Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Southwest Center City Neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA from $400 (230 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the Southwest Center City area of Philadelphia.

Your Guide to Co-Signers: The Risks, Rewards, and Everything in Between

Thinking about getting a co-signer for your rental application? We break down what a co-signer is, the potential benefits, and the serious risks for both parties. Find out if it's the right choice for you.

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property at 1218 Walnut St

1218 Walnut St

PhiladelphiaPA19107
property at 1324 Locust St

1324 Locust St

PhiladelphiaPA19107

Roommate Matching: Finding the Right Fit and Avoiding Pitfalls

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property at 1229 Chestnut St

1229 Chestnut St

PhiladelphiaPA19107

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property at 1321 Spruce St

1321 Spruce St

PhiladelphiaPA19107
property at 201 S 13th St

201 S 13th St

PhiladelphiaPA19107
property at 145 S 13th St

145 S 13th St

PhiladelphiaPA19107

Cash or credit? Understanding the Importance of Credit Score in Real Estate and Renting

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Philadelphia's Best Affordable Neighborhoods

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Southwest Center City, Philadelphia, PA Local Guide

Cheapest Available Southwest Center City Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the Southwest Center City area of Philadelphia, PA is a 1 Bed unit found at Universal Court 1 priced from $812. 1606-1608 Locust St has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $950. Here are the most affordable Southwest Center City apartments for rent in Philadelphia, PA:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Universal Court 11 Bed, 1 bath1BR,1BA$812
1606-1608 Locust StStudio - 2nd FloorStudio,1BA$950
Birchwood at Cedars Village (55+ Community)1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$987
1501 Locust St Residential0BR/1.0BAStudio,1BA$1,000
The DrakeSTUDIOStudio,1BA$1,011
Juniper PlaceStudioStudio,1BA$1,025
The ClaremontStudioStudio,1BA$1,075
The Walter George Smith Public School0 Beds, 1 BathsStudio,1BA$1,114
The Chancellor02Studio,1BA$1,125

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Southwest Center City, PA

As of December 11, 2025 the best value apartment in the Southwest Center City area is the $0.92 price per square foot 1124 S 15th St Model at 1124 S 15th St, Unit 1st Fl in the in the Market East neighborhood starting from $1,960. The second greatest value Southwest Center City apartment is the 917 Ellsworth St Model at 917 Ellsworth St, Unit 2 starting at $1,650 with a $1.10 price per square foot in the Wharton neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Southwest Center City apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
1124 S 15th St, Unit 1st Fl1124 S 15th St1BR,1BA$0.92
917 Ellsworth St, Unit 2917 Ellsworth St2BR,1BA$1.10
721 Wharton St, Unit 3721 Wharton St3BR,2BA$1.27
1525 South St, Unit 2nd Floor1525 South St2BR,2BA$1.81
1727 S Broad St, Unit B.1727 S Broad St2BR,2BA$1.54
1422 Chestnut St, Unit 5061422 Chestnut St1BR,1BA$1.60
1629 South St, Unit 1629 South St. - Studio1629 South StStudio ,1BA$1.10
1808 S 17th St, Unit 3rd Floor1808 S 17th St2BR,1BA$1.50
Birchwood at Cedars Village (55+ Community)1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$1.41
Universal Court 11 Bed, 1 bath1BR,1BA$1.29

Unlock Your Philly Commute: Your Guide to Renting Near the City's Biggest Employers

Live like a local! Explore diverse Philly neighborhoods—from trendy Fishtown to historic Cedar Park—with an easy commute to your job. Your expert guide is here.

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Don't Settle: How to Negotiate Your Apartment Lease and Save Money

Discover the insider tips from an attorney and real estate agent on how to negotiate your next apartment lease. Find out what's on the table and what's not, so you can save money and get the best terms possible.

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The Ultimate Long-Distance Moving Checklist: Tips from a Real Estate Pro

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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.

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Pet Friendly Lifestyle
Southwest Center City, Philadelphia, PA

Ranked #25

Among cities in Pennsylvania for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities.

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

4.0
Pet Friendly

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Lifestyle Ratings

ApartmentHomeLiving.com compiles millions of data points to bring you our detailed rental analysis called 'Lifestyle Ratings' - a comparison of rentals in metropolitan areas across the United States, including Philadelphia. Lifestyle Ratings show you the best fit for your needs and interests. This takes in many factors including rankings of the best places for easy access to the parks, luxury amenities, kid and pet-friendly communities, availability of transit options, in addition to floorplans, availablity, and pricing. These search options are in the site filters at the top of this page.

Getting Around the Southwest Center City Neighborhood in Philadelphia, PA

Walk Score®

94 / 100

Walker’s Paradise

Daily errands do not require a car

Bike Score®

92 / 100

Biker's Paradise

Daily errands can be accomplished on a bike

Transit Score®

87 / 100

Excellent Transit

Transit is convenient for most trips

What Are Walk Score®, Transit Score®, and Bike Score® Ratings?

  • Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address.
  • Transit Score® measures access to public transit.
  • Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Southwest Center City Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Southwest Center City?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Southwest Center City is under $1,125.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Southwest Center City?

The cheapest apartment in Southwest Center City is Universal Court 1 which is listed at $812, while the average apartment in Southwest Center City costs $3,326.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Southwest Center City?

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 264 regular apartments in Southwest Center City 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 Southwest Center City?

Cheap apartments in Southwest Center City have an average cost of $1,247 which is $2,079 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Southwest Center City.

Expert Rental Resources

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.

Helpful Local Expert Guides

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A Local Expert's Guide to the Best Affordable Neighborhoods in Philadelphia

Written by: Richard Corrigan

There’s always been more to Philadelphia than meets the eye. When I first came here, I saw it as a tough, gritty town.

decorative image for Unlock Your Philly Commute: Your Guide to Renting Near the Citys Biggest Employers article

Unlock Your Philly Commute: Your Guide to Renting Near the Citys Biggest Employers

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Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods. Those who live here take great pride in our specific corners of the city.

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Articles, How-To's, and Tips

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Apartment Common Area Rules: What Renters Need to Know

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How to Negotiate Your Apartment Lease and Save Money

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Everything is a negotiation in real estate! 

decorative image for The Rental Move-In Inspection Checklist: A Guide for Renters article

The Rental Move-In Inspection Checklist: A Guide for Renters

Written by: Trey Huguley

The move-in inspection checklist is a crucial tool for both tenants and landlords. This checklist, provided by the team at ApartmentHomeLiving.com, helps document the condition of an apartment at the time of move-in.