You could spend $100+ on a hotel for the night, or spend around $30 or less on a temp place. The money you save CAN be used for touristy things. That's $70 a

You could spend $100+ on a hotel for the night, or spend around $30 or less on a temp place. The money you save CAN be used for touristy things. That's $70 a day that can thrown somewhere else besides for shelter. They could be out partying, trying out food places, buying things, etc. This is just the savings from not staying at a hotel.. A tourist who stays at a hotel ($100/night) might only have budgeted $50/day to spend outside of hotel costs. A cheap tourist could budget $100/day, stay at a temp place and still get more out of NYC than someone who budgeted $150/day and stayed at a hotel.