Where to stay in New York City on a budget

You’ll find some of the world’s most impressive hotels in New York City, both historic luxury properties and trendy, design-forward spaces that are the stuff of big-city dreams. But for most of us, the idea of living out our Eloise at the Plaza fantasies is steeper than the Empire State Building. 

In a place as expensive as New York City, you probably need to adjust your idea of budget travel – finding a room for under $300 a night constitutes a bargain here. Those who are willing to stay in a borough outside Manhattan will be rewarded with the best deals, but it’s not always necessary to check in too far from the center of the action. The hotels below don’t sacrifice style and quality for a budget-friendly price tag, and many are in Manhattan.

Manhattan

Pod 51

Best for on-the-go travelers

Neighborhood: Midtown East
Address: 230 E 51st St

The POD hotels are as basic as basic comes – you can touch both ends of the room if you reach out your arms – but they get the job done and are usually in great locations. If being somewhere central is important to you, and you don’t intend on spending much time in your room, the POD is the place to stay. There are four properties in NYC: one in Williamsburg and another three in Midtown Manhattan. Pod 51 is our favorite for its prime location near top Midtown attractions like Rockefeller Center and Central Park. “Pod” rooms with shared bathrooms start as low as $110 per night; private studio rooms run around $300.

The Standard, East Village

Best for a lovely outdoor space

Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 25 Cooper Sq

You’ll have to splash out to stay at the Standard’s location in the Meatpacking District, by the High Line. But across town, room rates at the wonderfully located East Village location are much more affordable. Rooms here are simple but comfortable, with large windows, TVs and bathrobes; room service is also available. A little garden space is lovely and private, perfect for lingering with a cocktail between sightseeing excursions. If you like to squeeze in a workout when you travel, guests also receive a complimentary guest pass to the nearby Crunch Fitness on the Bowery. Standard rooms start around $280 per night.

Arlo 

Best for a chic boutique stay

Neighborhood: NoMad
Address: 11 East 31st St

Arlo has four boutique properties across Manhattan and Brooklyn. All have minimalist, chic rooms with huge windows; they’re small but optimize the space. (Do you see a trend here?) All four have on-site fitness centers, restaurants and bars; as a delightful perk, all guests receive Citi Bike day passes for exploring the city. For a central location, stay at the Arlo NoMad. Its rooftop bar, ART NoMad, has epic city views and is a great place to watch the sun set over the Hudson River. Expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $350 per night.

The Moxy

Best for a central location

Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 12 East 11th St

Moxy hotels are simple and straightforward, yet comfortable and equipped with everything you’ll need. Small but creatively designed have super-cozy beds. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the locations are unbeatable. There are six Moxy properties in NYC (five in Manhattan); when they visit, our out-of-town staff are frequent guests at the East Village location. Each property has an on-site cafe and unique decor that reflects its neighborhood’s vibe. Depending on the season, rooms can run from under $300 a night up to $440.

Renaissance New York Harlem

Best for views and live music

Neighborhood: Harlem
Address: 233 West 125th St

In the heart of Harlem, next door to the legendary Apollo Theater, this hotel offers modern, elegant rooms with elite views of downtown Manhattan. (It’s the city’s tallest building north of Central Park.) The hotel is also a 5-minute walk from the A, B, C and D subway lines at 125th St, and from the M60 Select bus line that goes straight to LGA. Rates begin in the $150–200 range.

The Ludlow

Best for a chic aesthetic and amazing bathtubs

Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Address: 180 Ludlow St

If you’re a fan of huge bathtubs, those at the Ludlow are spectacular. The rooms here, while small, are chic and somehow modern and vintage at the same time, with carved wooden bed frames and shaded wall sconces paired with funky lighting and sleek industrial bathrooms. Rates here are on the higher end of the spectrum (one could even call it midrange). So consider it only if you’re willing to spend a little extra on style and location, to the tune of around $450 per night.

The George Manhattan

Best for modern comfort at an unbeatable price

Neighborhood: Harlem
Address: 412 West 126th St

The George is another fantastic option uptown, with easy access to the A, B, C and D lines at 125th St. Further west than the Renaissance, it’s just a 15-minute walk to Columbia’s campus and beloved Riverside Park. Rooms are modern and light-filled, and the hotel also has an outdoor pool (closed until later this summer) – hard to come by in Manhattan. Nightly rates begin around $150–200.

Brooklyn

The Penny

Best for an apartment-style room just outside Manhattan

Neighborhood: Williamsburg
Address: 288 N 8th St

This boutique Brooklyn property is just one stop away from Manhattan on the L train. It's very design-forward, colorful and clean, with a great Mexican rooftop bar, elNico, offering views of both the Brooklyn and Manhattan skylines. The rooms are generally more spacious than those in Manhattan, and if you’re willing to pay a little extra, you can score a room where the bed isn't up against a wall (a rarity in the city). Each room comes with a kitchenette, plush robes, complimentary coffee (served fresh in the lobby), and beautiful artwork by New York–based artists with developmental disabilities. Rooms start at $160 per night.

Akwaaba Mansion

Best for a quieter, more local stay

Neighborhood: Bedford-Stuyvesant
Address: 347 MacDonough St

It is indeed possible to stay in a mansion in New York City without going broke. At this historic property, on a peaceful tree-lined Brooklyn block, you get the best of both worlds. You could spend a sunny afternoon hanging out on the sun porch or in the garden, then it’s a quick subway ride into Manhattan for a night on the town. Each room is unique, decorated with antiques, African art and textiles; rates start at $200 per night.

The Tillary

Best for a central spot in Brooklyn

Neighborhood: Downtown Brooklyn
Address: 85 Flatbush Ave Ext

Downtown Brooklyn can be overwhelming – luckily, the Tillary lies just an easy walk from more laid-back neighborhoods like Dumbo and Fort Greene. It’s also a few minutes’ walk from multiple subway lines into Manhattan. The rooms inside are modern and spacious, and guests can access the gym, rooftop bar and lobby cafe. The price is always remarkably low for such a prime location, with rates as low as $121 per night.

Queens

Boro Hotel

Best for skyline views

Neighborhood: Long Island City
Address: 38–28 27th St

Long Island City’s waterfront is one of the most beautiful in the city, both for its Manhattan skyline views and manicured green spaces. Only a short walk from the river is Boro Hotel, a modern, industrial-style property where you can take in those same views from above. It’s an easy 15-to-20-minute subway ride into Midtown Manhattan from here. Note that rooms here also have huge bathtubs (huge for NYC, that is). Rooms range from $120 to $370 per night.