How to Stay in New York City for Free Using Trusted Housesitters
The best way to slow down and actually live in the city that never sleeps, without spending thousands.
If you’ve ever dreamed of spending time in New York City but couldn’t justify the cost, you’re not alone. Hotels and rentals in NYC are so expensive but we found a way around it. In this post, we’re sharing exactly how to stay in New York City for free using TrustedHousesitters. From applying to sits to what it’s really like to housesit in NYC, here’s how we’ve been able to live like locals in the Big Apple without paying for a hotel.
What Is TrustedHousesitters and How Does It Work?
TrustedHousesitters is basically free pet-sitting, with a membership. You pay to join, the homeowners pay to join, and you apply to match with each other. No money is exchanged between sitter and host. It’s a fair trade: you take care of their home and pets, and in return, you get a free place to stay. People do this solo, with their partner, and even family. We created a partner’s profile.
We joined in August 2024 and were lucky enough to get our first sit just two weeks later! A two-week stay in Upper Manhattan, Washington Heights. We only applied to cat sits (more on that later), and it lined up perfectly.
Quick breakdown of joining TrustedHousesitters:
- Sign up and build your sitter profile (photos, references, about you)
- Search for sits based on location and dates
- Apply with a message that shows why you’re a good fit
- If accepted, you take care of the pets + house while they’re away
Checkout their website here if you want to learn even more about joining TrustedHousesitters.
It’s as simple as it sounds, but like anything, there’s a learning curve. We’d already been caring for other people’s animals, homes, and plants for 10+ years, so we felt ready. But if this is your first time, know that accidents can happen and things can get stressful. It helps to have a little real-world experience before you’re trusted with someone else’s pet and house keys.
Why We Needed to Find a Way to Stay for Free
Who doesn’t want to be in New York City? The only thing keeping most people from living their dreams among the people and the energy of the city is the cost. Even if you’re already self-employed and living that digital nomad life like us, it’s hard to justify dropping thousands on a short stay.
We stayed in NYC for five days in August 2024 and booked a very modest hotel in the Bowery District, Untitled at 3 Freeman Alley. It was cute, clean, and kind of perfect (we’ll write a separate post about that one because it really was a 10/10). But even still, it cost almost $1,000 for a tiny room.
That’s when we knew: we had to get back to the city, but we couldn’t pay to do it again. We needed to find a way to stay longer, ideally, for free. That’s when TrustedHousesitters came into the picture.
How Much You Can Save by Housesitting in NYC
We’re not exaggerating when we say this saved us thousands staying for free in New York City,
Like we mentioned, our four-night hotel stay cost nearly $1,000. It was a great hotel, but for that price we got a bed, a bathroom, and not much else.
With TrustedHousesitters, our 14-night NYC stay was free. We only paid for the annual membership ($129), and that’s it.
So the math looks like:
- $1,000 = 5 nights in a hotel
- $129 = a year of TrustedHousesitters access
- $0 = 2 full weeks in New York City
Totally worth it. And that’s after just one sit. In our first 8-months of THS we have been able to stay in places like San Francisco, Seattle, Detroit, and Asheville all for free.
Our TrustedHousesitters Experience in NYC
We stayed in Washington Heights in a cozy, quiet apartment, caring for two cats. It was peaceful, easy to settle into, and gave us the slow, real-life NYC experience we were craving. We talked to our host multiple times over facetime and eventually met her and her cats when we arrived in the city.
Yes, we are dog lovers but, we only apply to cat sits, mostly because:
- Cats stay inside (no late-night walks or weather stress)
- They’re pretty independent
- They match our vibe as remote workers and slow travelers
We’d work in the mornings, walk the neighborhood in the afternoons, pick up groceries, make dinner, hang with the cat. That was our NYC routine. No rushing, no pressure. Just living. Choosing a neighborhood or main activity we wanted to focus on and taking our time enjoying those experiences.
The Pros + Cons of Housesitting in New York City
Pros:
- Free stay in one of the most expensive cities
- Real neighborhood experience
- Built-in routine with the pets
- More peaceful than a hotel or busy Airbnb
Cons:
- Not a vacation: you’re responsible for someone else’s home and pets
- Unexpected stuff happens (spills, repairs, picky cats)
- Competitive listings, especially in big cities
- You have to communicate clearly and follow instructions
It’s not for everyone, but if you like animals and you’re respectful with people’s homes, it’s a no-brainer.
Tips for Landing Your First Housesit in NYC
- Start small. If you can, do a local sit first to get reviews.
- Your profile matters. Keep it warm, honest, and include good photos.
- Only apply to sits that feel like a good fit. Don’t stretch yourself too thin.
Why TrustedHousesitters Lets You Actually Live in a City
When you’re housesitting, you’re not checking into a hotel. You’re not running around with an itinerary. You get to just be there. You get all of the luxuries of a fully stocked home and all of the comfort that comes with it.
- A kitchen
- A living room
- A grocery store down the street
- A pet that needs love
- A neighborhood to walk every day
It’s not just travel, it’s real life in a new place. And that’s what we’re after.
Final Thoughts: Should You Try TrustedHousesitters in NYC?
If staying in NYC sounds out of reach, this changes things. Housesitting has totally shifted the way we travel. It lets us stay longer, settle in, and live slower without spending a ton of money. If you love animals, enjoy routine, and want to see the world from inside a real home, this is worth trying.
