HI New York City Hostel — the cheapest beds in the city
If you're a solo traveller or backpacker who wants the cheapest bed and to meet new people, HI NYC is the answer. It's the biggest hostel in New York with the cheapest dorm beds in the city, a large backyard, a shared kitchen and daily meet-up activities, in a historic Upper West Side building.
It's on the Upper West Side in a historic 1883 red-brick building — a safe, quiet, community-feeling district near Central Park (a 10-minute walk) and Columbia University. The 103 St station (line 1) is a 3-minute walk; the 1/2/3 trains reach Midtown in 15 minutes or Downtown in 25. The area has restaurants, supermarkets and convenience stores, cheaper than mid-city — great for budget travellers who still want to be in Manhattan.
"A $65 bed in Manhattan, clean and safe, meeting travellers from all over the world, with a backyard to relax in — best value for a solo trip."
Accommodation is dorms of various sizes (4, 6, 8, 10 beds), single-sex and mixed, with personal in-room lockers and beds with privacy curtains and reading lights. The shared bathrooms are clean and well-kept. Beyond dorms there are private rooms for those who want privacy at still-budget prices. Facilities are full — a big shared kitchen, laundry, lounges and free Wi-Fi.
The biggest strength is the atmosphere and activities — HI NYC has the largest hostel backyard in the city (very rare in Manhattan) and runs daily meet-ups from pub crawls and walking tours to movie nights and free walking tours. It's ideal for solo travellers who want to meet companions; many say they arrived alone and left with a whole group.
Honestly, the limit is that it's a hostel, not a hotel — in a dorm you share with strangers, with people coming and going, snoring, and low privacy. Bathrooms are shared, the old building's elevators can be slow, and as a big hostel (600+ beds) it can feel crowded at peak times. If you want quiet privacy, this isn't it (unless you book a private room).
On value, HI NYC is the cheapest clean, safe bed in Manhattan. A $65 bed in a city where the cheapest hotels still start at $125+ leaves lots of money for the city. It suits solo travellers, backpackers, students and anyone who values meeting people and saving over privacy.
Bottom line: HI NYC Hostel suits people who understand they're choosing a hostel — trading privacy for price and meeting people. If you're a social solo/backpacker on a budget, go for it — great value and fun. If you want a quiet private room, book a private room here or see the budget hotels in our list.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Cheapest dorm beds in Manhattan
- ✓ Big backyard + daily meet-up activities
- ✓ Clean and safe for a hostel
- ✓ Shared kitchen + in-room lockers
- ! Dorms are shared, low privacy
- ! Big hostel, crowded at peak times
- ✓ Safe Upper West Side near Central Park
- ✓ Meet travellers from all over the world
- ✓ Private rooms for those wanting privacy
- ✓ Price leaves money for sightseeing
- ! Shared bathrooms, slow old-building elevators
- ! Dorm noise at night
- 💡If you want privacy — dorms are shared · Fix → book a private room (still cheaper than a hotel) or a budget hotel in our list
- 💡If you're a light sleeper — dorms have comings and goings/snoring · Fix → bring earplugs + eye mask, or book a smaller (4-bed) dorm
- 💡If you carry valuables — you share with strangers · Honestly, always use the in-room locker and bring your own padlock
Heading to New York for the World Cup?
New York is a 2026 host city — see our full World Cup guide (matches, where to stay, tickets, visa) plus how to reach MetLife Stadium on match day.