Kamaron 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.
[The price of fuel should start to drop at the beginning of 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 WalletHub's survey of 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.
[New data shows inflation slowing slightly, but consumers still paying exorbitant prices]
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.
These migrants share what their wishes are for the year 2023
Dec 31, 202200:44
However, Irvine, California, beats those cities as the most expensive place to spend New Year's Eve:
Irvine, Calif.
Miami
NY
Honolulu
New Orleans
Seattle
Oakland, Calif.
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, Calif.
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.
