Cheap Apartments for Rent in San Diego, CA from $500 (371 Rentals)

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Victory on Paseo
Rent Specials
$864 - $2,540
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$864 - $2,540
Total Monthly Price
$864 - $2,540
3 to 5 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Victory on Paseo

5505 Lindo PaseoSan Diego, CA 92115
Student Housing
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San Diego, CA Local Guide

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Written By:
Justin Habersaat
Editing Staff

Cheapest Neighborhoods for Apartments in San Diego, CA

Pricing Updated: 07/18/2026

Current apartment rentals in the San Diego, CA area range in price from $699 to $44,003 with an overall median price of $6,710. The three San Diego neighborhoods with the lowest median rent pricing are Fairmont Village at $1,800, Sherman Heights at $1,999, and Blossom Valley at $2,150. 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
Fairmont Village$1,800$1,8001
Sherman Heights$1,999$1,9991
Blossom Valley$2,150$2,1501
Oak Park$2,195$1,9002
Chollas Creek$2,250$1,9751
Colina Del Sol$2,287$1,8503
Interstate 5 Corridor District$2,495$1,44525
Jesmond Dene$2,499$1,59541
Lake Wohlford$2,500$1,69913
Logan Heights$2,550$1,6459

Cheapest Available San Diego Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in San Diego, CA is a 4 Beds unit found at Fifty Twenty-Five in the College West neighborhood priced from $699. Victory on Paseo in the College West neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 5 Beds apartment currently listed from $864. Here is today’s list of the most affordable San Diego apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Fifty Twenty-Five4BR/4BA - Semi Private - Elite (D)4BR,4BA$699
Victory on Paseo5BR/3BA - A5BR,3BA$864
Arlington ApartmentsSingle Room OccupantStudio,$900
Trolley CourtStandardStudio,$974
3942 8th AveStudioStudio,$995
The Rive San Diego4x4 B4BR,4BA$1,024
Studio 15Studios - 50% AMI - Utilities includedStudio,1BA$1,050
Peachtree Inn - Fully furnished units!StandardStudio,1BA$1,062
Hardy Avenue Apartments3 BR 2 BA3BR,2BA$1,098
Meade Avenue Apartments1 Bed, 1 bath1BR,1BA$1,295

Best Value Apartments for Rent in San Diego, CA

As of July 18, 2026 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 8 Bedroom Studio Suites Model at 6nineteen starting at $1,399 with a $0.78 price per square foot in the College West 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
6nineteen8 Bedroom Studio SuitesStudio ,1BA$0.78
Lofts at 734 University AveHuge Loft UnitsStudio ,1BA$1.72
The Rive San Diego4x4 B4BR,4BA$0.60
Stateside4X3 D4BR,3BA$0.83
Union GrantvilleD34BR,4BA$0.57
Camerons Mobile EstatesRent a Home2BR,2BA$1.97
Fifty Twenty-Five2BR/2BA - Semi Private - Premium2BR,2BA$0.83
MBS StudiosStudioStudio ,1BA$1.56
Hardy Avenue Apartments3 BR 2 BA3BR,2BA$1.23

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 Student Renter's Ultimate Guide to Finding the Perfect San Diego Neighborhood to Rent

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Real Estate and Rental Term Glossary | ApartmentHomeLiving.com Renter University

From the letter A all the way to the letter Z, the Real Estate and Rental Term Glossary from the content team at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provides our visitors and shoppers with a little clarity and helpful guidance in navigating the real estate world through definitions and explainers for the top subjects and terms that someone may come across during the leasing, buying, or selling process.

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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.

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

Explore San Diego, CA Rentals by Map

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San Diego, CA Area Reviews

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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 $1,295.

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

The cheapest apartment in San Diego is Meade Avenue Apartments which is listed at $1,295, while the average apartment in San Diego costs $6,710.

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 4,053 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 $737 which is $5,973 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in San Diego.

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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Your Guide to Picking the Perfect San Diego Neighborhood for Student Renters

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Choosing the right place to live during your college years can make or break your collegiate experience. My name is Hayden, I’m a San Diego area expert with ApartmentHomeLiving.com and have been in the real estate world for years.

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Sun, surf, clean air, healthy lifestyles, and a coastline that seems to stretch as far as the eyes can see.

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