New York

Yes, if your budget can take it: the subway runs 24/7, volunteer greeters will show you around for free, and New York State tops Spartacus's state-by-state index. The problem is price. A dorm bed averages about $43 a night and a cheap meal runs $28, so travelers on a tight budget need to plan where every dollar goes.

Montréal

Yes, especially between May and October, and if you want an easy first city in North America. Night buses fill the gap after the metro, central hostels have women-only rooms and the queer Village is two stops from downtown. The catch is a long, hard winter and a bill that creeps up because many prices are shown before tax.