When people think of the “Big Apple”, one word that comes to mind is “expensive”. Those people would be correct, to an extent. Surprisingly, there are actually quite a few affordable hotel options both in and around New York City, you just have to know where to look. Researching all that can take a while though, so we took the liberty of doing all the research and finding the best budget hotel options.

The Trick to Making NYC Affordable

Everyone defines affordable differently, for this article we defined affordable as around $150 per night. Most days that price point is hard to come by if you want to stay in Manhattan. The trick to making NYC affordable is to utilize public transit and stay at a hotel with easy access to Manhattan via subway. The good news is that there are vibrant neighborhoods which have a hotel near public transit into Manhattan. Every affordable hotel we found is also near public transit into NYC making it easy to get around and back to the hotel after a long day of sightseeing.

Best Areas for NYC Budget Hotels

After researching different neighborhoods and areas throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, we’ve found that the affordable options are in Queens, Brooklyn and New Jersey. Connecticut was typically more expensive and had a longer (and more expensive) commute to New York City.

As for best neighborhoods with affordable budget hotels in Queens, Brooklyn and New Jersey. We also tried to sort out any neighborhoods that may make new travelers and families uncomfortable from the high crime rates. Even then, we were able to find plenty of hotel options that average under $150 a night, and a few options under $100 in New Jersey. In terms of prices, New Jersey offered the most affordable hotels with the most options to get in and out of Manhattan. If you are flying into LaGuardia or JFK Queens and Brooklyn make sense. For driving NJ is the best budget options because you can avoid the bridge tolls.

Neighborhoods in NJ with Affordable Budget Hotels

Budget travelers looking for cheap hotels will definitely want to look into New Jersey first. New Jersey is conveniently close to Manhattan, and many of the hotel prices can average around $115 – $125 per night. In fact, we found seven neighborhoods in New Jersey that combine affordable budget hotels with short commute times and neighborhoods most travelers feel safe in. These neighborhoods are: North Bergen, Newark Airport, Downtown Newark, Edgewater, Journal Square and Fort Lee.

Affordable Hotels with Shuttle to NYC

North Bergen will appeal to people looking for hotel van service to get to NYC, rather than taking public transportation. The area is heavily populated and offers some nice restaurant options and parks. Hotels in this area accommodate economy travelers who want to take a shuttle from the hotel lobby to the downtown Manhattan.

Budget Hotels in Newark & Jersey City

Newark Airport area has cheap hotels and is good for people who are flying in. The immediate area can be lacking, but only takes 26 minutes to get to NYC Penn Station with the NJ transit trains. Downtown Newark is a great place to stay for any traveler. Manhattan is a quick commute via the PATH system, and Downtown Newark has plenty of fun activities like restaurants, bars, museums and performing arts.

Journal Square is a part of Jersey City that many commuters pass through often. Most major NYC sights and destinations are less than 20 minutes away. Journal Square is very convenient and hotel prices are incredibly low. Fort Lee is a nice suburban area with a high korean population. The hotels in Fort Lee offer shuttle services, allowing travelers to avoid driving or taking public transportation.

NJ Budget Hotels Near Ferry to NYC

Edgewater is a nice quiet neighborhood with a fantastic view of Manhattan. Families looking to stay very close to Manhattan without paying a fortune will enjoy Edgewater.

Best Budget Hotels in NJ near Transit to NYC

Neighborhoods in Queens with Affordable Budget Hotels

Queens is a fantastic choice with plenty of affordable budget hotel options. Travelers should definitely look at the Queensboro Bridge Area first, which has 10 hotel options ranging from $100-$150 per night. Guests will also enjoy the close proximity to the NYC subway system and the short 20 minute commute.

Other great options, especially for families, are Corona, Flushing and Hunters Point. Corona is a nice small and quiet neighborhood with a great diverse population and plenty of parks. Flushing has a Chinatown vibe with plenty of fun and interesting things to do, especially for young couples or travelers. Flushing is also a great area to stay to save money, having a good number of hotel options that can go below the $125 threshold. Hunters Point is very close to Manhattan and offers an amazing view of the city. You’ll find convenience here, as well as an affordable boutique hotel.

Best Budget NYC Hotels in Queens, NYC

Neighborhoods in Brooklyn with Affordable Budget Hotels

Brooklyn has steadily become the hotspot location for food, fun and nightlife. As more and more people move into Brooklyn, prices have steadily been rising as well. Brooklyn still has plenty of cheap options for people looking for a good deal, and many people will enjoy Brooklyn’s offerings. The top two Brooklyn neighborhood picks for affordable hotels are Gowanus and Sunset Park. These two areas are only 35 minutes away from Times Square via subway, and the neighborhoods are very safe and enjoyable for families and young couples. Gowanus has a lot of restaurants and bars with their own signature “specialty”, making for a unique experience. Sunset Park is both a neighborhood and an actual park, that offers gorgeous views over the water to Manhattan, and is primarily occupied by young families.

Best Budget NYC Hotels in Brooklyn, NYC