Few cities in this country are as expensive to visit as New York when it comes to accommodation. A company I used to work for, as part of the business travel guidelines, actually had separate rules (i.e. higher maximum nightly rates) just for New York. Friends have joked around about how once I leave New York, they won’t visit anymore because they will no longer have a free place to crash at and wouldn’t be crazy enough to pay the potentially $300+/night for a hotel room here. How lucky you would be to have a friend who lives in New York that will house you.