillage: $45
- Ultimate Greenwich Village NYC Food Tour: $63
- NYC: Greenwich Village Guided Food Tour: $63
- East Village NYC Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- Downtown Brooklyn Pizza Walking Tour: $65
- Pizza Walking Tour of Downtown Brooklyn: $65
- West Village Pizza Walk: $65
- East Village Pizza Walk: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.New York City $180Woodstock $35
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
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City Map$8.00
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Broadway Musical$111
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Broadway Show Program$10
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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:
- Central Park NYC: First Discovery Walk and Reading Tour: $3.20
- Marvel Universe in New York In-app Audio Tour in English: $5.00
- Central Park: Self-guided Bike Tour App - Audio + Written: $5.00
- Self Guided Central Park Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
- Brooklyn Bridge Self-Guided Bike or Walking Tour Application: $5.00
- New York City's Financial District: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.34
- Broadway: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of the World's Iconic Theatre District: $5.39
- New York World's Fair Site: Explore its utopian future on an audio tour: $5.39
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in New York: $5.45
- Central Park Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.56
- Self Guided "Central Park Movie Tour" Solo Walking Tour in New York City: $6.75
- NYC: Central Park Exploration Game and Tour: $6.93
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.
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayNew York City $29Woodstock $22
Sample the Local Flavors in New York City
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in New York City:
- NYC West Village Pub Crawl: $19
- New York Ghosts Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $34
- NYC: Brooklyn Nightlife Pub Crawl: $34
- NYC Pub Crawl and Rooftop Clubbing Experience: $35
- NYC: Boos & Booze Haunted Pub Crawl: $38
- New York Rooftop Pub Crawl: $39
- NYC: Manhattan's Only Whiskey Distillery Tour & Tasting: $42
- Greenwich Village Literary Pub Crawl: $49
- East Village Gangster Ghost Pub Crawl: $64
- Broadway Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
- Little Italy Prohibition Pub Crawl: $64
- Lower East Side Prohibition Pub Crawl: $74
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between New York City and Woodstock, we can see that New York City is more expensive. And not only is Woodstock much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Woodstock would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Woodstock 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 Woodstock.
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 Woodstock Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, New York City or Woodstock?
New York City has a larger population, and is about 3660 times larger than the population of Woodstock. When comparing the sizes of New York City and Woodstock, 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.
When is the best time to visit New York City or Woodstock?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit New York City or Woodstock in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to New York City as well as Woodstock. The city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to New York City this time of year.
New York City is around the same temperature as Woodstock in the summer. The daily temperature in New York City averages around 77°F (25°C) in July, and Woodstock fluctuates around 74°F (24°C).
New York City receives a lot of rain in the summer. New York City usually gets more rain in July than Woodstock. New York City gets 4.5 inches (114 mm) of rain, while Woodstock receives 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyNew York City 77°F (25°C)Woodstock 74°F (24°C)
Should I visit New York City or Woodstock in the Autumn?
Both Woodstock and New York City are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to New York City for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, New York City is a little warmer than Woodstock. Typically, the autumn temperatures in New York City in October average around 57°F (14°C), and Woodstock averages at about 53°F (12°C).
In October, New York City usually receives around the same amount of rain as Woodstock. New York City gets 3.1 inches (78 mm) of rain, while Woodstock receives 3 inches (77 mm) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberNew York City 57°F (14°C)Woodstock 53°F (12°C)
Should I visit New York City or Woodstock in the Winter?
Both Woodstock and New York City during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to New York City in the winter for the museums, the Christmas ambience, the shopping scene, the theater shows, and the cuisine.
Woodstock can be very cold during winter. New York City can get quite cold in the winter. In January, New York City is generally much warmer than Woodstock. Daily temperatures in New York City average around 31°F (-1°C), and Woodstock fluctuates around 25°F (-4°C).
New York City usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Woodstock. New York City gets 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain, while Woodstock receives 3.3 inches (83 mm) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryNew York City 31°F (-1°C)Woodstock 25°F (-4°C)
Should I visit New York City or Woodstock in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both New York City and Woodstock. Most visitors come to New York City for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months.
New York City is a little warmer than Woodstock in the spring. The daily temperature in New York City averages around 52°F (11°C) in April, and Woodstock fluctuates around 49°F (10°C).
In April, New York City usually receives around the same amount of rain as Woodstock. New York City gets 3.8 inches (98 mm) of rain, while Woodstock receives 3.7 inches (95 mm) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilNew York City 52°F (11°C)Woodstock 49°F (10°C)
Typical Weather for Woodstock and New York City
| New York City | Woodstock | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 31°F (-1°C) | 3.4 inches (86 mm) | 25°F (-4°C) | 3.3 inches (83 mm) |
| Feb | 33°F (1°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) | 28°F (-2°C) | 3.2 inches (81 mm) |
| Mar | 42°F (6°C) | 3.9 inches (98 mm) | 38°F (3°C) | 3.8 inches (97 mm) |
| Apr | 52°F (11°C) | 3.8 inches (98 mm) | 49°F (10°C) | 3.7 inches (95 mm) |
| May | 63°F (17°C) | 4.1 inches (105 mm) | 60°F (16°C) | 3.5 inches (89 mm) |
| Jun | 72°F (22°C) | 3.2 inches (82 mm) | 69°F (21°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) |
| Jul | 77°F (25°C) | 4.5 inches (114 mm) | 74°F (24°C) | 3.4 inches (87 mm) |
| Aug | 76°F (24°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 72°F (22°C) | 3.9 inches (100 mm) |
| Sep | 68°F (20°C) | 3.7 inches (93 mm) | 64°F (18°C) | 3.5 inches (90 mm) |
| Oct | 57°F (14°C) | 3.1 inches (78 mm) | 53°F (12°C) | 3 inches (77 mm) |
| Nov | 47°F (8°C) | 3.9 inches (99 mm) | 43°F (6°C) | 4.3 inches (110 mm) |
| Dec | 36°F (2°C) | 3.4 inches (88 mm) | 30°F (-1°C) | 4.1 inches (103 mm) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.