New York City: Money & Costs

• Currency

  Name

  US Dollar

  Symbol

  US$

  American banknotes (bills) often confuse visitors: they're all the same size and the same colour. Be especially careful not to hand over too much cash, and always check your change carefully. Be careful not to accept incomplete or severely torn notes, as they can be refused; small rips are usually not a problem. Bills come in denominations of 1, 2 (rare), 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars.

  Coins come in 1 (penny), 5 (nickel), 10 (dime), 25 (quarter) cent and 50 cent denominations; there is also a dollar coin.

• Changing Your Money

  Major credit and debit cards, including the Visa Cash Passport Card, are widely accepted. You can also access your bank account using US ATMs which are ubiquitous. Travellers cheques are easily converted to cash at any bank. You'll probably need to take your passport along to prove your identity.

• Money Tips

  If you camp or stay in hostels, catch buses and cook your own food, you could feasibly explore the country on around US$50 a day. Staying in motels and eating at modest cafes will mean you'll hit the US$100 mark, and enjoying the convenience of a rental car will push your daily budget up to US$150 .

• Sample Price Guide

  cup of coffee

  US$ 1.50

  hot dog

  US$ 1.75

  movie ticket

  US$ 10.50

  taxi ride from Midtown to the Upper West Side

  US$ 12.00

  small bottle of water

  US$ 1.50

  souvenir t-shirt

  US$ 10.00

  Yankees Bleachers ticket

  US$ 12.00

  pair of AG jeans

  US$ 160.00

  Protein shake from a juice bar

  US$ 4.50

  Subway ride

  US$ 2.00

  Average Room Prices
  Low	Mid	High
  US$0-150	US$150-350	US$350+
  Average Meal Prices
  Low	Mid	High	Deluxe
  US$5-10	US$10-20	US$20-35	US$35+

• Tipping

  Tipping is expected in restaurants, bars and better hotels, taxis, and by hairdressers and baggage carriers. In restaurants, wait staff are paid less than the minimum wage and rely upon tips to make a living. Tip at least 15% unless the service is terrible, in which case a light tip will get your point across. Most New Yorkers either tip a straight up 20%, or just double the 8.25% sales tax. At bars, bartenders typically expect a US$1.00 tip for every drink they serve (at preferred drinking spots, the old rule of fourth round free stands and decent tips help perpetuate that tradition). Never tip in fast-food, take-out or buffet-style restaurants where you serve yourself.

  Taxi drivers expect 10% and hairdressers 15% if their service is satisfactory. Baggage carriers (skycaps in airports, bellhops in hotels) receive US$1.00 for the first bag and US$0.50 for each additional bag. In 1st class and luxury hotels, tipping can reach ludicrous proportions - doormen, bellboys and parking attendants all expect to be tipped at least US$1.00 for each service performed - including simply opening a taxi door for you. (Business travellers should tip the cleaning staff US$5.00 a day.)

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