Cheap Hotels in New York

Are there cheap hotels in New York? Yes, there are cheap hotels in New York, but you get what you pay for. The price of a hotel in New York depends on location, timing of booking and the travel season. Finding a nice and beautiful hotel for a good price is rare, but it is possible. I’ll share my favourite affordable hotels in NYC with you, and give you some tips to help you find an inexpensive hotel in Manhattan or the other boroughs.

What is a cheap New York hotel?

To manage expectations, it’s first good to consider what constitutes a ‘cheap’ hotel in New York. As you may have noticed, the average hotel price in New York is quite high. This means that there are few to no very cheap hotels, especially if you also want to stay in a convenient location.

The term ‘cheap’ is therefore relative in The Big Apple. A cheap rate in New York can be expensive in another city. For a double room with a private bathroom in a budget hotel in New York, expect to pay around $200 to $250 per night.

Tips to find cheap hotel rooms in New York

I have a few tips for you to help you find inexpensive New York hotels for your stay:

• If possible, travel during the low season. In January, February and March, the city is much quieter, which also affects hotel room prices.
• Manhattan is, of course, the most desirable place to stay, but this also means that hotels here are relatively expensive. Look outside Manhattan, in Long Island City, for example, for cheaper places to stay.
• If you’re not too fussy, consider staying at a hostel in New York. There are several options both in and outside Manhattan. For example, you can sleep in a pod, or go socialise and meet new people. Hostels are often more affordable than hotel rooms.

About Eric »

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is useful, honest, and always up-to-date.

If you have questions, are unsure about something, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyork.co.uk. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get daily updates from New York.

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Eric’s Tip: “Please note that it’s often illegal to book an Airbnb in New York, as it’s not allowed to rent a privately owned apartment for less than 30 days, unless the host stays there as well. Therefore, renting an Airbnb is not a good alternative to booking an affordable hotel in New York.”

Cheap Hotels in Manhattan

I always recommend staying in Manhattan, especially if it’s your first trip to New York. You are in the heart of New York, close to most of the major attractions, and you can easily take the subway or grab a cab.

1. The Pod Hotels

   The Pod Hotels in Manhattan have excellent locations in the city. You are close to major attractions such as Times Square, the Empire State Building and Central Park. The hotel rooms are not very big, but they offer everything you need. You can end your New York day with a drink in the Pod Hotel bar.

   Book a room in Pod 39 here
   Book a room in Pod 51 here
   Book a room in Pod Times Square here
   Book a room in Pod Brooklyn here

   📍 Location: 400 West 42nd Street, Midtown (Pod Times Square), and multiple other locations

   

2. MOXY NYC

   MOXY NYC has several hotels spread across Manhattan. This New York accommodation offers rooms for two and four people. This makes MOXY NYC a nice hotel for a group trip to New York, for people who don’t mind staying in a compact room.

   MOXY NYC’s locations are close to famous landmarks such as One World Trade Center and the Flatiron Building. The hotels have a restaurant, bar, and gym. In addition to the amenities that multiple hotels have, MOXY NYC has a hairdresser, and there’s even a tattoo artist in some hotels.

   Book a room in MOXY NYC Times Square here
   Book a room in MOXY NYC Lower East Side here
   Book a room in MOXY NYC East Village here
   Book a room in MOXY NYC Chelsea here
   Book a room in MOXY NYC Downtown here

   📍 Location: 485 7th Avenue, Midtown (MOXY Times Square), and multiple other locations

   

3. Hotel Five44

   Hotel Five44 is a small but comfortable hotel in Midtown Manhattan. The hotel offers good-value rooms spread over four floors. There’s no elevator. However, by New York standards, the rooms are large and there even is a kitchenette. Hotel Five44 is located in Hell’s Kitchen, a safe neighbourhood with many bars and restaurants, and only a few minutes’ walk from Times Square.

   Book a room in Hotel Five44 here

   📍 Location: 544 West 48th Street, Midtown

4. Night Hotel Broadway

   Night Hotel Broadway is located on the Upper West Side, close to Central Park. In addition to being near Central Park, the hotel is also just two subway stops from the American Museum of Natural History. The rooms, including rooms for four people, are comfortably and spaciously furnished.

   Book a room in Night Hotel Broadway here

   📍 Location: 215 West 94th Street, Upper West Side

5. The Hotel at Fifth Avenue

   The Hotel at Fifth Avenue is located in a beautiful building on one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world. The hotel offers rooms with classic furniture and decorations. There is a gym and business centre open 24 hours a day. The Hotel at Fifth Avenue is just a four-minute walk from the Empire State Building.

   Book a room in The Hotel at Fifth Avenue here

   📍 Location: 17 West 32nd Street, Midtown

Cheap Hotels in Brooklyn

Brooklyn is a trendy borough in New York and it has long ceased to be a cheap place. Every day its popularity is growing and there is a huge variety of shops, restaurants and art galleries. The Brooklyn borough is very large, and it can take a long time to get to Manhattan, depending on where in Brooklyn you stay. Here are some suggestions for hotels in Brooklyn:

1. Quality Inn near Sunset Park

   Quality Inn near Sunset Park is a very basic and affordable hotel on a busy Brooklyn Street. The hotel is a five-minute walk from the subway, and two blocks away is Sunset Park, a nice place to stroll during the day. The rooms are standard and have very simple decor. Some rooms are suitable for four people.

   Book a room in Quality Inn here

   📍 Location: 4410 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn

2. Aloft Brooklyn

   The Aloft Brooklyn hotel is not only close to the subway but also about a ten-minute walk from the Brooklyn Bridge. It is a slightly more elegant hotel than the rest of the options listed. There is a restaurant for dinner, a rooftop bar, an indoor pool, and a gym.

   Book a room in Aloft Brooklyn here
   

   📍 Location: 216 Duffield Street, Brooklyn

   

Other Cheap Hotels in New York

In addition to Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York has other areas that offer cheap hotel options.

Cheap hotels in Long Island City, Queens

Booking a hotel in Long Island City, Queens is a good choice for those who want to save money but don’t want to sacrifice comfort. This area is changing rapidly and is becoming more and more popular.

As a result, Long Island City is a neighbourhood with many startup companies and art galleries. Your best bet is to find accommodation near a subway station so you can be in Manhattan within 15 minutes.

Cheap hotels in New Jersey

Many people also find cheap accommodation near New York. If the price is right, you might consider booking a hotel in New Jersey. This is a different state from New York, so staying in New Jersey has its pros and cons.

The hotels can be much cheaper than in New York, but they are also farther away with fewer transportation options.

Find the best New York hotel deals for the upcoming months here.