There's no place like New York City. The skyscrapers, the Broadway theaters, the world-class dining scene, and...inevitably, the high prices. It's no surprise that a recent CBSNews article pegged NYC as Ameria's most-expensive city. So for travelers to the Big Apple, how do you do NYC on a budget? We think it's possible for two people to do a weekend in NYC for only $300. Here's how:

Hotel: around $200

You might think it's a myth, but you can grab a hotel in Manhattan for $100/night, and the cheapest way to travel to New York is to snag one of these rooms. For the best deals, we recommend checking out Groupon's NYC hotel deals page. If those don't strike your fancy, consider these Manhattan mainstays:

• Marrakech Hotel, a Moroccan-themed boutique hotel on NYC's Upper West Side. It's location on Broadway puts you near dozens of theaters (starting at $112/night).
• The Lexington New York City, a sleek 3.5-star Midtown Manhattan hotel near the Chrysler Building and Grand Central Station (starting at $118/night).
• Park Central Hotel, a recently renovated 4-star hotel that once hosted Mae West, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Jackie Gleason. Steps from Times Square (starting at $109/night).
• Row NYC, a 1928 art-deco classic that's home to City Kitchen, a popular culinary destination for locals (starting at $79/night).

Food & Drink: about $55

Yeah, you could stick to grabbing a hot dog from a street vendor for every meal. But you shouldn't leave New York City without exploring its unrivaled culinary scene. If you're looking the save cash, try this itinerary:

• Lunch on Day 1: $15 for pizza at Numero 28 in the East Village.
• Dinner on Day 1: $9 for soul food or seafood at Paula's Soul Cafe in the Bronx.
• Lunch on Day 2: $20 for Korean food at Bann Restaurant in Hell's Kitchen.
• Dinner on Day 2: $10 for build-your-own burgers in Brooklyn at The Burger Bistro.

Museum Visit: $15 or less

Depending on who you ask, New York City has around 100 museums. And while first-time vacationers tend to congregate around the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the American Museum of National History, locals know the city have a number of hidden-gem institutions. For doing NYC on a budget, we recommend any of picking one of the following:

• Museum of the City of New York, which offers complimentary bagels at 10 a.m. each day. Munch on your snack while learning about NYC's centuries-old history through maps, photography, and other artifacts ($15 for two admissions).
• The Skyscraper Museum in Battery Park.This museum charts the skyscraper's rise in popularity with models of some of the world's most-fascinating architectural wonders ($8.25 for up to five admissions).
• Staten Island Museum. Learn about New York's least-populated borough through 2 million artifacts at this art and natural-science museum ($10 for two admissions).
• El Museo del Barrio in East Harlem, featuring the drawings, paintings, photography, and other artwork of Latin American from the past 8 centuries ($10 for two admissions).
• The City Reliquary Museum in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The A.V. Club calls this "the city's oddest museum," a quirky, colorful place with a hodgepodge of artifacts and knickknacks, and antiques ($8.25 for two admissions).

Don't like our picks? Shop for other NYC museum deals here.

Catch a Show: about $20

If you're doing NYC on the cheap, you probably aren't going to score tickets to Hamilton. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy top-flight entertainment at any one of dozens of theaters. Whether you want to do a concert, theater production, or comedy, we've got you covered:

• Music: Singalong (and request) your favorite tunes at Shake, Rattle, and Roll Dueling Pianos ($18 for two tickets).
• Theater: Witness an American classic—the first Broadway production written by an African-American woman—with seats to A Raisin in the Sun at the Harlem Repertory Theatre ($21 for two tickets).
• Comedy: Catch one of stand-up comedy's up-and-coming talents with tickets to the Broadway Comedy Club ($21 for two tickets).
• Magic: Magicians who have been featured on America's Got Talent and Last Comic Standing take the stage for the Times Square Magic Show at the LOL Comedy Club ($9 for two tickets)

Are these shows not at your tempo? Shop for other NYC shows here.

Other NYC Activities: $10 or less

The most New York activity you can do is to go visit Lady Liberty (i.e. the Statue of Liberty) herself. Check Groupon and you might be able to hitch a ride on a one-hour Liberty Island Cruise for $8 a pop. Other affordable options include:

• Renting a bike in Central Park with NYC Bike Rental ($10 for a two-hour rental)
• Checking out the newest trend in NYC nightlife: Quiet Clubbing ($9.50 for two admissions)
• Taking an audio tour of historic Grand Central Station with Orpheo ($10 for two)