the USA on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
The USA on a budget is possible at about US$155 per person per day (bed US$70, food US$50, sights US$20, transport US$15) if you use hostels and motels, public transport and free sights. Flights, car hire and big-city hotels make it hard to go lower.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | US$70 | US$140 | US$300 |
| Food & drink | US$50 | US$90 | US$180 |
| Sights & tickets | US$20 | US$45 | US$90 |
| Local transport | US$15 | US$35 | US$90 |
| Per person, per day | US$155 | US$310 | US$660 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our the USA day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty
- Central Park, the High Line and the Brooklyn Bridge walk
- 9/11 Memorial pools
- Smithsonian museums and the monuments of the National Mall
- Bellagio fountains on the Las Vegas Strip
- Walking the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park
Cheap eats
- New York pizza slice, about US$4–6
- Food trucks and halal carts, about US$10–15
- Mission burrito in San Francisco, about US$12–16
- Diner breakfast, about US$12–18
- Supermarket deli sandwiches and salads, about US$8–12
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers use hostels in Manhattan and Brooklyn (about US$80–160 for a simple room, dorms less) and chain motels near the national parks and outside city centres. Booking early matters for Grand Canyon lodges and Tusayan motels.
Getting around cheaply
Use the New York subway (about US$3), Washington Metrorail (US$2–6) and San Francisco's BART, Muni and cable cars; BART from SFO costs about US$10–11. Amtrak links New York and Washington (from about US$30–80 booked early). Fly coast to coast, and hire a car only for the parks.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Central Park walk and the Staten Island Ferry (free)
- Lunch: Pizza slices, about US$10
- Afternoon: High Line and Chelsea Market browsing (free), subway about US$6
- Evening: Brooklyn Bridge at sunset (free) and a food-truck dinner, about US$15
- Total: about US$155 including a hostel bed
More ways to save
- Visit Washington's free museums and spend less in New York, where everything costs more.
- Buy an America the Beautiful annual pass (about US$80) if you will visit three or more national parks.
- Stay in Las Vegas midweek, when hotels are much cheaper.
- Factor tips (18–22%) and sales tax into every restaurant budget.
- Travel in spring or autumn shoulder seasons for lower hotel rates and comfortable weather.
- Bring a refillable bottle; tap water is safe everywhere.
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Common questions
Can you visit the USA on a budget?
Yes with care: about US$155 a day per person with hostels, public transport and free sights.
Is the national parks annual pass worth it?
Usually yes if you will visit three or more parks; it costs about US$80 per vehicle.
What are the best free things in New York?
The Staten Island Ferry, Central Park, the High Line, the Brooklyn Bridge and the 9/11 Memorial pools.