Budget stay in Dublin

You might try booking.com for an idea of what’s available for your time frame.

Thank you Margie. It may be a good place to get some info!

A few months ago we stayed in Dublin one night on each end of our trip, and since we don't spend much time in lodging, we picked EasyHotel and Point A. Both were $160 for a double, very similar small modern rooms with a queen bed, bath, and just enough floor space to get to both sides of the bed. PointA included breakfast, so it was actually the cheaper one (and slightly larger room).

It's not quaint, and it's not a B&B, but I recently enjoyed a stay at Zanzibar Locke, which has twin rooms in November for $215, so just over your set price. The rooms have a sitting area and kitchen, so you can save on costs by eating some meals in your little apartment. The location is great, just over the Ha'Penny Bridge from Temple Bar. Coffee shop in the lobby. I booked that room through a booking site (linked from Trivago, probably) and may have paid under $100/person/night. For corporation-owned accommodation such as this, I don't mind using a third-party site to get the best price. For independent stays, I book directly.

The booking.com was a great idea, and it helped me narrow down what I wanted. I appreciate everyone's input. I'll report back on the hotel I picked, once I stay there! According to Dara the Dublin guide, my hotel is "literally 2 minutes to the city center."

Thanks again everyone!

In 1997, I stayed at the budget Lyndon House on Gardiner Place on the Northside of Dublin: https://www.lyndonhouse.net/. It's housed in an old Georgian town house. You'll be near O'Connell Street on one side and the old Mountjoy Square on another. The owner at the time was a former hurling athlete and friendly.

Two years later, I stayed at a budget B&B on Clonliffe Road across from Croke Park, one of the two major sports stadiums in Dublin but cannot remember the name. If you put Clonliffe Road B&Bs in your search engine, several will turn up. The negative is Clonliffe leads to the Port of Dublin, so there's truck traffic. Though I'm somewhat sensitive to noise, it didn't notice it.

Sometimes it’s fun to stretch yourself when traveling. I’ve stayed at Clink hostel in Amsterdam twice a year for years
and always had a positive experience, fab location, and 4 bed female only room as one of the options, and, as I am an elder, the option to buy a lower bed guarantee for just a few euros more if you book through their website.
I’m heading to Ireland next month and decided to checkout and stay at their newer hostel in their 5 city chain, Clink i Lar. Great Dublin location, great price point. If you could enjoy the experience why don’t you book a whole room (not sure if it’s 4 or 6 beds ), en-suite bathrooms …
If this piques your curiosity, take a look at them on Booking.com and read read reviews, but book on Clink website to avail yourself of the add ons…
Have fun, hope this is helpful for your budget.