Boston On A Budget: 10 Ways To Save Money & Tips From My Trip
Boston has a reputation for being one of the most expensive cities in the United States — and after planning my own trip, I can confirm this is true. Hotels, parking, and dining can add up quickly, especially during the busy travel season.
The good news is that Boston does have some budget-friendly hacks. Thanks to its walkable neighborhoods, excellent public transportation, and abundance of free attractions, there are plenty of ways to experience the city without spending a fortune.
After spending a long weekend in Boston, these are the biggest money-saving tips I recommend, along with exactly what worked for us.
Tips For Visiting Boston On A Budget
There are some expenses that are difficult to avoid in Boston, so these tips won’t necessarily make Boston the cheapest destination. However, these can help offset some of those higher costs and leave more room in your budget for the things you really want to do.
Fill Your Itinerary With Free Attractions
One of the few money-saving advantages of visiting Boston is that many of the city’s most iconic attractions are completely free. You can easily spend an entire day exploring historic neighborhoods, beautiful parks, and Revolutionary War landmarks without purchasing a single ticket.
Rather than filling your itinerary with paid attractions, I recommend choosing one or two experiences you’re really excited about and building the rest of your trip around Boston’s many free sights. Some of my favorites include walking the Freedom Trail, exploring Beacon Hill and the North End, relaxing in Boston Common and the Public Garden, strolling along the Harborwalk, and visiting the Boston Public Library. For more ideas, check out my guide to the Best Free Things To Do In Boston.
It’s also worth checking for free museum admission days and seasonal events during your visit. Throughout the year, Boston hosts free concerts, outdoor movies, festivals, and community events that can add a lot to your trip without increasing your budget.
For me, this was probably the biggest reason Boston ending up feeling more affordable than I initially thought. We saw so many of the city’s highlights without spending anything.
Mix Restaurants With Markets & Grocery Stores
Dining out for every meal is one of the quickest ways to blow your budget in any U.S. city. Instead, I recommend mixing a few restaurant meals with grocery stores, markets, and casual cafes.
Spots like the Boston Public Market are a great stop for breakfast, lunch, or snacks. And local grocery stores are perfect for picking up pre-made meals before a day of sightseeing. I also like bringing a reusable water bottle and keeping a few snacks in my backpack so I don’t need to buy overpriced drinks and snacks throughout the day.
This approach lets you save your dining budget for one or two restaurants you’re really excited about instead of feeling guilty every time you grab a meal.
Dine Out For Lunch Instead Of Dinner
If there’s a restaurant you really want to try, consider visiting for lunch instead of dinner. Lunch menus are often less expensive, portions are still generous, and you’ll usually find shorter waits than during the dinner rush.
We like doing this when traveling because it leaves more room in the budget for sightseeing while still letting us experience some of the city’s nicer restaurants.
Walk As Much As Possible
Boston is one of the most walkable cities in the United States, and many of its top attractions are located surprisingly close together. Neighborhoods like Beacon Hill, the North End, Back Bay, and Downtown Crossing are all easy to explore on foot.
Walking not only saves money on transportation, but it’s also one of the best ways to experience the city. We loved wandering through the city’s parks parks and historic streets that we probably would’ve missed if we’d relied on rideshares.
Ride The MBTA
Boston’s public transportation system, the MBTA (or “The T”), is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get around the city when walking isn’t an option. The subway is perfect for reaching neighborhoods a little farther away, such as Cambridge, Fenway, or the Seaport.
If you’re flying into Logan Airport, you can also save money from the moment you arrive by taking the free Silver Line bus to South Station before connecting to the subway. It’s significantly cheaper than taking a taxi or rideshare and, depending on traffic, can be just as quick.
We only used the MBTA a handful of times during our trip, but it made visiting Cambridge incredibly easy and cost just a fraction of what we’d have spent on a rideshare.
Book With Hotel Points
If you collect hotel points through a travel rewards program or credit card, Boston is one of the best places to use them. Hotel prices can climb quickly throughout much of the year, especially during the summer travel season and major events.
Even redeeming points for one or two nights can significantly reduce the overall cost of your trip.
Book Lodging Outside Of Downtown
If you don’t have any points to spare, don’t be afraid to stay a little farther from the city center. Neighborhoods near Logan Airport or along an MBTA subway line often offer much better value while still providing quick access to downtown.
Areas like East Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, and Brookline are all worth considering depending on your itinerary. You’ll spend a little more time commuting each day, but the savings on accommodations can easily make up for it.
If you’re set on staying downtown, check out Hi Boston Hostel for inexpensive lodging in a central location.
I also recommend looking for hotels that include complimentary breakfast. As I mentioned above, Boston isn’t a cheap city to eat in, so starting each morning with a free meal can save quite a bit over the course of your trip.
Skip The Rental Car
Unless you’re combining Boston with a larger New England road trip, I don’t think renting a car is worth the expense. As I’ve mentioned above, Boston is incredibly walkable, and the MBTA makes it easy to reach neighborhoods that are farther from downtown.
A rental car also comes with several additional costs beyond the daily rate. Parking garages are expensive, traffic can be frustrating, and Boston’s narrow streets and confusing road layout aren’t exactly known for being visitor-friendly.
Instead, spend your transportation budget on the occasional subway ride and enjoy exploring the city on foot.
Use SpotHero If You’re Bringing A Car
If you’re driving into Boston, parking costs are going to be a factor. But one of the easiest ways to save in this department is by reserving your parking before you arrive. Prices vary widely throughout the city, and booking ahead through SpotHero can save you a significant amount compared to paying drive-up rates or hotel valet parking.
We drove to Boston as part of a larger New England road trip and reserved our parking in advance. Once the car was parked, we never used it again until it was time to leave.
Visit During Shoulder Season Or Off Season
Finally, if your travel dates are flexible, consider visiting during the shoulder seasons, such as late spring or early fall. The weather is still excellent for sightseeing, but you’ll usually find lower hotel prices and fewer crowds than during the peak summer months.
And if you can bear the cold, winter is a fantastic time to visit. Outside the holidays, prices are significantly lower this time of year and you can often find deals on attractions and things to do around the city.
It’s also important to double check Boston’s event calendar before booking your trip. Events will drive up the cost of hotels significantly.
How I Kept My Boston Trip Affordable
I spent a long weekend in Boston and initially found it challenging to plan a budget-friendly trip —which is exactly why I wanted to put this guide together. With a little planning, though, we were able to keep costs pretty low.
We visited in mid May, thinking we’d beat the busy summer travel season. Unfortunately, we unknowingly booked our trip during graduation weekend, and with so many universities in Boston, hotel prices were much higher than normal. We ended up using hotel points for a downtown stay after finding a good redemption, but our backup plan was to stay near the airport, where prices were much more reasonable.
Since we were already on a New England road trip, we drove into the city and reserved parking through SpotHero before arriving. Once the car was parked, we didn’t use it again until it was time to leave. We walked almost everywhere and used the MBTA when heading outside the downtown area.
But one of the biggest reasons we were able to keep our budget low was Boston’s incredible selection of free attractions. We spent most of our time exploring neighborhoods, walking through parks, following the Freedom Trail, and visiting historic sites that didn’t cost anything. That gave us plenty of room in the budget for one bigger activity: a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. It ended up being one of the highlights of the trip, and because we’d spent so little on other activities, the ticket price felt completely reasonable. I share exactly how we spent our time in my Boston Weekend Itinerary.
Finally, for meals, we treated ourselves to one nice dinner and a night out for drinks, but kept everything else simple by picking up groceries, pre-made meals, and snacks throughout the weekend. Our hotel didn’t include breakfast, but having groceries on hand each morning helped us save quite a bit while still eating well.
Boston may not be the cheapest city to visit, but with a little planning, it’s absolutely possible to experience the best of the city without overspending. I hope these tips help you save money and make the most of your time in Boston.
Any questions? Please leave a comment below or reach out on social media.
Looking for more ideas? Check out my additional Boston and Massachusetts guides below.
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