NEW York City is America’s most expensive city due to exorbitantly high cost of housing, transportation, and dining – but eating out doesn’t have to burn a hole in your wallet.
While living in the city will undoubtedly cost you a pretty penny, a young New Yorker proved that it’s possible to survive on a daily food budget of just $20.
A 27-year-old actor and content creator shared how he managed to survive a day in NYC on just $20[/caption]
Actor and Indian food influencer Aabir Vyas (@belikeeaabirr) documented his day in an episode of “Barely Surviving with Aabir” on Instagram, sharing how he managed to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in NYC for a day on just $20.
The 27-year-old aimed not only to make it through the day in New York City on such a limited budget, but also to make relatively healthy purchases that would help keep him full.
Vyas ended up spending $1 for five bananas and $3 for a whole wheat egg bagel for breakfast, then $2.29 on a cookies and cream protein bar from Trader Joe’s with 20 grams of protein for lunch as well as a coffee for $6.17.
Later in the day, the influencer helped to curb his appetite by drinking a $0.48 sparkling water from Trader Joe’s and eating his leftover bananas before heading to a meeting.
Vyas ended the day with a $7 dinner, a chicken and rice meal from a New York street cart, which brought his total spending to $19.94 – six cents under his $20 max.
Budget Bites: $20 for a day in the Big Apple
Actor and Indian food influencer Aabir Vyas managed to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in NYC for a day on just $20. Here’s what he bought:
Breakfast:
- Five bananas – $1
- Whole wheat egg bagel – $3
Lunch:
- Protein bar – $2.29
- Coffee – $6.17
Pick-me-up:
- Sparkling water – $0.48
Dinner:
- Chicken and rice meal – $7
Total spent: $19.94
DOLLAR DIET
The food influencer spoke exclusively with The U.S. Sun about his spending that day, including what inspired him to take on the challenge, how he decided what to spend his limited cash on, and what he would buy if he did it again.
Vyas was pushed to challenge himself to spend just $20 on food for a day for two key reasons: the low purchasing power of an American dollar as well as his former status as a student.
“Because I moved here from India, the rupee-to-dollar conversion always stays in the back of my mind, no matter how long I’ve been here,” he said.
The Indian rupee is valued at much less compared to the US dollar, so the savings he brought with him didn’t stretch as far in America.
Vyas said he is constantly thinking about how to get the most out of what he spends, with his cautious approach also driven by his student status upon his arrival to the city.
“I naturally looked at New York through that lens: how can a student survive in such an expensive city?” Vyas told The U.S. Sun.
A good chunk of his money went towards food each month, so he found that groceries and eating out were great places to make the most of each dollar.
A lot of that comes down to experience, Vyas said, which he took advantage of when planning out where he was going to spend his $20 to eat.
“For example, some vendors sell three or four bananas for $1, but I found others who give you five for the same price – and I know exactly where to find them,” he said.
US cities with the highest cost of living
- New York, NY
- San Francisco, CA
- Boston, MA
- San Jose, CA
- Honolulu, HI
- Washington, DC
- Seattle, WA
- San Diego, CA
- Miami, FL
- Los Angeles, CA
Source: Visual Capitalist
The same goes for his breakfast of a bagel with eggs, successfully bringing the $4 price down to $3 after telling the vendor that’s all he had in cash.
“Even with halal carts, some charge $11 to 12 for the same plate, but I figured out the ones near Union Square are cheaper,” said the content creator.
“It all comes down to being smart, observant, and learning through experience.”
Vyas said that, even though the Big Apple is known for its high prices, he believes that New Yorkers can easily survive on a $20 daily food budget by combining both cooking and eating out.
“Simple things like eggs, bagels, or sandwiches are easy to make yourself, and you can still eat out while staying under $20,” he said.
When Vyas first took on the $20 challenge, many Instagram users were impressed with his ability to survive on such a meager budget, while others were critical of his move to spend over $6 on coffee.
It all comes down to being smart, observant, and learning through experience.”
Aabir Vyas
The food influencer admitted that, were he to repeat the challenge, he would probably spend a little less on coffee and buy a $1.50 cart coffee along with a $3 bagel for breakfast.
For lunch, Vyas would go with two slices of pizza for $1.50 each and still have enough money left over for Chipotle at dinner.
WALLET WISDOM
For those looking to make Vyas’ day of budgeting into an everyday reality, there are several simple switches you can make.
The U.S. Sun spoke to Jamie Wall, personal finance strategist at Gamblizard, who shared his five top tips to cut your eating-out costs in a major city like Manhattan.
1. Early “dine-out”
Wall first suggested that foodies in pricey metropolitan areas opt to eat out during lunchtime rather than dinnertime in order to save a couple of bucks.
He noted that while lunch feels like the same meal as dinner just at a different time, it may cost you much more.
A $24 ramen bowl in NYC might be $12 at noon, for example, he said.
“Yes, you’ll have to shift your social meals earlier in the day, but if you make lunch your main ‘dine-out’ and cook or snack at home for dinner, you can cut your monthly eating-out budget by 30-50%,” said Wall.
2. Neighborhood swaps
Wall also advised Americans living in areas with a high cost of living to take advantage of the fact that a significantly cheaper meal may be just a bus ride or subway stop away.
The same city can have “wildly different prices” in different neighborhoods, he explained.
For example, in San Francisco’s Mission area, a burrito is $10 to $12, while the same meal at the Ferry Building will run you $20 or more.
In New York City, a noodle bowl in Chinatown will cost you $8, while a salad in Midtown is about $18.
“Commit to cheaper enclaves like Chinatown, Queens food courts, or Little Saigon for meeting with friends,” said Wall. “Eating out is still ‘out,’ but you’re paying neighborhood prices, not tourist prices.”
3. Loyalty programs and app deals
Another easy way to stack up the savings when eating out is to take advantage of loyalty rewards, as these can add up fast.
Sweetgreen, Cava, and other local food chains often hand out $10 sign-up credits, said Wall.
The expert also noted that delivery apps flood new users with promo codes, although consumers should be cautious of the delivery fees and tips that tack on extra costs.
“The pro move? Always use pickup. A $12 salad stays $12 instead of ballooning to $18 with fees,” he said.
4. Grocery-store meals instead of eating out
For those who like the convenience of eating out but not the price tag associated, Wall suggested sticking to more affordable restaurant alternatives such as hot bars, delis, and grab-and-go sushi.
How to cut the cost of your grocery shop
BELOW are some tips on how to reduce the amount you spend on groceries.
- Write yourself a list – Only buy items that you need. If it isn’t on your list, don’t put it in the trolley
- Create a budget – Work out a weekly budget for your food shopping
- Never shop hungry – You are far more likely to buy more food if your tummy is rumbling
- Don’t buy pre-chopped veggies or fruit – The extra they’ll charge for chopping can be eye watering
- Use social media – Follow your favourite retailers to find out about the latest deals
- Be disloyal – You may want to go to different stores to find the best bargains
- Check the small print – It’s always worth checking the price per kg/lb/litre when comparing offers so you’re making a like for like decision as a bigger box won’t necessarily mean you get more
- Use your loyalty cards – Don’t be afraid to sign up to them all. They all work slightly differently – work out what bonus suits you better and remember to trade in your points for additional rewards
“Think $7 to $10 for a filling box at Whole Foods or a $4 burrito from Trader Joe’s,” he said, admitting that while these options are cheaper, they lack the ambiance of a restaurant and the quality may vary.
“So find your places, swap just half your sit-down meals with grocery-prepared food, and you save hundreds each month,” said the expert.
5. Frozen meals instead of delivery
Another affordable and time-saving alternative to eating out is to incorporate frozen meals into your weekly eats, a strategy that Wall called convenient and cheap.
“Frozen dumplings and curries from Trader Joe’s or even IKEA’s famous meatballs with mashed potatoes can cost $4 to $6 per serving – a real jackpot compared to a takeout order,” said Wall.
By stocking up on tasty frozen meals, you still get the instant convenience of takeout, he said.
“Eating frozen meals just three times a week, you can save more than $150 a month without feeling deprived,” said the expert.
Cutting back on eating out isn’t the only way to save money on food.
One savvy shopper, for example, saved over $100,000 in 10 years by “extreme couponing.”
Plus, a retail expert previously shared three easy tips to save at checkout with The U.S. Sun amid rising grocery prices.
Vyas broke down the cost of each food item he purchased in an Instagram reel as well as his total spending for the day[/caption]
In total, Vyas spent $19.94 on eating out for the day in NYC[/caption]
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