Times Square might be the most famous destination in the U.S. for ringing in the new year, but it's also extremely expensive. Local businesses in NYC – and many other famous locales across the U.S. – are notorious for hiking up their prices when big crowds are in town for a major event. That’s especially true for hotels, which can experience price increases of several hundred percent over the rest of the year. The last thing you want to do in the final hours of 2023 is wreck your finances over one night of festivities.
Fortunately, you have plenty of fun yet affordable options for celebrating New Year’s Eve. To help you decide where to count down to the new year, WalletHub compared the 100 biggest cities based on 26 key indicators of an epic New Year’s Eve celebration. Our data set ranges from the legality of fireworks and the nightlife options per capita to food affordability and forecasted precipitation for Dec. 31.
In addition, if you’re curious to know how much cash Americans plan to blow this New Year’s Eve or what makes this festive holiday so festive, make sure to check out WalletHub’s “50+ New Year’s Eve Facts – Traditions, Spending & More” infographic.
Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst
Main Findings
Best Cities for New Year’s Eve
Overall Rank | City | Total Score | Entertainment & Food Rank | Costs Rank | Safety & Accessibility Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Orlando, FL | 71.88 | 1 | 66 | 74 |
2 | San Diego, CA | 69.70 | 3 | 78 | 29 |
3 | New York, NY | 68.10 | 6 | 91 | 19 |
4 | Las Vegas, NV | 67.71 | 7 | 77 | 46 |
5 | Atlanta, GA | 67.03 | 8 | 68 | 66 |
6 | Miami, FL | 66.50 | 2 | 86 | 88 |
7 | Los Angeles, CA | 66.23 | 4 | 89 | 59 |
8 | Chicago, IL | 65.81 | 5 | 92 | 48 |
9 | Denver, CO | 64.86 | 12 | 46 | 83 |
10 | Washington, DC | 63.22 | 11 | 96 | 33 |
11 | San Francisco, CA | 62.72 | 9 | 98 | 56 |
12 | Louisville, KY | 62.57 | 22 | 39 | 40 |
13 | Pittsburgh, PA | 62.11 | 26 | 21 | 10 |
14 | Philadelphia, PA | 61.49 | 13 | 81 | 70 |
15 | San Antonio, TX | 61.03 | 17 | 40 | 91 |
16 | Seattle, WA | 59.99 | 10 | 99 | 69 |
17 | Houston, TX | 59.40 | 16 | 45 | 96 |
18 | Nashville, TN | 59.23 | 15 | 84 | 73 |
19 | Birmingham, AL | 58.80 | 24 | 28 | 87 |
20 | Anaheim, CA | 58.44 | 27 | 52 | 34 |
21 | Cincinnati, OH | 58.37 | 33 | 15 | 60 |
22 | Buffalo, NY | 57.93 | 29 | 51 | 41 |
23 | Indianapolis, IN | 57.54 | 38 | 13 | 61 |
24 | Tampa, FL | 57.40 | 23 | 70 | 72 |
25 | Santa Ana, CA | 57.31 | 43 | 22 | 15 |
26 | Austin, TX | 57.25 | 19 | 76 | 85 |
27 | New Orleans, LA | 57.15 | 14 | 88 | 92 |
28 | Reno, NV | 57.13 | 41 | 31 | 16 |
29 | Tucson, AZ | 56.89 | 28 | 26 | 80 |
30 | Dallas, TX | 56.85 | 18 | 69 | 97 |
31 | Jacksonville, FL | 56.37 | 39 | 32 | 44 |
32 | Baltimore, MD | 56.37 | 30 | 61 | 55 |
33 | St. Louis, MO | 55.99 | 21 | 44 | 100 |
34 | Boston, MA | 55.77 | 25 | 94 | 22 |
35 | Scottsdale, AZ | 55.73 | 35 | 58 | 54 |
36 | Minneapolis, MN | 55.61 | 37 | 65 | 37 |
37 | St. Petersburg, FL | 55.17 | 40 | 50 | 53 |
38 | Lincoln, NE | 54.97 | 71 | 20 | 1 |
39 | El Paso, TX | 54.54 | 58 | 2 | 50 |
40 | Phoenix, AZ | 54.34 | 31 | 54 | 86 |
41 | Honolulu, HI | 54.11 | 32 | 95 | 9 |
42 | Cleveland, OH | 54.01 | 44 | 25 | 67 |
43 | Charlotte, NC | 53.78 | 36 | 72 | 47 |
44 | Virginia Beach, VA | 53.56 | 67 | 6 | 12 |
45 | Portland, OR | 52.77 | 20 | 90 | 95 |
46 | Omaha, NE | 52.69 | 54 | 30 | 25 |
47 | Columbus, OH | 52.13 | 49 | 47 | 52 |
48 | Milwaukee, WI | 52.03 | 45 | 56 | 68 |
49 | Raleigh, NC | 51.94 | 51 | 75 | 5 |
50 | Riverside, CA | 51.79 | 48 | 60 | 35 |
51 | Sacramento, CA | 51.73 | 34 | 83 | 64 |
52 | Fort Worth, TX | 51.60 | 50 | 18 | 84 |
53 | Greensboro, NC | 51.25 | 68 | 7 | 45 |
54 | Boise, ID | 51.09 | 69 | 41 | 13 |
55 | Colorado Springs, CO | 50.88 | 63 | 29 | 36 |
56 | Wichita, KS | 50.84 | 62 | 9 | 63 |
57 | Long Beach, CA | 50.70 | 46 | 79 | 20 |
58 | Oklahoma City, OK | 50.64 | 53 | 38 | 65 |
59 | Fort Wayne, IN | 50.49 | 89 | 1 | 17 |
60 | Detroit, MI | 50.12 | 42 | 55 | 93 |
61 | Durham, NC | 49.96 | 75 | 16 | 26 |
62 | Tulsa, OK | 49.87 | 59 | 5 | 90 |
63 | Plano, TX | 49.85 | 72 | 11 | 39 |
64 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | 49.64 | 77 | 36 | 4 |
65 | Henderson, NV | 49.13 | 73 | 43 | 11 |
66 | Arlington, TX | 48.95 | 66 | 10 | 79 |
67 | Baton Rouge, LA | 48.80 | 56 | 33 | 81 |
68 | Madison, WI | 48.56 | 64 | 73 | 18 |
69 | Toledo, OH | 48.25 | 80 | 23 | 21 |
70 | St. Paul, MN | 48.09 | 70 | 57 | 38 |
71 | Kansas City, MO | 48.01 | 55 | 42 | 89 |
72 | Irvine, CA | 47.99 | 47 | 97 | 2 |
73 | San Jose, CA | 47.25 | 65 | 74 | 28 |
74 | Fresno, CA | 46.69 | 76 | 34 | 51 |
75 | Memphis, TN | 46.37 | 61 | 14 | 98 |
76 | Corpus Christi, TX | 45.92 | 78 | 27 | 71 |
77 | Chandler, AZ | 45.87 | 85 | 37 | 24 |
78 | Bakersfield, CA | 45.17 | 74 | 49 | 77 |
79 | Winston-Salem, NC | 44.61 | 86 | 48 | 27 |
80 | Gilbert, AZ | 44.58 | 95 | 4 | 6 |
81 | Mesa, AZ | 44.49 | 83 | 59 | 31 |
82 | Oakland, CA | 44.40 | 57 | 93 | 57 |
83 | Norfolk, VA | 44.29 | 79 | 67 | 43 |
84 | Jersey City, NJ | 44.14 | 87 | 63 | 3 |
85 | Glendale, AZ | 44.07 | 81 | 3 | 82 |
86 | Chesapeake, VA | 43.90 | 92 | 35 | 7 |
87 | Lubbock, TX | 43.47 | 84 | 24 | 75 |
88 | Stockton, CA | 42.62 | 94 | 19 | 49 |
89 | Irving, TX | 42.33 | 93 | 17 | 58 |
90 | Garland, TX | 41.89 | 99 | 8 | 42 |
91 | Albuquerque, NM | 41.83 | 52 | 80 | 99 |
92 | Newark, NJ | 41.60 | 90 | 53 | 62 |
93 | San Bernardino, CA | 41.57 | 60 | 82 | 94 |
94 | Aurora, CO | 41.37 | 91 | 12 | 76 |
95 | Anchorage, AK | 41.26 | 82 | 62 | 78 |
96 | Laredo, TX | 39.19 | 98 | 64 | 14 |
97 | Chula Vista, CA | 38.01 | 96 | 85 | 8 |
98 | Fremont, CA | 36.48 | 100 | 71 | 23 |
99 | Hialeah, FL | 34.74 | 88 | 100 | 30 |
100 | North Las Vegas, NV | 33.62 | 97 | 87 | 32 |
Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of each city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that category.
In-Depth Look at the Best New Year’s Eve Cities
Orlando, FL
Orlando, FL is the best city for ringing in the new year - and it’s also one of the most frequently visited during the holiday. Whether you want to experience the holiday at a breathtaking destination like Disney World or just at a house or hotel, Orlando has you covered. The city ranks first when it comes to nightlife options and affordable restaurants rated 4.5+ stars, so you can enjoy some fun and a good meal before 2024 arrives.
Of course, you can’t talk about New Year’s Eve without mentioning fireworks. Orlando has some of the longest fireworks displays in the country, and consumer fireworks are legal, so people can set up their own shows. In addition, the city has the most party supply stores and second highest number of gourmet specialty-food stores in the nation (per the square root of the population).
San Diego, CA
San Diego is the second-best city for New Year’s Eve celebrations overall and the top destination on the west coast. San Diego is known for its mild weather, and it’s the place to be if you want clear skies so you can appreciate an outdoor get-together and fireworks show. The city has the lowest chance of precipitation on New Year’s Eve.
If you want to go out to a restaurant on New Year’s Eve, San Diego has a lot of great choices, and it’s tied with Orlando when it comes to the availability of affordable restaurants rated at least 4.5 stars. San Diego residents also seem to have a lot of interest in the holiday – the city has some of the highest Google search frequencies for terms like “New Year’s Eve party,” “New Year’s Eve dinner” and “New Year’s Eve concerts.” There’s certainly no shortage of places to spend the holiday, from the San Diego Zoo to the Old Globe theater.
New York, NY
It’s a bit surprising that New York City comes in at third place among the best cities for New Year’s Eve, given the fact that its ball drop event is probably the most iconic celebration of the holiday anywhere. This event is attended in person by around a million people and watched live by around a billion. What stops New York from being the best city overall is the price – celebrations are a lot less affordable than in the top two cities.
Other than the cost, New York combines all of the best features you need for a good New Year’s Eve celebration. It’s at the top when it comes to affordable quality restaurants, nightlife options and music venues. It also has long fireworks shows.
- Lowest
- 1. Indianapolis, IN
- 2. Reno, NV
- 3. Fort Worth, TX
- 4. Kansas City, MO
- 5. Austin, TX
- Highest
- 89. Boston, MA
- 90. Baltimore, MD
- 91. Seattle, WA
- 92. Philadelphia, PA
- 93. Detroit, MI
- Lowest
- 1. Houston, TX
- 2. Lexington-Fayette, KY
- 3. Tulsa, OK
- 4. Oklahoma City, OK
- 5. Wichita, KS
- Highest
- 96. Chicago, IL
- 97. San Bernardino, CA
- 98. Hialeah, FL
- T-99. Las Vegas, NV
- T-99. Honolulu, HI
- Most
- T-1. Las Vegas, NV
- T-1. Chicago, IL
- T-1. San Francisco, CA
- T-1. New York, NY
- T-1. New Orleans, LA
- T-1. Orlando, FL
- Fewest
- 96. Irving, TX
- 97. Hialeah, FL
- 98. Fremont, CA
- 99. Irvine, CA
- 100. Garland, TX
- Most
- T-1. Miami, FL
- T-1. Chicago, IL
- T-1. Houston, TX
- T-1. San Francisco, CA
- T-1. Los Angeles, CA
- T-1. Orlando, FL
- Fewest
- 96. Chula Vista, CA
- 97. Laredo, TX
- 98. Garland, TX
- 99. San Bernardino, CA
- 100. North Las Vegas, NV
- Most
- 1. Orlando, FL
- 2. Honolulu, HI
- 3. St. Louis, MO
- 4. Tampa, FL
- 5. Pittsburgh, PA
- Fewest
- 96. New York, NY
- 97. Gilbert, AZ
- 98. Fremont, CA
- 99. Chesapeake, VA
- 100. North Las Vegas, NV
Ask the Experts
New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest holidays in the U.S. — with millions of Americans traveling for the holiday every year. We asked a panel of experts to share their travel and spending wisdom regarding this holiday. Click on the experts’ profiles to read their bios and thoughts on the following key questions:
- What factors should people consider when choosing whether and where to travel for New Year's Eve?
- What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for New Year's?
- What are the biggest New Year's Eve money-wasters?
- New Year's Eve falls on a Sunday this year. How does holiday timing affect people’s spending and travel plans?
New Year’s Eve Tips
- Host a potluck: Opt for a cost-effective celebration by organizing a potluck-style event where each guest contributes a dish. This not only diversifies the menu but also shares the financial burden among attendees.
- Set a budget and take advantage of free activities: Avoid straining your finances in the new year by setting a strict budget if you decide to go out. Look for local events or free public celebrations, such as fireworks displays or concerts, offering a festive atmosphere without excessive spending.
- Plan ahead for transportation: If venturing out, plan your transportation ahead of time. Consider carpooling with friends or utilizing public transportation. For those planning to consume alcohol, arrange for a designated driver to ensure safety, as New Year's Eve sees an increase in drunk driving accidents.
- Be safe if you use fireworks: While some cities permit residents to buy fireworks, handling them can be perilous. Exercise caution, especially when intoxicated, and consider enjoying public displays instead for a safer experience.
- Be flexible with your travel: Save money on travel by using budget-friendly sites that require you to be flexible when it comes to travel dates and accommodations. For instance, some platforms offer lower prices with the condition that you won't know the specific hotel until after payment. Planning ahead months in advance can also yield savings, although prices still may be higher for New Year’s stays compared to travel during the rest of the year, especially in major cities.
Ask the Experts
Methodology
In order to determine the best spots for celebrating New Year’s Eve, WalletHub compared the 100 most populated U.S. cities across three key dimensions: 1) Entertainment & Food, 2) Costs and 3) Safety & Accessibility.
We evaluated those dimensions using 26 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for New Year’s Eve partiers. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we used the square root of the population to calculate the population size to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.
Finally, we determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case, excluding cities in the surrounding metro area.
Entertainment & Food – Total Points: 50
- New Year’s Eve Popularity: Double Weight (~7.69 Points)
- Legality of Fireworks: Full Weight (~3.85 Points)
- Duration of 2023 Fireworks Show: Full Weight (~3.85 Points)
Note: “Duration” was measured in minutes. - Google Search Interest for “New Year’s Eve Celebration”: Full Weight (~3.85 Points)
Note: This metric measures the real intent of the population to find information about “New Year’s Eve events”, “New Year’s Eve concerts”, “New Year’s Eve performances”, “New Year’s Eve party” and “New Year’s Eve dinner”. “Real intent” is measured using the average monthly search volumes for those specific terms. - Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.85 Points)
- Average Ranking of Restaurants on Yelp’s “Top 100 Places to Eat in the U.S.” List: Full Weight (~3.85 Points)
- Availability of Luxury Shopping & Gourmet Food: Half Weight (~1.92 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of jewelry shops per capita* and the number of gourmet specialty food stores per capita*. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Shops per Capita*: Half Weight (~1.92 Points)
- Party Supply Stores per Capita*: Half Weight (~1.92 Points)
- Nightlife Options per Capita*: Full Weight (~3.85 Points)
- Music Venues per Capita*: Half Weight (~1.92 Points)
- General Fun: Triple Weight (~11.54 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s "Most Fun Cities in America” ranking.
Costs – Total Points: 30
- Availability of Affordable Fine Dining: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: “Fine Dining” includes restaurants rated 4.5 stars or higher. - Average Alcoholic Beverage Price: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: “Beverage” refers to wine and cocktails. - Taxi-Fare Cost: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Restaurant-Meal Costs: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Lowest Price per Three-Star Hotel Room on New Year’s Eve: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
- Grooming Costs: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Note: This metric measures beauty salon and haircut costs.
Safety & Accessibility – Total Points: 20
- Walkability: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Traffic Congestion: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Share of Delayed Flights: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Neighborhood Security: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric measures the crime rate. - Car Theft Rate: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- DUI-Related Fatalities per Capita: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Note: This metric considers incidents recorded in December. - Pedestrian Fatality Rate: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
- Forecasted Precipitation for Dec. 31: Full Weight (~2.50 Points)
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, Priceline, American Pyrotechnics Association, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Walk Score, AccuWeather, Kayak, Expatistan, Yelp, Numbeo, Google Ads, Local tourism offices, INRIX, TripAdvisor and WalletHub research.
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