The trade is almost always space
Central Manhattan rooms at this level are small, often 150 to 250 square feet. That is a deliberate design choice at hotels like Pod, YOTEL, citizenM and Arlo rather than a sign of a bad hotel. It works well if you are out all day and poorly if you have two large suitcases.
Or the trade is location
Crossing the river buys space instead. Long Island City, Greenpoint and Williamsburg give you noticeably larger rooms for the same money, in exchange for ten to thirty minutes of subway each way. For a longer stay that is usually the better deal.
Check for compulsory fees before you compare
A room that looks cheaper can carry a nightly destination or facility fee of $25 to $40 plus tax, which is not a government tax and is charged whether you use the gym or not. Over four nights that can wipe out the saving entirely. Our guide to New York hotel taxes and fees explains what to look for.
The shortlist
Hotels that fit, and why.
Pod 51
The original Pod hotel and the cheapest entry here, in expensive Midtown East. Critically, some rooms have shared bathrooms, so read the room type carefully.
- Subway
- 51 St and Lexington Av-53 St
The Jane Hotel
Cabin rooms of a little over seven feet square in a 1908 sailors' home, with shared bathrooms. Remarkable history, minimal space.
- Subway
- 14 St-Eighth Av, and Christopher St-Sheridan Sq
The Local NY
A hostel-and-hotel hybrid in Long Island City, with private rooms as well as dorms and a short subway ride to Midtown.
- Subway
- Court Sq on the 7, E, M and G
Pod Times Square
665 small rooms a block from Port Authority, with bunk pods that work well for two people travelling together.
- Subway
- 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal
YOTEL New York Times Square
Airline-style cabins and a robot luggage store on the far west side. Central-ish for less, if you accept the ten-minute walk.
- Subway
- 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal, about a ten-minute walk
Hotel Edison Times Square
A large Art Deco hotel in the middle of the Theater District, and one of the better-known value picks for a Broadway trip.
- Subway
- 49 St and Times Square-42 St
The New Yorker Hotel
A vast 1930 Art Deco tower opposite Penn Station, where Nikola Tesla died. Price and scale rather than charm.
- Subway
- 34 St-Penn Station
Washington Square Hotel
Genuine Greenwich Village character on Washington Square, where Bob Dylan lived, at rates well below the neighbourhood's boutiques.
- Subway
- W 4 St-Washington Sq, and 8 St-NYU
Hotel Belleclaire
Emery Roth's first major building, on the Upper West Side near Central Park, at a family-friendly price.
- Subway
- 79 St on the 1, and 81 St-Museum of Natural History on the B and C
The Box House Hotel
Loft suites with full kitchens in Greenpoint. The best space-per-pound on this list, provided you understand the G train does not reach Manhattan.
- Subway
- Greenpoint Av on the G, plus the East River Ferry at India Street
Fast answers
Questions UK travellers ask.
Can you really get a New York hotel for under £200 a night?
Often yes, particularly outside peak weeks and away from December. It is easiest in January and February, in Queens and Brooklyn, and at the compact-room hotels in Midtown. Always compare the total after taxes and fees rather than the headline rate.
What is the cheapest area to stay in New York?
Long Island City and Greenpoint give the most space for the money within easy reach of Manhattan. In Manhattan itself, the Financial District and the far west side around Tenth and Eleventh Avenues are usually keener than Midtown or downtown.
Do cheap New York hotels have private bathrooms?
Usually, but not always. Pod 51 and The Jane both offer shared-bathroom room types at their lowest rates, and the difference is not always obvious in search results. Read the room description before booking.
Sources and update notes
Last updated: 17 August 2026. Hotel rates, fees, rules and transport details can change.