short-term rental without breaking the bank?

contact an agent. otherwise you are going to find it nearly impossible.

I would try VRBO and Craigslist, and avoid ads with lots of exclamation points (fakes). If you can't find anything in a search, try increasing the range to $3,500, look for a studio or look at midtown or UES, which are usually cheaper.

Thanks for the suggestions. Jim - would an agent be able to do this without it becoming significantly more expensive? Maly - thanks for the tips on weeding out fakes on Craigslist.

no jd, you'll pay for it.

Craigslist is your best bet. Broker fee is typically half a month of rent. You can also try this site looking for the word "furnished" in the description and no-fee.