If you are looking for a home in Tianjin here is the site with good information:
http://www.esmart.com.cn/

The average cost per month of a local home is 500RMB. Newer ones and ones in good locations cost a fortune.

Two Beijing hostels I found online ended being hotels. The price is generally 180RMB/night and up for rooms.

Around Tiananmen Square there are lots of hotels. They start as low as 110RMB and go up. On Da Zha Lan Street and adjoining streets are lots of hotels. The one I stayed in was HengYe Hotel (180RMB/night for 3rd floor. I got 180RMB for 2nd floor by haggling) and I'll stay there again if I go back to Beijing. The phone number is 010-63179178 or 010-63179132. Its location is great because its on Da Zha Lan Street. Tiananmen Square is walking distance and the hotel is surrounded by markets and in an old style area.

When you are getting a hotel ensure you check the locks on the door. If you can credit card the lock then don't stay there. Also check the windows. I was advised by a Tianjin man to not stay in the same hotel two nights in a row. I stayed in HengYe Hotel for 7 nights and it was very secure and clean. They had many employees working each night and had someone on each floor at a desk.

Choose hotels where the locks require a key card. If the hotel only has 1 person working then its not going to be secure.

Many smaller hotels aren't star rated but will accept you. China has a law that states foreigners can't stay in less than 3 star hotels. I believe the law will be abolished. It is for foreigner's protection though.

And it doesn't matter where you stay; its always good to lock your valuables in your bag when you leave them in your room.

The big 5 star hotel's primary clientel consists of big companies like Coca Cola and such who cover the bill. If you have to pay out of your pocket then you'll be paying on par with western prices. I went to the Sheriton for dinner and it cost 350RMB for 2 people. We ate the buffet and had two orange juices. Drinks weren't included in the buffet. Our orange juices themselves were 27RMB each. A pack of Cafe Creme cigars was 110RM. 4 times the normal prices. I was told by a citizen that the Regency Hyatt is the best in Tianjin.

Expensive:

Sheraton Hotel Tianjin(5star)
Address: Zijinshan Road, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300074 China.
Phone: 86-22-23343388

Renaissance Tianjin Hotel(5star)
Address: 105 Jianshe Road Heping District, Tianjin
Phone: 86-22-23026888

Regency Hyatt Hotel Tianjin(4star)
219 Jie Fang North Road
Tianjin 300042, China
Tel: +86 22 2330 1234
Fax: +86 22 2331 1234
E-mail: hyatt-tianjin.com|information
Web: http://tianjin.regency.hyatt.com/

Holiday Inn Tianjin
Address: 288, Zhongshan Road, Hebei District, TIANJIN, 300141
Phone: 86-22-26288888

Cheaper:

Tianjin Grand Hotel
Address: Youyi Road, Hexi District, Tianjin, China
Phone: 86-22-28359000

Tianjin Imperial Palace Hotel
Address: No.177 Jie Fang North Road Tianjin 300042 China
Phone: 86-22-23316003

Tianjin Friendship Hotel(3star)
Address: No.94 Nanjing Road Tianjin China.
Phone: 86-22-23310372/3

Narcissus Hotel
Address: 25 Pingshan Dao Hexi District
Tianjin, 300074

Nankai University has the only hostel I know of in Tianjin. Its mainly students but does have some backpackers in it. The price is listed at $7 for a double occupancy room or $14 for a single. The facilities included are shower, bath, hot water, TV, phone, air conditioning and the location is safe. You can do your laundry there, there is also a cafeteria, a store, and internet in Building No. 2.

Nankai-Aichi Guesthouse:
Tel: +86-22-23505339, 23502000
Fax: +86-22-23509311
Address: Yiyuna Nankai-Aichi Guesthouse, Nankai University, 94 weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300071