Cheap Apartments for Rent in San Diego, CA from $500 (342 Rentals)

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

Roommate Matching: Finding the Right Fit and Avoiding Pitfalls

When searching for a roommate, follow this list of essential steps and set clear expectations to create a solid foundation for a harmonious living situation.

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The Art of the Rental Viewing: What to look for during a property tour

Touring a rental? This guide helps you know exactly what to look for, from safety features to hidden flaws, so you can confidently sign your lease or keep searching.

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Smart Renter's Guide: Calculating Affordable Rent & Housing Costs

Wondering how to determine your rental budget? This comprehensive guide covers everything from the 30% rule to hidden fees and effective budgeting strategies.

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Navigating the Rental Market: Tips for First-Time Renters

Entering the rental market? Learn these simple tips and strategies to avoid common pitfalls and make confident choices. Rent with peace of mind.

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San Diego's Best Affordable Neighborhoods

Learn about San Diego and the best places to live with original content written by our , Local Expert Hayden Goldberg

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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: 06/22/2025

Current apartment rentals in the San Diego, CA area range in price from $792 to $30,000 with an overall median price of $5,895. The three San Diego neighborhoods with the lowest median rent pricing are Encanto at $1,400, North Encanto at $1,400, and Sherman Heights at $1,950. 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
Encanto$1,999$1,4002
North Encanto$1,999$1,4002
Sherman Heights$1,999$1,9502
South Encanto$1,999$1,4003
College West$2,345$79255
Grant Hill$2,500$2,5001
Colina Del Sol$2,520$1,7101
Cherokee Point$2,573$1,0607
East Canyon$2,597$1,89514
Kit Carson$2,599$1,89513

Cheapest Available San Diego Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in San Diego, CA is a Studio unit found at 3942 8th Ave in the Balboa Park neighborhood priced from $1,050. Peachtree Inn in the Balboa Park neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $1,062. Here is today’s list of the most affordable San Diego apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
3942 8th AveStudioStudio,$1,050
Peachtree InnStandardStudio,1BA$1,062
Vista Lane Family Homes - Affordable HousingStudio - 50% AMIStudio,1BA$1,375
Terrace Gardens Apartments - Seniors 55+One Bedroom One Bath1BR,1BA$1,400
College View4x4-F4BR,4BA$1,430
Vista PalmsVista Palms 0+1Studio,1BA$1,445
University Gardens1 Bedroom, 1 Bath1BR,1BA$1,450
Mar at PrimeraWaveStudio,1BA$1,450

Best Value Apartments for Rent in San Diego, CA

As of June 22, 2025 the best value apartment in the San Diego area is the $0.99 price per square foot 6x3 Private Model at Paseo Place in the in the College West neighborhood starting from $1,899. The second greatest value San Diego apartment is the Rent a Home Model at Camerons Mobile Estates starting at $2,600 with a $1.87 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.
Paseo Place6x3 Private6BR,3BA$0.99
Camerons Mobile EstatesRent a Home2BR,2BA$1.87
99 Pepper Tree Rd, Unit Apartment99 Pepper Tree Rd1BR,1BA$1.98
Terre at BradleySunset2BR,1BA$2.14
Topaz3x3 A3BR,3BA$2.07
Terre at the RanchOrchard2BR,2BA$2.07
Viridian LoftsOne Bedroom One Bath1BR,1BA$2.16
Rio Vista2 Bedroom 1 Bath2BR,1BA$2.11
Winter Gardens Manor9250 Winter Gardens Blvd #151BR,1BA$2.17
The Glorias ApartmentsStudioStudio ,1BA$2.10

Quick Rent Budget Calculator

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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 $1,450.

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

The cheapest apartment in San Diego is Terrace Gardens Apartments - Seniors 55+ which is listed at $1,400, while the average apartment in San Diego costs $5,895.

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 951 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 $644 which is $5,251 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.

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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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Roommate Matching: Finding the Right Fit and Avoiding Pitfalls

Written by: Cheryl Bowman

A fantastic way to save money and enjoy a built-in community is to share an apartment. However, a bad roommate situation can turn your dream rental into a nightmare.

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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.

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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.