New York City, Since 2008
CheapInTheCity started as a scrappy NYC blog for people trying to figure out how to actually afford life in New York City. Back then it was tips about cheap eats in Brooklyn and how to negotiate rent. A lot has changed since then.
We relaunched as a free suite of financial calculators and curated lists built specifically for people living in expensive cities who are tired of generic financial advice that has nothing to do with their actual lives. The name stayed the same because the mission stayed the same: help people make smarter money decisions without the nonsense.
We are economists and technologists who live in New York City. Being cheap in this city is basically a full-time job. The rent is absurd. The broker fees are criminal. Student loans are a daily reminder that 22-year-old us had no concept of compound interest. And every time we try to make a real financial decision, we end up on some bloated website that takes 45 seconds to load, throws four pop-ups at you, and then tells us to consult a financial advisor.
So we built something better.
Built for the Reality of Living Here
The calculators here were built by people who understand the math and who actually live with New York City's costs every day. Not just the surface formulas but the assumptions underneath them. We wanted tools that reflect how this city actually works: the 40x rule, broker fees, MTA passes, the real cost of a car in a city where parking costs more than rent in most of America.
We also put together honest lists of free resources, deals, and money-saving options across all five boroughs. Free pools, free yoga, free tours, no-fee checking accounts. Because surviving New York financially is not just about the math. Sometimes it is about knowing where to look.
Everything here is free. No email required. No upsells. No "upgrade to see your results." The numbers you enter stay in your browser. We do not see them, store them, or care about them. We just want the tools to work.
A Few Things We Believe
Instant is the only acceptable speed
All calculations happen in your browser. No servers, no waiting, no loading spinners.
Your data is yours
We never collect, store, or transmit the financial numbers you enter. They never leave your device.
Plain English, always
If we can't explain a result in plain language, we haven't understood it well enough ourselves.
No dark patterns
No pop-ups, no countdown timers, no fake urgency, no pre-checked boxes. Ever.
Free means free
There is no premium tier. There is no feature gating. Everything works, for everyone, always.
NYC-native perspective
We live here. The tools reflect the reality of city life: 40x rent rules, broker fees, MTA costs, and all.