Cheap Apartments for Rent in San Diego, CA from $300 (260 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in San Diego.

property at 2611 Logan Ave

2611 Logan Ave

San DiegoCA92113
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Bay
Rent Specials
$1,600 - $3,594Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Bay

3866 Ingraham StSan Diego, CA 92109
Active Lifestyle
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Turquoise Place
2 Bedroom Apartments

Turquoise Place

891 Turquoise StSan Diego, CA 92109
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Southwest Village
1 to 3 Bedroom Apartments

Southwest Village

323-338 Willie James Jones AveSan Diego, CA 92102
  • Utilities Included
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Versa
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Versa

2355 Via AltaSan Diego, CA 92108
Senior Living
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San Diego, CA Local Guide

Photo of Justin Habersaat - Editing Staff
Written By:
Justin Habersaat
Editing Staff

Cheapest Neighborhoods for Apartments in San Diego, CA

Pricing Updated: 11/15/2025

Current apartment rentals in the San Diego, CA area range in price from $834 to $30,000 with an overall median price of $5,795. The three San Diego neighborhoods with the lowest median rent pricing are Lincoln Park at $1,042, Teralta East at $1,774, and Encanto at $1,500. Here is today’s list of the top 10 neighborhoods with the lowest median pricing for San Diego Apartments for rent:

NeighborhoodMedian PriceMin PriceAvailable Units
Lincoln Park$1,450$1,0421
Teralta East$1,774$1,7742
Encanto$1,799$1,5002
Sherman Heights$1,825$1,2993
Crest$1,950$1,9501
Barrio Logan$2,058$1,45010
Logan Heights$2,100$1,4509
Southcrest$2,150$1,9952
Chollas Creek$2,180$1,7908
Colina Del Sol$2,230$1,7905

Cheapest Available San Diego Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in San Diego, CA is a 4 Beds unit found at The Rive San Diego in the Rolando neighborhood priced from $386. Jean C. McKinney Manor in the Valencia Park neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 1 Bed apartment currently listed from $834. Here is today’s list of the most affordable San Diego apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
The Rive San Diego4x4 B4BR,4BA$386
Jean C. McKinney Manor1 Bed, 1 bath1BR,1BA$834
Victory on Paseo5BR/3BA - A5BR,3BA$871
Trolley CourtStandardStudio,$974
3942 8th AveStudioStudio,$995
Studio 15Studios - 50% AMI - Utilities includedStudio,1BA$1,050
Peachtree Inn - Fully furnished units!StandardStudio,1BA$1,062
Hillcrest InnStudioStudio,1BA$1,250
The Residences at 3954 KansasOne Bedroom, One Bath1BR,1BA$1,292

Best Value Apartments for Rent in San Diego, CA

As of November 15, 2025 the best value apartment in the San Diego area is the $1.02 price per square foot 4x4 A Model at The Rive San Diego in the in the Rolando neighborhood starting from $1,485. The second greatest value San Diego apartment is the Rent a Home Model at Camerons Mobile Estates starting at $2,750 with a $1.97 price per square foot in the Prospect Glen neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for San Diego apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
The Rive San Diego4x4 A4BR,4BA$1.02
Camerons Mobile EstatesRent a Home2BR,2BA$1.97
Country Gardens3/23BR,2BA$2.00
120 Ballantyne st, Unit Floor Plan 4120 Ballantyne st1BR,1.5BA$2.00
Terre at BradleySunset2BR,1BA$1.92
Topaz3x3 A3BR,3BA$1.76
Union GrantvilleB22BR,2BA$1.96
Iconic on Alvarado: Off-Campus Student HousingB12BR,2BA$1.80
The Residences at 3954 KansasOne Bedroom, One Bath1BR,1BA$1.72
Jean C. McKinney Manor1 Bed, 1 bath1BR,1BA$1.47

Quick Rent Budget Calculator

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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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San Diego Overview

San Diego is a major city on the Pacific Coast in Southern California and is adjacent to the Mexican border. Home to over 1.3 million people, San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States and is nicknamed “America’s Finest City”. The major industries are military/defense, tourism, international trade, and manufacturing. There is also a wide variety of apartments in San Diego available for residents who move here to find a great place to call home.

Why live in San Diego, CA?

While the cost of living is higher than average in San Diego, the city offers near perfect weather year round, a wide variety of outdoors activities, beautiful beaches, museums and other cultural centers, and a professional sports events. Fans of local sports have their choice of supporting the San Diego Chargers (football), the San Diego Padres (baseball), the San Diego Gulls (ice hockey) and a newly formed rugby team.

Pet Friendly Lifestyle
San Diego, CA

Ranked #4

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

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

3.5
Pet Friendly

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Remember the 3 Rules of Real Estate:
Location, Location, Location!

Explore San Diego, CA Rentals by Map

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See the most popular apartments and homes in San Diego, CA

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Getting Around San Diego, CA

Walk Score®

74 / 100

Very Walkable

Most errands can be accomplished on foot

Bike Score®

57 / 100

Bikeable

Some bike infrastructure

Transit Score®

46 / 100

Some Transit

A few nearby public transportation options

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.

San Diego, CA Area Reviews

  • Parks
  • Entertainment
  • Local Vibes
  • Restaurants
  • Location
  • Traffic
  • Public Transportation
  • Outdoor Access
  • Cost of Living
  • Safety

Hayden • 4+ years in San Diego

March 6, 2025

San Diego is an amazing city for families, young professionals, and retirees!

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap San Diego Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in San Diego?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in San Diego is under $1,292.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in San Diego?

The cheapest apartment in San Diego is Jean C. McKinney Manor which is listed at $834, while the average apartment in San Diego costs $5,795.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in San Diego?

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 3,979 regular apartments in San Diego 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 San Diego?

Cheap apartments in San Diego have an average cost of $620 which is $5,175 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in San Diego.

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.

decorative image for Top 10 Most Affordable Neighborhoods in San Diego: A Local Real Estate Expert Guide article

Top 10 Most Affordable Neighborhoods in San Diego: A Local Real Estate Expert Guide

Written by: Hayden Goldberg

Aloha! I’m Hayden, your local San Diego Realtor and relocation expert with ApartmentHomeLiving.com.

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Apartment Common Area Rules: What Renters Need to Know

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Back in the day when I rented one of my first apartments, the property didn’t even have laundry in the building. Now, rental properties are often competing against each other to provide the best amenities.

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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! 

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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.