Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Downtown Madison Neighborhood of Madison, WI from $400 (187 Rentals)
Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the Downtown Madison area of Madison.

218 S Bassett St

Gargano Properties
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Metropolitan Apartments

Cardinal Apartments

Capital Park Apartments

Tuscan Place

Greenspire Wilson Apartments

518 W Main St

Courtyard Apartments, LLC.

134 E Johnson

Williamson Place

8Twenty Park

Quisling Terrace

938 E Dayton St
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Allen House Apartments

Briarwood Apartments

402 W Wilson Street

Parkview Apartments

Capitol Centre Court Apartments
Madison's Best Affordable Neighborhoods
Learn about Madison and the best places to live with original content written by our Local Expert Mike Heuer

University Bay

22 N Hancock St

Mendota Lakeshore Apartments

129 E Gorham St, Unit 3

The Constellation

22 Dayton
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Veritas Village

Casa Blanca Apartments

Rivers Edge Apartments

City Place

3Twenty Apartments

Washington Court Apartments

Irwin

The Depot Apartments

The Madison Mark
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Downtown Madison, Madison, WI Local Guide

How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Downtown Madison?
Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
---|---|---|---|
Downtown Madison Studio Apartments | $1,571 | $845 | $2,585 |
Downtown Madison 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,925 | $1,020 | $4,500 |
Downtown Madison 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,622 | $780 | $7,000 |
Downtown Madison 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,296 | $730 | $5,828 |
Downtown Madison 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,659 | $750 | $4,900 |
Downtown Madison 5 Bedroom Apartments | $1,648 | $699 | $7,277 |
Browse Apartments in this Neighborhood
There are currently 187 rentals with your search options within a 2 mile radius of the Downtown Madison Neighborhood of Madison, WI.
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Downtown Madison, Madison, WI Local Guide
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Cheapest Available Downtown Madison Apartments for Rent
 The cheapest available apartment rental in the Downtown Madison area of Madison, WI is a 3 Beds unit found at Hub on Campus Madison priced from $730. Pres House Apartments has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 4 Beds apartment currently listed from $750. Here are the most affordable Downtown Madison apartments for rent in Madison, WI:
Apartment Listing | Model Name | Bed/Bath | Priced From |
---|---|---|---|
Hub on Campus Madison | 3X5D3 | 3BR,3BA | $730 |
Pres House Apartments | Bedroom A,B,C,D (Individual) | 4BR,2BA | $750 |
The Shield | A2 | 1BR,1BA | $842 |
Hellenbrand Apartments | Studio--111 S Bassett | Studio,1BA | $850 |
Capital Park Apartments | Efficiency | Studio,1BA | $999 |
Gargano Properties | one | 1BR,1BA | $1,000 |
Courtyard Apartments, LLC. | 0BR/1.0BA | Studio,1BA | $1,040 |
8Twenty Park | 1 Bed- Income Restriction 50% | 1BR,1BA | $1,086 |
Allen House Apartments | 0x1-361 | Studio,1BA | $1,099 |
Briarwood Apartments | Studio | Studio,1BA | $1,100 |
Best Value Apartments for Rent in Downtown Madison, WI
As of June 12, 2025 the best value apartment in the Downtown Madison area is the $1.42 price per square foot 949 Spaight St Model at 949 Spaight St, Unit 949 Spaight St in the in the The Isthmus neighborhood starting from $2,550. The second greatest value Downtown Madison apartment is the 6 Bedroom Model at 229 Lakelawn *Student Housing* starting at $1,200 with a $0.77 price per square foot in the The Isthmus neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Downtown Madison apartments based on price per square foot:
Apartment Listing | Model Name | Bed/Bath | Price Per Sq.Ft. |
---|---|---|---|
949 Spaight St, Unit 949 Spaight St | 949 Spaight St | 4BR,1BA | $1.42 |
229 Lakelawn *Student Housing* | 6 Bedroom | 6BR,3BA | $0.77 |
Waterfront | 3 Bed, 2 Bath | 3BR,2BA | $1.04 |
8Twenty Park | 2 Bedroom, Market Rate | 2BR,2BA | $1.66 |
Pres House Apartments | Bedroom A,B,C,D (Individual) | 4BR,2BA | $0.64 |
Park Cedar Apartments | Two Bedroom, One Bath | 2BR,1BA | $1.47 |
402 W Wilson Street | 2/2 | 2BR,2BA | $1.58 |
Yahara Landing Apartments | Oak | 2BR,2BA | $1.68 |
Williamson Place | 2BR/1BA | 2BR,1BA | $1.65 |
Gargano Properties | one | 1BR,1BA | $1.33 |
Quick Rent Budget Calculator
How much rent can you afford?
The common "Rule of Thumb" is that rent should be no more than 30% of your income. How much is that? Enter your monthly income and click "Calculate My Budget" to find out.
Pet Friendly LifestyleDowntown Madison, Madison, WI
Ranked #6
Among neighborhoods in Madison, WI for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities
Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score
4.0Pet Friendly
Lifestyle Ratings
ApartmentHomeLiving brings you our detailed rental search system called 'Lifestyle ratings', composed of rentals in cities across the United States, including Madison. Lifestyle Ratings show you the best fit for your needs and interests. This takes in many factors including filtering automatically for convenient access to the outdoors, luxury housing options, kid and pet-friendly communities, availability of transit options, and how walkable or bikeable each community and area is. These search options are in the site filters at the top of this page.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Downtown Madison Apartments
What is a cheap apartment in Downtown Madison?
A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Downtown Madison is under $1,100.
What is the price of a cheap apartment in Downtown Madison?
The cheapest apartment in Downtown Madison is The Shield which is listed at $842, while the average apartment in Downtown Madison costs $2,595.
What types of apartments are the cheapest in Downtown Madison?
Student, low-income, and by-the-bed apartments are typically the cheapest rentals in most cities, though they require qualifying criteria to rent. There are 162 regular apartments in Downtown Madison that we think qualify as ‘cheap apartments’ that do not have special requirements to apply to rent.
How do the prices of cheap apartments compare to the average apartment in Downtown Madison?
Cheap apartments in Downtown Madison have an average cost of $867 which is $1,728 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Downtown Madison.
Expert Rental Resources
Helpful Apartment Articles, How-To's and Tips
The rental experts at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provide you with top advice, tools, and tips for understanding the leasing process and finding the perfect rental. Here are a few helpful rental and leasing articles from our experts to guide you on your search.

Experts Guide To 10 Budget-Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent in Madison
Written by: Mike Heuer
I’m Mike, your ApartmentHomeLiving.com local expert for Madison, Wisconsin. I lived and worked in Madison for several years before career opportunities took me elsewhere.

The Art of the Rental Viewing: What to look for during a property tour
Written by: Marie Brown
You’ve scrolled through countless listings, walked through a blur of rentals, and finally found what feels like the one. The pictures? Fantastic. The neighborhood seems just right.

Know Your Budget: Calculating What You Can Realistically Afford When Renting
Written by: Lauren Harrington
Renting an apartment or house isn’t just about looking through online ads, choosing a few apartments or homes you want to tour, filling out an application, and putting down a deposit. Those things are all necessary and important.

The Freedom of Short-Term Leases: Exploring the Advantages for Renters
Written by: Bobbi Jackson
If you’re looking to relocate right now, a popular solution that may best fit your current rental needs is a short-term lease.