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December 17, 2014 9:27 AM   Subscribe

Where in the US can I live for a month with a budget of $1000?

I am located in NYC. I don't need to travel anywhere exotic. I assume transportation would be the most expensive part so I don't mind staying within even an hour of the city.

*Don't need internet
*Don't need interesting food options, I'm more of a rice and beans person.
*I don't need activities, I plan on spending most of my time reading and writing.
*I don't drive
*Safe neighborhood
*Clean

I did a little research and ultimately I'm looking for anything cheaper than $20 a night at a hostel. I'm wondering if there are any options I'm overlooking like perhaps subletting? I don't really know where to begin with subletting though. I am a 25 y/o college student if that matters.
posted by laptolain to Travel & Transportation around United States (19 answers total) 16 users marked this as a favorite
 
Response by poster: I would also like to know about any hostel recommendations in the tri-state area . I've only stayed at the one in Buffalo
posted by laptolain at 9:30 AM on December 17, 2014


I'd look into house-sitting for someone. Looking after pets, etc. Put an ad on Craigslist and see what comes up.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:34 AM on December 17, 2014 [7 favorites]


One thing to look into if your timeframe is flexible is house-sitting. I've used this site before although I did not end up booking anyone. There is a small fee for sitters but you can browse listings for free. There are tons of other sites, too.
posted by muddgirl at 9:36 AM on December 17, 2014 [2 favorites]


While you're at craigslist, check out the hudson valley rentals and just put down 400 bucks or so. You'll find something, weekly or monthly rentals are all over the place.
posted by quadbonus at 9:36 AM on December 17, 2014 [1 favorite]


Also AirBNB in a city like, oh, Albany NY would definitely have shared dorm rooms in your budget that would also be pretty neat experiences.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 9:48 AM on December 17, 2014


This is basically what housesitting is for. We've booked sitters from housecarers.com . In our case, we want somebody to walk our dog a few times a day, but apart from that it's a free house... We're all set for this year, but send me a memail if you're ever interested in doing this in Chicago in late December/early January, we almost always need a sitter then! :-) We frequently pay our sitters a few hundred bucks, I'm not sure if that's standard though.
posted by wyzewoman at 9:48 AM on December 17, 2014 [5 favorites]


Depending on your housing situation, you might be able to do a housing swap. There are certainly lots of people who want to be in NYC.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 9:52 AM on December 17, 2014 [1 favorite]


A monastery, perhaps. I have often stayed at this one in Michigan, a few hours from where I live. They are Benedictine, so hospitality is part of their mission, and there is no set cost for staying. I've paid anything from $0 to $60/day when I've gone. They ask you to come to some services, which are usually short. I don't know if they can accommodate a long visit but the guest master is easy to talk to by email. There may be something similar closer to you.
posted by not that girl at 9:52 AM on December 17, 2014 [5 favorites]


Are you definitely set on a hostel?

There are AirBnB places you could rent for a month for about $500. I searched July 1 - July 31 just on a lark, and came up with a decent-looking apartment in Center City Philadelphia (which you can get to via public transit from NYC,1 if you really want to cut costs), and then another one up in Vermont with its own art studio (you'd have to drive).

Either one would leave you about $500 in other expenses (e.g. food) for the month which is doable if you eat frugally.

I'm not clear exactly when you want to do this, but a summer sublet in a university town for a month ought to be under $500. Many of them aren't going to be on AirBnB though. I would check Craigslist and I'd look specifically at suburb-y university towns rather than big-city ones, since places in the city tend to fill up over the summer more easily.

1 Take NJ Transit to Trenton, and then get on SEPTA to Philly. I think you can actually buy a NJT ticket that covers the SEPTA fare. Check this site, but it looks like $20 each way, which is probably even cheaper than a Chinatown bus. From Philly, you can access all the Main Line college towns (Bryn Mawr, Haverford, etc.) which might have inexpensive summer sublets in student apartments in your price range. Areas around Boston accessible by the T are also target-rich environments for summer apartments, but getting to Boston from NYC is more expensive than Philly since you are stuck with Amtrak or a bus, if you can't bum a cheap ride.
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:54 AM on December 17, 2014


There are AirBnB places you could rent for a month for about $500. I searched July 1 - July 31 just on a lark, and came up with a decent-looking apartment in Center City Philadelphia (which you can get to via public transit from NYC,1 if you really want to cut costs)

That's not in Center City, and it's more Mantua than University City if anything, and may or may not meet the "safe" requirement. It really depends on which side of Lancaster Avenue it is (east being closer to Drexel University), and which block it's on. A friend used to live around 39th and Baring and had many interesting experiences.
posted by The Michael The at 11:21 AM on December 17, 2014 [1 favorite]


Heck, here's an AirBNB of an entire house within walking distance to the LIRR in Long Island for $500/month. Now I'm kind of jealous.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:55 AM on December 17, 2014


Lol oops that's 500/night. NEVERMIND.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:55 AM on December 17, 2014 [2 favorites]


Here you go, an Attic in Southhampton. JUST AS GOOD.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 11:57 AM on December 17, 2014 [6 favorites]


The various travel podcasts I listen to have gone on at length about trustedhousesitters.com, which may reduce your housing cost to zero. I think they vet you before you can take your first sitting assignment, so not sure if that would work if you're on a tight timetable.
posted by Happy Dave at 1:36 AM on December 18, 2014 [2 favorites]


Also, most of them involve looking after pets, so might not be suitable if you want to be completely uninterrupted.
posted by Happy Dave at 1:38 AM on December 18, 2014


You can rent a room or half an apartment for way less than $20 a day in most of the US. Just stay out of big cities.
posted by michaelh at 8:07 AM on December 18, 2014 [1 favorite]


I stayed here a little less than 15 years ago when I needed some time to myself, and found it very relaxing and peaceful. It comes with vegetarian meals and access to meditation & yoga sessions if you want, and no one bothers you, even if there are some offbeat types around.

I remember having a room to myself (very simple accommodations) for less than $500 for 2 weeks, but it looks like that might only get a dorm room now? but maybe it depends on how many people are visiting. I remember nice walking paths, open views and room to think. Weather could be an issue, though, if you're doing this in the winter. It was pretty no-frills.
posted by mdn at 12:16 PM on December 18, 2014 [1 favorite]


I live in DC, where rent is insane, and sublets here are available in the <$1000/month range. This is totally doable. If I were you, I'd head south where the weather is nice.
posted by capricorn at 4:19 PM on December 18, 2014


As for where to begin: Craigslist.
posted by capricorn at 4:21 PM on December 18, 2014


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