The author, Rebecca VanderKooi.
Courtesy of Rebecca VanderKooi
I moved to NYC this summer after graduating from college in small-town Michigan.
While the overall cost of living is, of course, higher, I was surprised to find eating out could be cheaper.
It also costs less to take the subway than to drive in Michigan, and access to great art at the Met is free.
I moved to New York City in May for work after I graduated from college in small-town Michigan. I quickly found that almost everything is more expensive in the city.
However, I have since realized that some things in New York City are cheaper than in my Michigan town. Here are five things I’m saving money on in New York.
1. A slice of pizza
New York is known for its pizza, and even with inflation and the rising costs of just about everything, you can still find a slice of cheese pizza for $1.
Where I lived in Michigan, buying a single piece of pizza wasn’t very common, and while, on average, a plain cheese pizza costs $7.63, paying $1 for a large slice is still a much better meal deal.
2. The cost of public transit compared to the price of gas
For a monthly unlimited-ride MetroCard to use on all public transit in New York City, it costs $127. Currently, the average gas price in Michigan is $3.82 a gallon. When in Michigan, I typically filled up my tank once a week, costing about $50 with the current gas price. The monthly total I would be spending on gas would be about $200, which is considerably more than the cost of an unlimited MetroCard.
3. Access to great art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the United States and the fourth-largest museum in the world. For any New York state residents, as well as New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut students, admission to the Met is pay-what-you-wish.
In Michigan, there aren’t as expansive museums, and the ones nearest to me had a set ticket price unless you were a member. For example, tickets for the Grand Rapids Art Museum are $10, and tickets to the Fredrick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park are $18. While these prices aren’t outrageous, paying what you wish is still a better deal.
4. Food in Chinatown
Being in a big city means there are many more food options than what I am accustomed to. While there are many expensive places to get food in NYC, there are also places throughout all the boroughs that are very affordable.
Chinatown is home to many fantastic and especially affordable options. For example, at Fried Dumpling, you can get five dumplings for $1.25 and 30 frozen dumplings for just $6. XO Restaurant is another one of many options in Chinatown where you can get an entire meal for under $10.
Where I lived in Michigan there weren’t many dining-out options to begin with, and other than fast food there wasn’t a variety of affordable options like in New York City. The one local Chinese restaurant wasn’t super expensive but most meals came out to about $15, which is quite a bit more than many of the restaurants in New York’s Chinatown.
5. Free events
In Michigan, there were occasional free events. However, living in a big city, there are many more free options that cater to a larger variety of people.
For example, this summer was the 60th year of Free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. This summer, the featured shows were “Richard III” and “As You Like It.” I’ve also found that Do NYC has a great ongoing list of free things in New York City for any taste, from climbing, to dancing, shows, film screenings, concerts, and more.
There is no doubt that New York City has a higher cost of living, but because it’s such a big city, there are also much more affordable food, transit, and entertainment options if you look for them.