Hotels vs. Airbnb in NYC: What’s the Difference?

Hotels vs. Airbnb in NYC: An Overview?

When you visit NYC, you can choose between staying in a hotel or an Airbnb, and there are pros and cons for each.

In New York City, there are hundreds of hotels to choose from, and as of September 2021, over 36,000 Airbnb rentals – both rooms to rent in occupied homes, or entire apartments or townhouses. Just like New York City itself, its hotels and Airbnb rentals are diverse, unique, and come with a sliding scale of price points from $1000 a night to under $100.

New York City offers a wide swath of hotels all over the city from budget to high-end luxury options that may offer amenities, like daily cleaning, workout rooms, and concierge service that you can’t get by staying in an Airbnb.

While an Airbnb may be cheaper than a mid-sized hotel in Manhattan, short-term rentals mean staying inside someone’s home, unless you are renting an apartment that is being solely used as an Airbnb, which is becoming more commonplace.

NYC Hotels

In NYC there are hotels for every price point and aesthetic. There are chain (both affordable and luxury) hotels like the Hampton Inn and Suites, the W Hotel, Sheraton, the Four Seasons, and DoubleTree to name a few. There are boutique hotels across the Big Apple, like the Crosby House and the Soho House downtown, the High Line Hotel in Chelsea, and tourists who want some NYC history with their hotel stay could consider a trip to the Carlyle, Grammercy Hotel, Waldorff Historia, the Algonquin, and The Plaza.

New York City hotel prices vary depending on the location, season, amenities, and length of stay, and it’s impossible to give a range due to the vast swath of options, but suffice to say most rooms start at approximately $100 a night and go up from there.

NYC Airbnb

There are approximately 36,000 Airbnb listings as of Sept. 10, 2021, and approximately 18,000 are in Manhattan. Some are long-term stays, others are per night. For example, in October 2021, there are over 300 listings available in Manhattan from an entire apartment in Battery Park City in lower Manhattan for $235 a night, or a private room in Times Square in Midtown, Manhattan for $90 a night.

Airbnbs offer tourists a way to experience New York City living in actual New Yorker’s homes. Airbnbs, like hotels, in Manhattan, can be upscale in apartment buildings with amenities like swimming pools, or simply a bedroom in a stranger’s apartment. You can rent an entire apartment or house in a non-touristy neighborhood or you can spend more to stay in popular neighborhoods like Greenwich Village or Chelsea.

Airbnb offers “Superhost” listings for some apartments and homes whose hosts have stellar reviews and go above and beyond the required necessities of an Airbnb listing. Like anywhere, if you are staying in a stranger’s apartment there are risks involved, and it is important to read the reviews of any Airbnb you are considering renting.

Key Differences

When you visit a hotel in New York City, or elsewhere, you are guaranteed some or a lot of amenities, depending on the hotel, and employees who can help you if you lose your room key, suggest a local restaurant, or help you navigate the intricacies of the subway. Some hotels offer room service, swimming pools and spas, workout rooms, and on-site bars and restaurants.

Some Airbnb hosts provide amenities, but most, are simply renting out a room in their apartment, and unlike a hotel, if you lose the “key,” you may find yourself in a difficult situation. Airbnb rentals may be in luxury apartments, but affordable rentals in NYC may be simply short-term stay apartments in walk-up buildings.

Outside of Manhattan, Airbnb properties may offer tennis courts, swimming pools, and large outdoor spaces, but these amenities are far and few between in a city setting. Of course, visiting New York City is often about culture, dining, shopping, and visiting historic sites like Central Park and the Statue of Liberty, so you may not have time to indulge in on-site hotel amenities.

However, staying at an Airbnb, assuming you are not renting a room, can offer privacy and an opportunity to experience a New York neighborhood, and your host may be able to suggest great local restaurants, coffee shops, and galleries that are not in your guidebook. There are many key differences between an Airbnb and a hotel in Manhattan. Choosing between them often simply comes down to what makes a visitor comfortable and where they can afford to stay. A pull-out couch in an occupied apartment is obviously going to be less expensive than a stay at a high-end hotel in midtown.

Special Considerations

For the last few years, home-rental companies, including Airbnb, have been struggling with regulations in major cities like New York. Airbnb critics have often raised alarms that instead of individuals renting out rooms or homes for personal income, commercial outfitters have bought up large swaths of apartments in cities and used them as illegal hotels for visitors.

Some New Yorkers object to Airbnb, claiming that it’s illegal to rent out rooms in your apartment and that many hosts are commercial operators. (When the owner/renter continues to occupy the space, short-term rentals are not illegal, although some buildings/leases may not allow them.) 

The real fear is that landlords will seek to cash in on Airbnb by converting affordable rental apartments to hotel rooms, thus diminishing the city’s already tight housing market. Airbnb insists that both hosts and guests benefit, with New York hosts using the service to help cover their rent, according to Airbnb.

The Bottom Line

Airbnb offers (mostly) affordable rates for travelers, especially in expensive cities like New York. Airbnb hosts can be quirkier than hotel staff, but they also can be friendlier and make your visit to a city more personal.

On the other hand, the services found in hotels, especially upscale luxuries can be appealing to travelers, as well. New York City offers both hotels and