5 Reasons New York City Has Become Unaffordable for Middle-Class Travelers
Written by
Emily Fowler
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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New York City has long been a must-visit destination with a long list of popular tourist attractions, from the iconic Empire State Building to the magic of a Broadway show. For many middle-class travelers looking to plan a vacation, however, the city is slipping out of reach.
Sky-high hotel prices, rising transit costs and inflation have turned what was once a reasonably accessible trip into a real budget-buster.
Here are five reasons middle-class travelers might struggle to afford a trip to the Big Apple.
Also see five U.S. cities where it costs too much to dine out on vacation.
Hotel Prices Are High
Finding an affordable place to stay in New York City can be tough for visitors. The average cost of a hotel room in September 2024 was $417, according to The New York Times, making it the highest room rate recorded by real estate analytics company CoStar.
The city’s strict regulations and requirements for short-term rentals like Airbnb have only made things worse. With fewer options for lower budgets, travelers have a choice between paying inflated hotel prices or staying far outside the city and spending money on transportation back in to see the sights.
Transportation Costs Keep Climbing
Getting around the city isn’t cheap. Taxi fares from the John F. Kennedy International Airport to Manhattan jumped to $70 in 2022, up from $52, though they haven’t increased since.
Public transport costs also continue to rise, with cost of a single subway ticket expected to go up to $3 this year, as reported by Fox 5. Even with the higher fares, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has its own financial woes, with a budget gap of $33.4 billion as of February 2025, according to the New York City Independent Budget Office.
This means subway and bus fares are likely to keep rising while service remains unreliable, making it harder to rely on public transit and forcing more visitors to spend extra on taxis and ride-shares, which aren’t much better. An Uber from Manhattan to Brooklyn is, on average, $40, per Uber.
Inflation Has Made Everything More Expensive
Everyday expenses have skyrocketed pretty much everywhere, and New York is one of the places where it’s hitting the hardest. According to the Office of the New York City Comptroller, the inflation rate across the New York metro region was 4.3% in February 2025 compared with the national rate of 2.9%.
The impact on everything from coffee to cocktails to a restaurant dinner makes it harder for middle-class travelers to experience the city without blowing their budgets.
Attractions Are Pricing Out Visitors
Like many tourist hotspots facing rising costs, many New York City attractions have raised their prices, which can make it harder to experience the sights without spending a small fortune.
General admission to the Empire State Building now starts at $44 for adults, and dynamic pricing was introduced earlier this year. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is still a pay-as-you-wish attraction for New York State residents, but it costs $30 for out-of-state visitors.
Congestion Charges Were Implemented
NYC’s congestion pricing plan went live in January, charging drivers to enter parts of Manhattan. While intended to ease traffic, it adds yet another cost for visitors who rely on personal vehicles.
Even those using rental cars or ride-shares could feel the impact if companies pass the cost on to customers.​
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