The 11 best budget hotels in NYC

An island escape exists just a five-minute tram ride from Manhattan. Graduate New York, a hotel situated in the East River between Manhattan and Queens feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of midtown. It’s a place where you can admire the city’s skyline without hearing sirens, a spot where you can feel disconnected and yet connected at the same time. As the only hotel in the area, the destination has so much to offer.

From the on-site restaurant and bar garden to the fitness and business centers, this great (but cheap) hotel in NYC is a winner for those on a budget. Enjoy room service in your air-conditioned room with a TV before joining the continental breakfast served every morning—sadly not included in the room rate but totally worth it. The best part? The surrounding outdoor deck with panoramic views of the Hudson and New York City.

You'd be excused for bypassing the Malin + Goetz amenities in the bathroom, the plush king-size bed and the crushed velvet couch to head directly to the windows and gaze at the unrivaled views of the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center—a rare treat to see all in one window pane.

Time Out tip: Book a reservation for drinks at the on-site rooftop bar, Panorama Room, around sunset.

Address: 22 North Loop Road
Price: Starting at $154 per night
Closest Transport: F to Roosevelt Island; or take the Roosevelt Island tram fro 59th Street

Steps from Times Square and the Theater District, Romer Hell's Kitchen offers a place for rest and relaxation in a busy location while paying homage to local culture: concierge staff are trained to give the best recommendations, employees wear uniforms styled by a local vintage shop and the room designs give off an old-school theater vibe. 

Guestrooms measure up to 600 square feet—larger than some Manhattan apartments—so there is plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the views. A generous closet at the entry door offers room to hang up coats and drop shoes, especially helpful when visiting in the freezing New York winter.

The 295-guestroom hotel took over a former Hampton Inn, and there are moments—especially in the main hallway and bathroom—where the building's less-luxe history is quite apparent. The bathroom—tiny even for New York standards—lacks ventilation, a shelf in the shower and adequate room to towel off next to the toilet. However, the ethos here is about getting out and exploring, so the bathroom blip can be easily forgotten. 

There's no place to work on a laptop, except for a top-heavy tray table that's prone to toppling—but the good news is that the hotel lobby perfectly doubles as a one-day office as well.

Neighborhood

The name Hell's Kitchen harkens back to this neighborhood's tough past with gangs, speakeasies, and danger. But these days, it's known instead for its posh condos, beloved restaurants, and gay bars. 

Time Out tip: When you check in, you'll get a QR code to scan, which will give details on all the hotel's offerings and special events—make sure to look through them to thoroughly enjoy all of the destination's offerings.

Address: 851 Eighth Avenue
Price: Starting at $175 per night
Closest Transport: 1, 2 to 50th Street; B, D, E to Seventh Avenue

A lot of hotels claim to offer all the sights and sounds of New York City at their doorstep. But at Moxy's Lower East Side location, the fun is literally just steps from your room because of the plenty of excitement to be had on site: a Japanese restaurant, a piano lounge, a subterranean club and a rooftop bar all call the hotel home.

The destination opened at the crossroads of the Lower East Side and Soho in late 2022, designed to evoke the neighborhood’s long history as a hub for entertainment and culture.

Though the square footage of each room is compact (like many Manhattan hotel rooms), Moxy’s thoughtful design makes smart use of the space with hooks, hangers, a fold-up desk and under-bed storage. With the hardwood floors, it's easy to slide a suitcase under the bed. The fold-up desk is a nice touch in particular.

The hotel’s positioned to offer a stunning view of the city’s skyline, so reserve a room with a city view if it’s within your budget. If not—or if you want to experience the view even more—head to the rooftop bar called The Highlight Room. 

Wrap up your day by taking a rainfall shower, set up behind a colorful glass shower wall, and resting your head on a comfortable bed before hitting the town again—whether that means stepping outside the doors of the hotel or not.

Time Out tip: Make sure to stop by both the on-site Japanese restaurant Sake No Hana, sultry piano bar Silver Lining or underground club Loosie's, where you will dance the night away.

Address: 145 Bowery
Price: Starting at $196 per night
Closest Transport: J, Z to Bowery; B, D to Grand Street

Opened in 1907 as the American Seaman’s Friend Society Sailors Home, the 14-story landmark was a residential hotel when hoteliers Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson, of the Bowery and the Maritime, took it over (some long-term residents remain). Fast-forward to today and the West Village destination has become a NYC landmark—and for good reason: the five-story, red brick facade is a testament to the beauty of the neighborhood and its important place within the city's culutural canon.

Inside, things are just as exciting: the wood-paneled, 50-square-foot rooms were inspired by vintage train sleeper compartments—there’s a single bed with built-in storage and brass hooks for hanging up your clothes, but also iPod docks and wall-mounted 23-inch flat-screen TVs.

If entering the hotel feels like stepping on to a film set, that's on purpose. Inspiration came from various celluloid sources, including Barton Fink’s Hotel Earle for the lobby. The "ballroom," decorated with mismatched chairs, oriental rugs and a fireplace topped with a stuffed ram, evokes an eccentric mansion.

Time Out tip: The hotel offers guests free bike rentals to roam around the city on two wheels. Make use of them!

Address: 113 Jane Street
Price: Starting at $129 per night
Closest Transport: Subway: A, C, E to 14th Street; L to Eighth Avenue

At the Moxy East Village, little details inspired by the neighborhood pop up throughout. The result is a hotel that welcomes you inside while also begging you to go out and explore the area it inhabits. The vibe is encouraging, upbeat and a whole lot of fun.

On the first floor of the hotel, you’ll find the Alphabet Bar & Café. The all-day venue has a main bar, an outdoor terrace with the feel of an apartment building’s backyard and a comfortable, den-like lounge sporting mismatched furniture and a wall of old VHS tapes. Unsurprising for a 24-hour space, the ambience changes over time, with a relaxed, conversational mood reigning during the day and more of a party scene at night.

Local artists’ work, like graffiti and cracked mirrors, can be found throughout the venue and that loose, creative atmosphere continues downstairs at the hotel’s stunning principal restaurant, Cathédrale. The French-Mediterranean eatery boasts a soaring main dining room—with a menu that has the pizzazz to match. 

The 286 bedrooms on-site have all been downsized to keep overall costs low, but they don’t feel too tiny thanks to a number of smart design tricks. Wall pegs replace the usual closets, sinks have been moved outside the bathrooms and the floor-to-ceiling windows let in plenty of light. If you’re traveling with young kids or a group of friends, you can snag a room with a bunk bed, or else opt for the Standard Queen. Continuing the theme of bringing the outside in, the rooms’ flat-screen televisions broadcast profiles of local hot spots, including Madame Vo and Blind Barber. 

Time Out tip: Make a reservation at Cathédrale and order everything on the menu.

Address: 112 East 11th Street
Price: Starting at $215 per night
Closest Transport: L to 3 Avenue; R, W to 8th Street; 6 to Astor Place

Margaritaville was originally founded in Key West in 1984 by the king of “Gulf Rock” himself, Jimmy Buffet. The chain, originally just a restaurant, is named after the singer's popular song of the same name and has become a staple for beach bums around the United States and the Caribbean. Since then, the iconic beach spot has been operating over 50 resorts including a multi-floor resort in Times Square that opened in 2021.

The bar is tiki-themed (of course) with totem poles affixed to either side and a thatched roof. There are big fake palm trees scattered across the eatery. It's a beach resort, even if we’re nowhere near the beach.

The spot doesn't let itself wander into the modern minimalist aesthetic so many other NYC hotels embody—there isn’t a single Eames chair, no Boysmells candle or Basquiat-style painting. It stays true to what it has always been, a Florida Keys beach resort, the fact that it’s in the center of one of the chicest cities in the world doesn’t deter it. It’s refreshingly itself and aimed directly at the clientele that loves it.   

Time Out tip: If you plan on staying at the pool for the day, consider purchasing a blender cup from the bar which gives you $8 refills on all drinks moving forward. 

Address: 560 7th Ave
Price: Starting at $110 per night
Closest Transport: Subway: Times Square 42nd Street, 1/2/3, N/Q/R, S

If you’re looking for a clean and safe place to rest your weary head after a long day out in the city, the M Social Hotel New York Times Square is the spot! It's decently priced and close to most major midtown attractions. Six blocks from Central Park, two avenues away from the Museum of Modern Art and smack dab in the center of Broadway's theater district.

Its rooms are straightforward yet functional, with sliding mirror doors, dark wooden furniture and comfortable bedding. Although the interiors are typical of mid-range corporate hotels, the amenities stand out: a microwave, mini-fridge, cable TV, a small sofa and, on higher floors, impressive city views. 

The bathrooms are a highlight with their waterfall showers and luxury toiletries. For the price and location, the M Social offers a pretty sweet deal.

The lobby is anchored by a large, sprawling bar with high vaulted ceilings showing off the view of Times Square. There are local beers on tap and a pretty impressive cocktail list. The bar has a foosball table, as well as a couch with wall-mounted TVs and game consoles for kids to play video games on—and a long shuffleboard table. 

Time Out tip: Grab a bite at in-house restaurant Beast and Butterflies. The mac and cheese are always a hit!

Address: 226 W 52nd Street
Price: Starting at $141 per night
Closest Transport: B, D, E to Seventh Avenue

Conveniently located around top-notch shops and restaurants that pepper three main Brooklyn neighborhoods (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens), NU Hotel is a solid option that won't cost too much if planning to stay in the borough.

Expect quirky niceties bundled up into a classy, eco-friendly package. Cork flooring, organic linens and recycled teak furniture cohabitate with 32-inch flat-screen TVs and Sangean audio systems, free Wi-Fi and AV docks for multi­media devices.

The minimalist standard rooms are comfortably sized, but Friends Suites have bunk beds, and the lofty Urban Suites are outfitted with hammocks and a padded-leather sleeping alcove. Just in case you're looking for something a bit out-of-the-ordinary.

Cyclists can borrow one of the hotel’s loaner bikes to pedal around Brooklyn, which we highly suggest making use of given the ease of travel on the mode of transport.

As for the amenities: for a fee of $25 plus tax per day, each guest has access to unlimited coffee, tea, water, fresh fruits and cookies, a continental breakfast each morning, $10 credit at the on-site to-go spot NU Bites and access to the hotel's gym.

Time Out tip: Ask the staff about the downtown Brooklyn Pass on offer, which will grant you discounts on a variety of local activities.

Address: 85 Smith Street
Price: Starting at $89 per night
Closest Transport: A, C, 2, 3, 4, 5 to Jay Street–Borough Hall; F, G to Bergen Street; R to Court Street

The Carlton Arms Art Project started in the late 1970s, when a small group of creative types brought fresh paint and new ideas to a run-down shelter.

Today, the site is a bohemian backpackers’ paradise and live-in gallery—every room, bathroom and hallway is festooned with outré artwork. You'll basically feel like you're sleeping inside a giant exhibit.

Themed quarters include the Money Room and a tribute to a traditional English cottage. Banksy fans should try to book room 5B, which the artist decorated back in 1999 alongside a nearby stairwell.

Itching to take home one of the many art pieces hanging around the space? You might want to head to a nearby art gallery instead: there have been plenty of offers on the various Banksys on premise, but management has refused them all.

One more thing to consider when securing your stay: about half of the rooms have shared bathrooms, so be prepared for a communal experience.

As creatively inspiring as the place is, don't expect to be lavished in luxury: room service is not a thing here and there are no TVs in the rooms. The single sign of the times: free Wi-Fi across the hotel. 

Time Out tip: Leave your belongings in the hotel and set out to explore the neighborhood on foot, reveling in the sorts of indie shops, theaters and galleries that call the area home.

Address: 160 East 25th Street
Price: Starting at $140 per night
Closest Transport: 6 to 23rd Street

A quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of midtown Manhattan, Millennium Hotel Broadway Times Square is the ideal resting place for theater lovers who wish to be steps away from most Broadway destinations.

Word to the wise: the upper-level rooms certainly feel cleaner and a tiny bit more luxurious than others, so try booking one of those if planning to stay here. All around, enjoy free Wi-Fi access, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Manhattan and large flat-screen TVs that you might forget about when noticing the stocked minibar.

Although certainly cheaper than other hotels in the area, Millennium doesn't feel as high-end, so opt to stay here if you're looking for simpler lodgings and planning to spend most of your time outside the room.

Time Out tip: Make use of the on-site staff when organizing your days. Most of the folks who work here are multilingual and will be able to advise on the best things to do in Times Square and beyond.

Address: 145 West 44th Street
Price: Starting at $201 per night
Closest Transport: 1, 2, 3 to Times Square; 7 to Times Square

The dark-wood interior, moody lighting and lilting jazz music make musician René Calvo’s Harlem inn feel more like a 1930s speakeasy than a 21st-century B&B.

The airy suites, named for Harlem Renaissance figures such as Chester Himes and Cozy Cole, have restored tin ceilings, a quirky mix of junk-store furnishings and working sinks in original antique cabinets.

Right in the middle of Harlem, the lodgings are ideal for those seeking to explore upper Manhattan and feel a sense of history all around them without breaking their wallets. 

A few things to keep in mind: there is no air conditioning on premise, the bathrooms are all shared, no TVs in sight and, when it comes to eating and drinking, you'll have to look outside the guest house.

There is, however, a shared lounge on site, where you'll get to mingle with fellow guests—perhaps leading you to set up common excursions throughout Harlem with new friends.

Keep in mind that there are a total of four rooms here, two suits per floor, so you might want to consider booking your stay well in advance if you've got your sights sets on this specific area.

Time Out tip: Since there is no food on site, consider heading to nearby Harlem Breakfast Club to grab some traditional African American fare as your first meal of the day.

Address: 242 W 123rd Street
Price: Starting at $150 per night
Closest Transport: A, C, B, D to 125th Street