Well, considering that even a bunk in a youth hostel in NYC can cost as much as $100 a night, why not stay at one of the hotels offered by the NY Inns Hotel Group (see link, below). They have three very nice hotels right in Manhattan, in the Murray Hill (near Times Square), Union Square (near the East and West Village) and Upper West Side (near Lincoln Center and Central Park) neighborhoods, and the rooms are nice, the service is good, and they re affordable, too! Check out the link below to see their webpage, and, no, I don t work for them or anything like that, I m just a fan.The only cheaper accommodations in New York City might be the YMCA, where very basic rooms right in Manhattan go for as little as $65 per night (see link, below).Good luck, and welcome to the Big Apple!!
Chelsea International Hostel is US$85/night. http://www.chelseahostel.comThey will even let you get a discount on an airport shuttle from the airport.The max you can stay is 14 days and have to be 18 and older.http://www.chelseahostel.com/policy.html