Visiting New York's biggest art museum is about to get more expensive. The Metropolitan Museum of Art said this week that it is raising its recommended admission by $5 to $25 starting July 1.While paying the full amount is technically optional, the new price makes the Met the most expensive art museum for visitors in New York.

The museum said in a release that it "faces a number of daunting, ongoing budgetary challenges" and that "income from our endowment has flattened, the average visitor contribution at the door is lower, and public sector operating support has fallen."

The new $25 recommended admission applies for adults. The recommended price for seniors and students will rise to $17 and $12, respectively, from $15 and $10. Children under 12 will still be able to get in free of charge. The Met said this is the first ticket hike in five years.

Earlier this week, the Met announced that its special exhibition devoted to Alexander McQueen will be open Mondays for people willing to pay $50 for admission.

Admission prices to art museums around the country vary widely, though many charge more than the price of a movie ticket.

To put things in perspective, here's the general adult admission for some of the major art museums around the U.S. The prices don't reflect extra charges for special exhibitions, such as the new Tim Burton show at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Art Institute of Chicago: $18

The Cleveland Museum of Art: Free

de Young Museum, San Francisco: $10

Getty Center: Free (with $15 parking)

Getty Villa: Free (with $15 parking)

Guggenheim Museum, New York: $18

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington: Free

Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston: $15

Los Angeles County Museum of Art: $15

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: $7

Museum of Modern Art, New York: $20

Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles: $10

National Portrait Gallery, Washington: Free

Philadelphia Museum of Art: $16

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art: $18

Whitney Museum of American Art, New York: $18