The easiest option: an eSIM
For most visitors on a 3–7 day trip, a US data eSIM is now the default choice — no store visit, no swapping a physical card, and it's active before you even land. Providers like Airalo and Holafly sell US data eSIMs in day-based tiers: expect roughly $11–$18 for 3–5 days, up to around $25–$35 for a full week, scaling up from there for longer stays. Compare current pricing directly on their apps or sites, since plans and pricing shift often.
Physical SIM cards
If you'd rather have a physical SIM, prepaid options from major US carriers exist, but most standard prepaid plans (like Mint Mobile) are built around multi-month terms, which isn't a great fit for a short trip. T-Mobile sells a travel-specific eSIM with trip-length tiers (roughly a week for around $25–$35) aimed squarely at inbound visitors, which tends to suit a short NYC trip better than a generic monthly prepaid plan. AT&T also sells prepaid tourist kits at some airports and retail stores — check current pricing in-store or at att.com/prepaid.
Free WiFi + roaming
New York has extensive free public WiFi — LinkNYC kiosks are all over the city, and most cafes, hotels, and many subway stations offer it too. Some travelers skip a local SIM altogether and rely on free WiFi plus their home carrier's international roaming day-pass. It's the cheapest option on paper, but leaves you offline for maps and transit apps between WiFi zones, which is a real downside in a dense, transit-heavy city — worth weighing against the modest cost of an eSIM.
Bottom line: for most short NYC trips, budgeting roughly $15–$50 for an eSIM is the simplest way to stay connected the whole time, with a physical SIM or WiFi-only approach as backup options depending on your priorities.