Affordable New York City Tip: The Metropolitan Museum of Art is free to members and children under 12 accompanied by an adult. Although there is a suggested contribution posted, you can pay what you wish, this fee includes both the Main Building and The Cloisters if visited on the same day. 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Affordable New York City Tip: The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is open late Fridays 4:30 PM to 8:15 PM, you can pay what you wish instead of the regular admission.

MoMA  

Affordable New York City Tip: The Guggenheim Museum is open from 10:00 AM to 5:45 PM, and closed every Thursday.  On Saturdays there is extended hours until 7:45 PM, and from 5:45 PM to closing it is Pay-What-You-Wish (PWYW).The museum is free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult. 

Guggenheim Museum - New York

Affordable New York City Tip: The museum is free to members and children under 12, Seniors and students receive a discount. Pay-What-You-Wish is every Thursday evening from 6:00 PM to closing.

Museum of Art and Design

Affordable New York City Tip: The following museums are free on Tuesdays from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Brooklyn Museum

Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum

American Museum of Natural History 

Whitney Museum of American Art