Cameron McNair CNBC
Watching the ball drop from the comfort of home is a common and inexpensive way to ring in the new year. But many Americans choose to dress up, party or travel to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
[El precio del combustible debe empezar a bajar a inicios de 2023]
New York is arguably the capital of the New Year, since the main American symbol of the holiday – the Times Square ball – lives and falls there. So it’s no surprise that the Big Apple ranks number one in the survey of WalletHub about the best cities to spend the New Year:
- NY
- Orlando, Florida
- Las Vegas
- San Francisco
- Atlanta
- Denver
- Washington D.C.
- Chicago
- The Angels
- Seattle
WalletHub ranked the 100 largest cities based on a number of factors, including the number of events, the availability of fireworks, music venues, and estimated costs.
[Nuevos datos muestran un freno leve a la inflación, pero los consumidores siguen pagando precios exorbitantes]
The majority of Americans (70%) plan to spend at least $50 on their New Year’s Eve plans, according to WalletHub. But those who want to party in one of the three largest cities – New York, Los Angeles and Chicago – can expect to pay an average of $865 for a dinner and show for two.
However, Irvine, California, beats those cities as the most expensive place to spend New Year’s Eve:
- Irvine, California
- Miami
- NY
- Honolulu
- New Orleans
- Seattle
- Oakland, California
- San Francisco
- Washington D.C.
- Henderson, Nevada
According to the survey, more than 80 million Americans plan to travel on New Year’s Eve, and almost half of them will do so by car.
Party-goers on a tight budget can head to one of the least expensive cities to celebrate, headlined by El Paso, Texas:
- El Paso, Texas
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Durham, North Carolina
- Plano, Texas
- Stockton, California
- Glendale, Arizona
- Lubbock, Texas
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Gilbert, Arizona
- Chandler, Arizona
Although several of the highest-rated cities are also on the most expensive list, the least expensive ones are not inherently less fun. El Paso, for example, ranks 19th overall.
Regardless of where you are ringing in the New Year, be sure to do so safely. New Year’s Day is the most dangerous of the year, with a 116% increase in drink-driving-related deaths, according to MoneyGeek. An Uber ride home can hurt your budget, but it can also save a life.