Under $100: New York City

New York City is surely one of a kind, and there is no other city quite like it. While it’s often known as the City That Never Sleeps, the Big Apple, the City of Dreams, the Concrete Jungle, among many other names, it’s also known for being expensive — very expensive.

While it’s easy to drop cash, we sometimes forget the city does offer plenty of cheap fun. If you’re strapped for cash or don’t enjoy spending your life savings every time you venture outside your shoe-box apartment, this is for you.

Spend your morning indulging in the best meal ever created: brunch. Eat at Mother’s Ruin, a peaceful respite from Soho’s shopping-bag-toting women, which offers brunch every day of the week. The light-filled Nolita bar feels especially welcoming during the day when it’s scarcely populated, giving off a friendly neighborhood vibe. The food is cheap but filling. Try the chicken and waffles for $13, or the B.E.C, grilled tomato, bacon, fontina cheese, basil, fried egg and sambal on a croissant for $10. Save room for expertly crafted cocktails like the daily special of tequila, lime and blood-orange jam.

Williamsburg Bridge © Ryan Deberardinis | Dreamstime

After brunch, take a trip to Governor’s Island. Open May 1-Oct. 1, the 172-acre island is located just off Manhattan and is one of the best places in the city. Walk, bike, learn about the Revolution War history or lounge in Hammock Grove — a grove of hammocks. The island is filled with a diverse array of arts, cultural and educational organizations and new recreational activities. If you take the Manhattan ferry at 10, 11 or 11:30 a.m., or the 11 or 11:30 a.m. ferry from Brooklyn’s Pier 6, you’ll ride for free. Otherwise, it’s a $2 round-trip ferry fare.

After you head back into the city, spend the afternoon at the Bronx Zoo. Visit exhibits to meet animals from the African plains or the Congo gorilla forest. If you’re looking for something to do on a Wednesday, this is the place to be since it’s free. Otherwise, adults over 13 pay $36.95 for a ticket.

Campbells Soup Cans by Andy Warhol, Museum of Modern Art © Carlos Neto | Dreamstime

If animals aren’t your thing, stop by the Museum of Modern Art to check out the latest exhibitions. MoMA has two locations, one in Midtown Manhattan and Queens. In Midtown, tickets for adults are $25 while student tickets are $14, and in Queens, adult tickets are $10 while students are $5. Admission to MoMA is free for all visitors every Friday night, 4-8 p.m., while admission to MoMA PS1 is free for all NYC residents.

What a better way to end a long day then hitting up happy hour. Stop by Home Sweet Home, just outside of Little Italy, for cheap and delicious $3 happy hour brews. Then for dinner, head a few blocks over to Vanessa’s Dumplings for dumplings that run $1.25–6 or a sesame pancake sandwich with vegetables for $2.79.