New York City is a fast-paced, densely built city of five boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island — where the rapid transit system runs around the clock and the streets stay busy at almost any hour. It is one of the most expensive cities in the world for accommodation, and rooms are in demand throughout the year, so where you base yourself matters as much as what you pay.
For a visitor, the practical question is which borough and which part of it to sleep in. Manhattan puts you closest to the centre of things and carries the highest prices; Brooklyn, Queens and New Jersey sit just outside it and are generally cheaper, connected to the sights by the subway and commuter rail. This guide covers the areas the sources identify as options, what each suits, and how the price tiers work — it does not recommend individual properties.
Best areas to stay in New York City
1. Manhattan
Manhattan is the most central place to base yourself, and it is also the most expensive. Most accommodation below $200 a night in Manhattan is a small room with space only for a bed, a TV, perhaps a sink, and little else; cheaper places may have communal bathrooms, though many still put a sink in the room. Manhattan is also where the largest concentration of big-name hotels sits, including the two largest hotels in the city — one on Times Square and one on 6th Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets — so the range of options is broad even though rates are high.
This suits first-time visitors who want to be in the middle of the city and are willing to pay for it. Quality varies significantly between properties, so the price alone tells you little. Manhattan is also the most expensive US county by average home price per square foot, which is reflected in what you pay for a room.
2. Long Island City, Queens
Long Island City sits just outside Manhattan and is named in the sources as one of the places with hotels cheaper than those in Manhattan. It suits travellers who want a lower room rate while staying close to the centre and relying on the transit system to reach the sights.
Note that the sources warn about cheap hotels in the outer reaches of Queens, where you may share the premises with hourly customers — the caution applies to cheap hotels away from the centre, so treat very low rates in outlying parts of the borough with care.
3. Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the other borough named as an alternative to staying in Manhattan, with hotels that are cheaper than Manhattan's. It suits visitors who want more space or a lower rate and are comfortable using the subway to move between boroughs.
As with Queens, the practical point is connection: you are trading proximity to the centre for price, and the 24/7 rapid transit system is what makes that trade workable.
4. New Jersey
Hotels just outside Manhattan in New Jersey are also named as cheaper than Manhattan hotels. This suits travellers who prioritise room rate and do not mind crossing into the city each day.
The same trade-off applies: you are outside the city itself, so plan your days around the connections into Manhattan.
5. Along the West Side Highway
The sources single out cheap hotels along the West Side Highway, away from the centre, as an area to be wary of. If you are considering a very low rate here, be aware of the warning that you may share the premises with hourly customers.
This is a caution rather than a recommendation: it is mentioned in the sources as an example of where cheap hotels away from the centre can be found, and of why the lowest prices carry risk.
Where to stay on a budget, mid-range or splurge
- Budget: expect to pay $100–$200 for a room with a shared bath; rooms are small, with space only for a bed, a TV, perhaps a sink. Hostels cost up to $50, and there are places calling themselves hostels offering accommodation below $100 a night, some catering exclusively to students. Cheaper hotels away from the centre carry the risk described above.
- Mid-range: expect $250–$350 for a decent room with a restaurant and/or room service.
- Splurge: high-end hotels cost much more than the mid-range band. The city's largest hotels are in this tier, and the range of big-name properties is expansive.
Rates are typically quoted excluding taxes, so your actual bill will be materially higher than the quoted rate. Taxes include New York State and New York City sales tax at 8.875%, a New York City Hotel Occupancy Tax (for rooms above $40, $2 plus 5.875%), and a $1.50 surcharge — on a $100 per night room, expect to pay $117.75 after tax. Lower prices are generally available in January and February, at the end of August, and on Sunday nights. Because the city is a popular destination throughout the year, book well in advance; during the height of the tourist season, booking months ahead is wise. A hospitality exchange is also worth considering given the high accommodation prices.
Best area for a first visit
Manhattan is the best base for a first visit, because it is the most central option and puts you closest to the city's core, with the widest choice of accommodation. You will pay the highest rates for it, and most budget rooms there are small, so decide early whether centrality or price matters more to you. If the rate is the deciding factor, Long Island City, Brooklyn or New Jersey are the named alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to stay in Manhattan?
No. There are many hotels just outside Manhattan in Long Island City, Queens, Brooklyn and New Jersey that are cheaper than hotels in Manhattan.
How far in advance should I book?
Because New York is a popular destination throughout the year, make reservations well in advance. If you plan to be in the city during the height of the tourist season, booking months in advance is wise — this applies to hostels as well as hotels.
When are accommodation prices lower?
Lower prices are generally available in January and February, at the end of August, and on Sunday nights.
Are taxes included in the quoted room rate?
No. Room rates are typically quoted excluding taxes, so expect your actual bill to be materially higher than the quoted rate.
Compare live prices across these areas using the booking tools on this page before you commit.