You could look stuff up. FIDI is Financial District, and lots of folks stay there. LIC is cheaper and closer (and quicker). You still have to get to the subway station (plenty of close hotels to subways in LIC) in FIDI (or UWS or UES, etc) and ride to your destination just like in LIC. And the money savings can be substantial.
I'm curious as to where your Centrally Located lodging is that doesn't require getting to and from and riding the subway? Say, for someone going to a Broadway show, to the Natural History Museum, to see the Statue of Liberty, and going to a Yankee Game?