The Best Areas to Stay in New York for Any Budget
Wondering which neighbourhood is best for you? Read on ...
There are plenty of cities in the world where it's easy to choose accommodation because the interesting sights are clustered in a central area. New York City is not one of those places, and the choice of location can dramatically affect the quality of the trip. The most important aspect of preparing for a visit is to make a determination of which of New York's countless attributes are most deserving of attention. Will it be the theaters and skyscrapers of Midtown? The ethnic enclaves and bohemian neighborhoods of Downtown? Central Park and the museums of Uptown? Or the up and coming, diverse, hipster neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens? If you aren't planning on staying a month, it's virtually impossible to do and see everything. It's also important to peruse a subway map carefully. Unless you are planning to take car hire vehicles exclusively, proximity to a subway station should not be underestimated as an important feature of any accommodation. Midtown East and the Lower West Side have surprisingly large areas that are fairly remote from any subway line.
Price Snapshot for New York, USA
Budget range (bottom 25%)
Average price (in USD)
Top 25%
What are these prices?
We analysed all the minimum prices for accommodation in New York. The prices are for the cheapest room / bed available for a one night's stay. Prices are shown in US Dollars. The chart gives an idea of what accommodation price distribution is like in New York. You can use it to work out what is considered cheap for New York and what is considered expensive.

Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan, also known as Downtown, offers a huge variety of ethnic and historic neighborhoods and can occupy a traveler for days on its own merits. Some excellent choices are Union Square, Greenwich Village, Soho, Tribeca, and the South Street Seaport. Most of these areas are accessible to each other on foot or by short taxi trips, as well as to Chinatown and Little Italy. The Lower East Side, the Battery, and parts of the East Village are a little on the gritty side but might offer less expensive options to budget travelers.
Attractions in Lower Manhattan
Popular accommodation in Lower Manhattan
246 Spring Street
The Dominick Hotel
848 Washington Street
The Standard, High Line New York
2 Avenue of the Americas
The Roxy Hotel Tribeca

Midtown Manhattan
The most attractive areas in Midtown Manhattan are Chelsea and Midtown East.
Times Square and the Theater District shouldn't be missed but probably aren't an ideal location for a base. Don't expect to find many budget options in Midtown.
Attractions in Midtown Manhattan
Popular accommodation in Midtown Manhattan
556 3rd Avenue
Oakwood Aurora Midtown East
135 West 45th Street
Hyatt Centric Times Square New York
38 West 36th Street
Executive Hotel Le Soleil New York

Uptown Manhattan
The advantage of Uptown Manhattan is the proximity to Central Park and many of New York's top museums, as well as the upscale surroundings of some of New York's priciest real estate. As with Midtown, budget options Uptown are few and far between. As one gets further and further uptown the accommodation prices do decline but neighborhoods become decidedly more blue collar and less convenient to tourist attractions.
Attractions in Uptown Manhattan
Popular accommodation in Uptown Manhattan
2296 Frederick Douglas Boulevard
Aloft Harlem
New Spacious 3BR/1BA Apt mins to Columbia University
235 East 105th Street Apt
Exquisite stay - Amazing

Brooklyn
The outer boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens are much better locations for visiting New York now than they were twenty or even ten years ago. The most convenient neighborhoods in Brooklyn are Brooklyn Heights and Williamsburg, which abut the East River. Aside from easy access to Manhattan by road or public transportation, these areas have been reinvigorated in recent years and are now hotspots for restaurants and nightlife.
Attractions in Brooklyn
Popular accommodation in Brooklyn
46 Nevins Street
EVEN Hotel Brooklyn
216 Duffield Street
Aloft Brooklyn
8315 4th Avenue
Best Western Gregory Hotel

Queens
The best neighborhoods in Queens are likewise those on the East River which include Long Island City and Astoria.
Long Island City is a small neighborhood that is rapidly becoming more prominent with art galleries and trendy restaurants and breweries.
Astoria is one of New York City's foremost ethnic melting pots and is close to fascinating Queens neighborhoods such as Jackson Heights and Flushing as well as to Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Attractions in Queens
Popular accommodation in Queens
38-70 12th Street
Wingate by Wyndham Long Island City
38-59 12th Street
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Long Island City
12-02 37th Avenue
Hotel Nirvana
More popular places to stay in New York
556 3rd Avenue
Oakwood Aurora Midtown East
135 West 45th Street
Hyatt Centric Times Square New York
38 West 36th Street
Executive Hotel Le Soleil New York
815 Avenue of the Americas
Hyatt House New York/Chelsea
400 Fifth Avenue
The Langham, New York, Fifth Avenue
65 West 54th street
Warwick New York
120 West 41st Street
LUMA Hotel - Times Square
105 West 28th Street
Moxy NYC Chelsea
127 East 55th Street
Concorde Hotel New York
246 Spring Street
The Dominick Hotel
20 West 29th Street
Ace Hotel New York
440 57th Street
The Watson Hotel
848 Washington Street
The Standard, High Line New York
218 West 50th Street
citizenM New York Times Square
109 East 42nd Street, Park Avenue at Grand Central Terminal
Grand Hyatt New York
135 West 30th Street
Courtyard by Marriott New York Manhattan/Chelsea
15 West 45th Street
Citadines Connect Fifth Avenue New York
2 Avenue of the Americas