How to visit New York City on a tight budget

The Hotel Chelsea, New York City.
Originally uploaded by Jim Linwood

For those of us who live here, the expense of New York City is something we’ve long since adjusted to, says NY Times writer Matt Gross.

Designer tank tops for $140, truffled hamburgers for $150, studio apartments renting for upward of $3,000 — even in the midst of recession, these things seem somehow normal, the price of admission to the greatest city in the world.

For visitors, however, these can be seriously intimidating numbers. Even if you’re not aiming for high-end Manhattan indulgence, the basic costs of lodging, transportation, food, shopping and entertainment are the most expensive in the nation.

But there’s an easy way to bring the price of a New York vacation down to earth. It’s called research.

About six months ago, I put together a frugal traveler’s guide to trip planning, which involved lots of Googling and various Web sites like Craigslist and Oanda.com. Now I’ve created one specifically for New York City, offering what I hope is everything you’ll need to figure out how to have a good time without a Wall Street bonus.