Miami is known for being an affluent playground for high-end sunseekers. But it can also be a surprisingly affordable destination for budget-conscious travelers. With the help of some seasonal planning and informed choices, visitors can still bask in Miami’s stunning beaches, diverse culinary scene, vibrant nightlife, and refreshing accommodations.
To experience the city on a budget, you’ll need to plan your visit from June through September, during peak hurricane, humidity, and hot weather. If that psyches you out, remember that hurricanes give plenty of warning before making landfall and Miami offers just as much air conditioning (if not more) than you’re used to at home.
Either way, your reward for visiting in summer are fewer crowds, considerably lower hotel rates, and better deals on everything. Think bougie for less.
A superior room at The Balfour.
Photo via The Balfour
Where to Stay
If money was no object, you’d do well to stay at either Fontainebleau or the InterContinental, which can command upwards of $500 a night during the winter season. But you can still get a great hotel for between $100-200 a night. Here are three in particular that accomplish just that:
Situated a few blocks from buzzy South Beach, summer-season rooms at The Balfour retail for $200 and are calming, warm, and tastefully tranquil. Free wifi, an outdoor pool, fitness center, and private garden all come standard. Staying here feels more luxe than it really costs.
For $150 a night, you can sleep among financial district high-rises and classy decor with pops of flamingo pink and Miami white. Located on Biscayne Bay, Novetel Miami Brickell features a rooftop pool, free wifi, and both sea and city views. Like The Balfour, you get more than you pay for while staying at the Novotel.
Located in downtown Miami near the beaches and bays, summer stays at Citizen M Miami can be had for $100 a night. Like all Citizen M’s, the rooms are quite compact but equally colorful. Despite its size, the hotel includes a rooftop pool, free wifi, and outstanding breakfast.
Honorable mention: the tiny but contemporary Meridian South Beach lets you live like a local for less than $100 per night.
Miami's iconic Ocean Drive.
Photo by Juan Pablo Mascanfroni on Unsplash
What to Do
You can see and do much of Miami without spending a lot. The most popular free attractions include the world-famous South Beach and adjacent Lummus Park, the vibrant and massive street murals of Wynwood Walls, and free museum days at the Pérez Art Museum, HistoryMiami, and the Wolfsonian. You’ll also find free outdoor concerts, film screenings, and other cultural events in various neighborhoods including Little Havana, Little Haiti, South Beach, Wynwood, Brickell, Bayfront Park, and Downtown.
For scenic strolls, be sure to check out Lincoln Road Mall, Ocean Drive, and Matheson Hammock Park. Although Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, or Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel aren’t free, all of them offer budget-friendly and scenic views of the city and its surrounding nature. For even more great outdoors, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and Crandon Park are popular for mangrove peeping, nature trails, and picnic areas.
As for cheap eats, food-by-the-pound spots like El Palacio de los Jugos offer affordable Cuban and Latin dishes in generous portions. In areas such as Little Havana and Downtown, street food vendors serve delicious and inexpensive empanadas, arepas, and Cuban sandwiches. From 4–7 pm, many restaurants and bars offer happy hour deals on discounted drinks and appetizers.
One of Miami's no-cost, on-demand Freebee vehicles
Photo via Freebee
Getting Around
Few cities in America have more free public transportation than Downtown Miami. An automated elevated train known as the Metromover connects major hotspots within the city’s core, including the Brickell Financial District, Museum Park area, and more. Throughout the tourist-heavy areas including Miami Beach, travelers can also ride old-fashioned looking but air-conditioned trolleys from 8 am to 11 pm everyday.
Miami offers free MetroConnect pickups and connections to 11 designated service zones, as well as Freebee electric vehicle rides to many areas in between. On top of that, you can quickly rent one of the many affordable CitiBikes throughout the city. And many of Miami’s most popular attractions are within walking distance on well-paved walkways, especially in popular areas like South Beach and Wynwood. However you choose to get around, navigating magnificent Miami can cost next to nothing.
Pro tip: For extra savings, consider flying into Fort Lauderdale then taking the Tri-Rail train to Miami.
