Where to Get the Best Pizza Slice in NYC under $5 in 2026
A long-time staple of New York City's pizza culture is affordability. A long-standing tradition in New York City has been the convenience and affordability of grabbing a quick slice of pizza—delicious, inexpensive, and accessible almost anywhere in the city. Although the legend of the dollar slice has mostly come and gone, there are still many budget-friendly options for pizza throughout all five boroughs. In 2026, you will still be able to find excellent slices of pizza for under five dollars if you know where to go. Below is your complete guide to the best affordable pizza options in the city.
The End of the Dollar Slice Era in 2026
Although the dollar slice officially disappeared in March 2023 when the famous 2 Bros. Pizza chain raised the price of its last remaining dollar slice from $1 to $1.50 on St. Marks Place, the spirit of extremely affordable pizza lives on. Budget slices today typically range in price from $1.50 to $2.25, which is still a fantastic bargain compared to the average slice of pizza found in New York City today, which usually costs between $3.00 and $3.75. To maintain such thin profit margins, many of these budget establishments produce high volume using electric ovens; some of them produce up to 400 pizzas daily. In addition, many of these budget establishments operate 24/7 in order to generate as much income as possible, especially during late night hours when there is little competition.
The Best Options for Affordable Pizza Under $3
2 Bros. Pizza is the most well-known name in cheap NYC pizza. There are six 2 Bros. Pizza locations in NYC: one in the Bronx and five in Manhattan, and each of these locations sells plain cheese slices for $1.50. The original East Village location of 2 Bros. Pizza, located on St. Marks Place, was the first store to open in 2008 and began offering $1 slices as an opening promotion and decided to keep the pricing at $1.50 instead of raising the price back to normal. A combo deal of two slices and a soda costs $3.99 at 2 Bros. and is an attractive option for tourists and office workers. (Tasting Table)
$1.50 Fresh Pizza lives up to its name with multiple locations in Manhattan. Most of the $1.50 Fresh Pizzastores are clustered near the theater district and on the east side of Manhattan. Office workers buy slices here during the day and actors buy slices here after shows. College students also buy slices at the downtown locations near NYU because they are affordable. Customers have praised the freshness of $1.50 Fresh Pizza, saying the pizza does not get soggy quickly, and that the cheese to crust ratio is perfect.
99 Cent Fresh Pizza is another popular option for affordable pizza near Bryant Park. Although the store does not sell pizza for 99 cents anymore, customers rave about the affordable options available here. The original 99 Cent Fresh Pizza opened in 2001 with a mission to provide free pizza to the homeless population in New York City. Today, 99 Cent Fresh Pizza sells slices of pizza for approximately $1.50 and the combo of two slices and a drink costs $2.75, the same price as a single subway fare. 99 Cent Fresh Pizza is a popular lunch destination for office workers in Midtown, and many of these workers love going to this store because they receive fast service and great quality.
Excellent Value Between $3 and $5
Joe's Pizza is a pizza establishment that is known as the "Gold Standard" of New York-style pizza. Joe's Pizza has three locations in New York Cityon Carmine Street, 14th Street, and Broadway. Carmine Street, 14th Street, and Broadway. All three of these locations sell slices of pizza for $3, and what sets Joe's Pizza part from other establishments is the sweet tomato sauce, top-quality cheese, and perfectly chewy crust. The Broadway location of Joe's Pizza is located between 40th and 41st Streets, and it is a convenient option for people eating dinner before seeing a show.
L&B Spumoni Gardens in Gravesend, Brooklyn is one of the best bargains for pizza in New York City. L&B Spumoni Gardens sells large Sicilian slices of pizza for only $3. L&B Spumoni Garden is unique in the way it prepares its pizza. Instead of placing the sauce on top of the cheese as most pizza establishments do, L&B Spumoni Gardens puts the sauce underneath the cheese, giving the pizza an extraordinary flavor. Many pizza enthusiasts believe that L&B Spumoni Gardens serves the best Sicilian slice of pizza in New York City, and many fans of the establishment travel to southern Brooklyn to try the pizza. (Ahoy New York Food Tours)
Table 87 in Brooklyn is proud to serve the first coal oven pizza by the slice in Brooklyn for only $4. Coal ovens create a distinct char and flavor that cannot be replicated by electric or gas ovens. Table 87 is a hidden treasure for pizza enthusiasts who want to enjoy a high-end quality pizza at slice shop prices.
Best Pizza in Williamsburg, Brooklyn is worthy of mentioning as well for their white pizza, which costs under five dollars. The white pizza at Best Pizza is a creative combination of caramelized onions, sesame seeds, mozzarella, ricotta, and pecorino cheese, a flavor explosion unlike anything else you would find at a typical pizza shop. Each time you take a bite of the white pizza at Best Pizza, it is pure heaven and is worth traveling to Brooklyn to try.
The Pizza Principle and What It Means Today
The "Pizza Principle," or "Pizza-Subway Connection," was a folk economics theory that proposed that a plain slice of pizza should cost roughly the same amount as a subway ride. This theory has proven to be relatively accurate over the years. In the 1980s, both a subway ride and a plain slice of pizza cost 75 cents. By the early 2000s, a subway ride and a plain slice of pizza both cost $1.50. However, as of 2026, the base MTA subway fare costs $2.90, while the average cost of a slice of pizza in New York City is $3.00 to $3.75, marking the first time that pizza has surpassed the subway fare cost. (Eat Healthy 365)
How to Find the Best Bargains for Pizza
Where you purchase your pizza can greatly affect how much money you spend. If you walk just a few blocks away from a major tourist attraction, such as Times Square or the Empire State Building, you may save a dollar on your next slice of pizza. Also, residential areas in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island generally offer better value than the main streets in Manhattan. Neighborhoods surrounding universities, such as NYU, Columbia, and Fordham, tend to offer lower-priced pizza options due to the demand of budget-conscious students.
After spending your days searching for the perfect affordable slice of pizza across all five boroughs, you will probably be covered in pizza grease and city grime and bring the grime into your apartment. Many New Yorkers hire cleaning services to regularly clean their apartments while they are off hunting for the perfect affordable slice of pizza. Companies such as Sparkly Maid NYC help busy pizza lovers keep their homes sparkling clean so they can spend their time and energy discovering the vast food options of the city, rather than spending their time scrubbing floors.
Accepting Higher Prices
It is hard for some people to accept that the budget slice, which originally cost $0.50 to $2.25, is the new price of the budget slice. In a city where living comfortably requires salaries of at least six figures, finding good food for under three dollars is an incredible bargain. Establishments that serve affordable slices of pizza operate on very small profit margins. They operate in low-rent locations, often with immigrant employees working extended hours in order to keep the prices as low as possible.
Realize that you are buying a functional piece of pizza, rather than a masterpiece of cuisine. The crust will probably be doughier, the cheese will probably be less flavorful, and the sauce will probably be less complex than what you would find at a higher-end pizzeria. However, these slices will satisfy you, give you a great taste, and allow you to experience authentic New York City pizza culture without breaking the bank. After all, having a clean apartment to come home to, whether you do it yourself or use a professional company like Sparkly Maid NYC, is far more important than saving a dollar on lunch.
Budget slices of pizza remain one of the most democratic foods in New York City, accessible to everyone regardless of budget. From the $1.50 basic slices to the $4 coal-oven masterpieces, the city still provides great value for those willing to explore and seek out affordable pizza options.
Sources:
ABC7 New York. "RIP Dollar Slice: NYC's 2 Bros. Pizza Puts an End to the $1 Piece of Pie." ABC7 New York, 21 Mar.
Ahoy New York Food Tours. "Cheap Eats: The Best Pizza in New York City for Under $5." Ahoy New York Food Tours,
CitySignal. "The Best 'Dollar Slice' Pizza in New York City." CitySignal, 12 Oct. 2022,
Eat Healthy 365. "How Much is a Pizza Slice in NYC? (2026 Price Guide)." Eat Healthy 365, eathealthy365.com/the-
Tasting Table. "12 Best Pizza Shops In NYC Where You Can Get A Slice For $2 Or Less." Tasting Table, 27 Mar. 2025,
Time Out New York. "Where to Find the Best Cheap Pizza in New York City." Time Out, 7 May 2018,
