Best affordable hotels in New York City [2025]

I’m not gonna lie, New York is an expensive city – because it’s on about 42 million people’s bucket lists every year! But believe it or not, I’ve found some affordable NYC hotels that won’t make your eyes water.

I visited three times last year and spent HOURS scrolling through booking sites, comparing all the photos, locations and checking out too many reviews than I had time for, and I thought, “wouldn’t it be great if there was a post listing really great New York hotels for say… $300 a night – or less?!“

So that’s what I did.

I also jump back into this post regularly to add hotels that make this list, and drop some that have gone up. Hands’ down Club Quarters hotels are always great value, but I’ve found a few more too.

I got one of my team to spend so many hours researching great value New York hotels, so you don’t have to. Then I went through them all with a fine tooth comb to cull them even further and ensure they all have an 8+ out of 10 rating.

I hope you find this list of affordable New York hotels useful. I have added links to them all, so you can click through to check out the price for your own dates.

I chose a random date in May and October (which is not the cheapest time of year to come here) to whittle them down to around $300 a night. Depending on when you travel, you can find some of these rooms under $200. Also use sites like Booking.com to check for last minute rates too, if you’re not fussed on where you stay.

Note: rooms are cheaper in winter (except for pre Christmas/New Year) and will go up in summer. Weekends are often cheaper than week days too, so if you’re flexible that’s your best chance of a good price.

So if you’re looking for a hotel in New York City that won’t break the bank, then this list is a great place to start. And no, there’s no hostels – or even Air BnBs (which are banned in New York City by the way).

Several of the hotels on this list I have stayed in before, and one is booked for my next visit.

Note: I would suggest you check out several of the below hotels as some will have special deals on offer over your dates, and others won’t. Also, if you have a Booking.com account you will get extra bonuses the more you use them.

*This post contains affiliate links. That means if you book directly from this site I may make a commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my new blog!

Kixby

The newest hotel I’ve added to this list is a hidden gem in plain sight. In fact the Kixby is located right in the heart of Manhattan in Midtown at West 35th Street, just off Fifth Avenue at Herald Square. This location is where Macy’s is, so ideal for Christmas window spotting too.

You’re also one block to the Empire State Building, three blocks to Madison Square Garden, half a mile to Times Square and the theatre district.

All rooms have marble ensuites, and rates start at $190 per night. They have accessible rooms, family rooms and a one bedroom suite and a seasonally open rooftop bar.

It seems to good to be true, but it’s rated Fabulous on Booking.com and I was just reading some comments from guests on Facebook who were staying there, and saying they loved it. I’m putting it at the top of this affordable New York hotels post.

Club Quarters Hotel World Trade Center

I just stayed at Club Quarters Hotel World Trade Center for its location downtown near the World Trade Center. This property was in a great location for us near Tribeca and the Financial District, so we didd all the walking down here, then move to the Upper West Side for a couple of nights.

I figured I had only four days in New York, so wanted to explore the areas around me without having to dash up and down Fifth Avenue pulverising my feet into stumps! (Note, still pulverised feet into stumps, so wrote this post about the best shoes for walking in NYC.) I upgraded us to a superior room with a terrace in May for just under $290 per night.

It is pet friendly with up to two dogs allowed per room. There is a 24-hour fitness center and Morton’s Steakhouse is on the premises, which we went to as soon as we arrived as it was about 7pm. That’s not cheap, but we decided to splash out and probably spent more on dinner than the hotel room!

Hotel Mulberry

Hotel Mulberry is located in Chinatown, and earns an 8.5 on Booking and 9/10 “wonderful” score on Expedia. If you are looking for an affordable hotel in Lower Manhattan, this is a great option to consider, just 500m from Little Italy.

This hotel is super convenient to lots of attractions in downtown. They provide custom, handmade furniture, high-speed Wi-Fi access, a kettle with free coffee in rooms, and lovely friendly staff. The hotel also has terraced areas with views of the city. $289

Courtyard by Marriott, Times Square

The Courtyard by Marriott is located in Midtown/Hell’s Kitchen, which is a great spot for getting to the main sights on foot. Get an upper floor room for great city views including the Empire State Building in one direction, or The Edge.

The rooms are spacious for a New York hotel room too, even double queens for sleeping up to four. There’s an on-site restaurant and cafe and a fitness center. You’re in easy walking distance to Hudson Yards, the Vessel and the High Line.

Riverside Tower Hotel

This is a find! The Riverside Tower Hotel is located on the Upper West Side, pretty much on the Hudson River but super close to the 79th Street subway station, you can get rooms here for under $250 a night in October. Walk across four blocks to Central Park and the American Museum of Natural History.

They have a fitness center and family and accessible rooms. Probably more ideal for a solo traveler though, as the bed is pushed against one wall, making it annoying if you need to get up in the night! However super clean, and some rooms have bunk beds for the kids. Probably the cheapest hotel in this list and great value.

The Gregorian New York City

Almost right in the middle of Midtown, I’ve just picked The Gregorian for our next stay. We will have only night after spending a few days in Boston and flying out from JFK. I wanted somewhere central for a Broadway Show this time.

The Gregorian had a deal on one of their big rooms (king bed plus fold out sofa bed) for just over US$300. I grabbed it because rooms in NYC are usually sub-20sqm. This one is 28! It’s located just off 5th Avenue on 35th West, and two blocks from Penn Station. It looks super modern with a lovely, raved-about cafe next door, Angelina.

Springhill Suites by Marriott

Springhill Suites by Marriott at Midtown/Fifth Avenue is an excellent location with fantastic views. It has an 8.8/10 “excellent” rating on Expedia. You’re less than a 1km walk to Madison Square Garden, Times Square and the Empire State Building (get your tickets here for skip-the-line viewing), and you have a fridge and microwave in each room.

Plus a fitness center if all the walking isn’t enough. The bedrooms pop with lime green and yellow furniture to compliment the white bed linens, and rooms start at $250.

TownePlace Suites by Marriott

A friend has selected TownePlace Suites for her next NYC stay, so I scrambled online to check it out for you. I like it. Location-wise it’s perfect if you want to walk to just about everywhere, or it’s just 1 minute walk from the 28th Street-Seventh Avenue subway.

It’s 200m from Restaurant Row on 46th Street and 400m from Times Square. Some rooms have little patios and kitchenettes, there is a fitness center and each room has a coffee maker.

Broadway Plaza Hotel

Located in NoMad (north of Madison), Broadway Plaza Hotel is in another excellent location for proximity to Times Square, 400m to the Flatiron.

Enter the black and white marble floor lobby and up to your chic grey and white decorated room. Enjoy complimentary Nespresso and water daily. A great Midtown location. Rooms start at $275.

Club Quarters Hotel Grand Central

Located in Midtown East, Club Quarters Hotel Grand Central is a 4-star hotel located 200m from Grand Central Station, 200m from the Chrysler Building and 600m from Rockefeller Center (get your skip-the-line tickets here for the Top of the Rock Observation Deck and outstanding views!)

There is a terrace with outdoor tables, and lounge with free tea and coffee, an on-site gym and superior rooms have a desk and couch.

Sheraton TriBeca

The 4-star Sheraton TriBeca is located in the trendy SoHo area of the Lower West Side and rooms start at around $300 in October. It has an on-site restaurant and 24-hour gym. It’s one block from Canal Street subway station. Upgrade to Club Level and enjoy the views from their outdoor patio.

Hotel Belleclaire Central Park

This was my favorite! I booked Hotel Belleclaire Central Park for its location on the Upper West Side on Broadway, near iconic Central Park, and because of the museums that I plan to spend hours browsing.

I’ll be honest, it had me at the on-site Mille-Feuille outlet for French pastries, and I loved it. I think I’m more Upper West side than down town…

The Belleclaire building has been here since 1903, so some of the rooms might be on the small side – which is typical for New York. However ours was plenty big enough for our suitcases and a little work desk looking out the window.

It’s a great uptown location, two blocks from Grand Bazaar flea market (which features on my list of the best fleas in New York) and you can even get a room for around $200 depending on time of year. Across the road we had a delicious Italian meal at Serafina too.

This would be a great location to stay for the New York Marathon as the race ends around here. We managed to locate my brother in the chaos of race day here at Columbus Circle. You can read his tips for running the New York Marathon here.

The Tuscany

The Tuscany Powered by LuxUrban is a boutique hotel is in the oft forgotten neighborhood of Murray Hill. Midtown East, I guess you could say, only 325m from Grand Central Station and close to the United Nations (for those of you who may have business there!) and SUMMIT ONE Vanderbilt (which you should definitely get tickets to).

This hotel is a little stand out! In fact so much so, that I am tempted to cancel all my bookings and stay here. It has rave reviews. The rooms are super stylish and large, especially for New York, with bold pops of colour in the decor. Rooms from $242.

For hotels with views of Times Square to watch the legendary New Year’s Eve ball drop, check them out in my new Ball Drop Hotels post.

Other New York Hotels I really like – that are not as cheap!

The Muse

The Muse New York is within a nickel’s throw from Times Square. We stayed here on our honeymoon as part of our USA trip which also included LA, San Diego, Washington DC and New York.

My brother was running in the New York Marathon that weekend, so we followed him around the city and got amongst the crazy fun that marathon weekend is. The Muse is a Kimpton Hotel, and some of you will not need me to explain any further. It’s chic and modern and while it doesn’t fit under $300 per night in May, it’s well worth checking out if you’re coming to NYC for a Broadway show or New Year’s Eve and want to be in amongst it. Rooms start at $440.

Hotel Beacon

Hotel Beacon is located on the Upper West Side with views over Central Park. I have stayed here before, in a suite – with laundry facilities, which was luxury!

This is a great spot for museum hopping as the American Museum of Natural History (get your skip-the-line tickets to the museum here) is super close, as well as the Beacon Theatre.

Each studio and suite comes with a fully equipped kitchenette, which is another way to have an affordable NYC vacation as you can at least keep drinks and nibbles here for snacking. The Beacon is also located a block from the Grand Bazaar NYC Flea Market. One of our favorite things to do on a Sunday! You can read my post about the best flea markets in NYC here. Rooms start at $400.

Moxy NYC Times Square

I like Moxy NYC Times Square for its rooftop restaurant and bar with views of the Empire State Building 600m away. In fact it made my list of the best rooftop restaurants in New York.

Moxy is one of the only pet friendly hotels in New York, has free Wifi and a fitness center. You’re 200m from Macy’s and 400m from Madison Square Garden. Rooms from $367.

If you want to see the top sights of New York, you might be best to get the New York CityPass which gives you 40% five of the top attractions.

Click here to see more info on how much you can save on entry to the Empire State Building, American Museum of Natural History, Guggenheim Museum OR Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island OR Circle Line Cruises, Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum OR 9/11 Memorial and Museum.

You might also like some of my other New York posts:

The perfect one day itinerary in Brooklyn, for when you’ve seen Manhattan and want some different vibes

The dreamiest rooftop restaurants in NYC for fabulous views and a cheeky cocktail

How to have the best New Year’s Eve in New York City featuring fun events and where to be to see the Ball Drop

Fabulous hotels to see the New Year’s fireworks from

Best places to watch the 4th of July fireworks in New York

Where to find great flea markets in New York for some epic bargain hunting

Delicious NYC brunch spots to wake up your weekend and do like a local

One perfect shopping day in New York – if that’s all the time you’ve got!