Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Downtown San Diego Neighborhood of San Diego, CA from $500 (53 Rentals)

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

property at 2611 Logan Ave

2611 Logan Ave

San DiegoCA92113
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Cedar Gateway
1 to 3 Bedroom Apartments

Cedar Gateway

550 Cedar StSan Diego, CA 92101
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CCBA Senior Garden
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

CCBA Senior Garden

438 3rd AveSan Diego, CA 92101
Senior Living
  • Utilities Included
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Living Q
Studio Apartments

Living Q

1903-1911 K StSan Diego, CA 92102
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Park 12 Podium
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments

Park 12 Podium

202 Park BlvdSan Diego, CA 92101
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Vantaggio Broadway
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Vantaggio Broadway

2650 BroadwaySan Diego, CA 92102
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563 22nd St
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

563 22nd St

563 22nd StSan Diego, CA 92102
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2525 Broadway
Studio Apartments

2525 Broadway

2525 BroadwaySan Diego, CA 92102
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Lions Gate
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Lions Gate

1231 25th StSan Diego, CA 92102
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La Maison
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

La Maison

1818 6th AveSan Diego, CA 92101
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Essex Apartments
Studio Apartments

Essex Apartments

1910 State StSan Diego, CA 92101
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Barcelona
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

Barcelona

326 Juniper StSan Diego, CA 92101
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2401-2415 G St.
1 Bedroom Apartments

2401-2415 G St.

2401 G StSan Diego, CA 92102
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J Street Flats
Studio Apartments

J Street Flats

222 J StSan Diego, CA 92101
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St. Paul's Manor
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

St. Paul's Manor

2635 2nd AveSan Diego, CA 92103
Senior Living
  • Utilities Included
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Commercial Suites
1 Bedroom Apartments

Commercial Suites

2735 Commercial StSan Diego, CA 92113
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Secoya Apartments
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Secoya Apartments

3067 5th AveSan Diego, CA 92103
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3145 Reynard Way
1 Bedroom Apartments

3145 Reynard Way

3145 Reynard WaySan Diego, CA 92103
  • Utilities Included
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Alcove East Village
Studio Apartments

Alcove East Village

330 15th StSan Diego, CA 92101
Corporate Housing

Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA Local Guide

Cheapest Available Downtown San Diego Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the Downtown San Diego area of San Diego, CA is a Studio unit found at Trolley Court priced from $974. Studio 15 has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $1,050. Here are the most affordable Downtown San Diego apartments for rent in San Diego, CA:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Trolley CourtStandardStudio,$974
Studio 15Studios - 50% AMI - Utilities includedStudio,1BA$1,050
Peachtree Inn - Fully furnished units!StandardStudio,1BA$1,062
Luther Tower - 55+ Affordable CommunityStudioStudio,1BA$1,350
Vantaggio Little ItalySmall full size bedStudio,1BA$1,450
Island FlatsSmall StudioStudio,1BA$1,500
WLA Windsor0BR/1.0BAStudio,1BA$1,550
WLA 509 Park0BR/1.0BAStudio,1BA$1,550
Studios435: Furnished Studios0BR/1.0BAStudio,1BA$1,550
Horton 4th AvenueStudiosStudio,1BA$1,602

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Downtown San Diego, CA

As of November 18, 2025 the best value apartment in the Downtown San Diego area is the $2.25 price per square foot 2329 Curlew St Model at 2329 Curlew St, Unit #3 in the in the Balboa Park neighborhood starting from $4,500. The second greatest value Downtown San Diego apartment is the B2F-PH Model at Strata starting at $5,430 with a $2.94 price per square foot in the Balboa Park neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Downtown San Diego apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
2329 Curlew St, Unit #32329 Curlew St3BR,3BA$2.25
StrataB2F-PH2BR,2BA$2.94
Juniper2BR/2.0BA2BR,2BA$3.01
Pioneer – Lofts (PIOLOF)Lofts1BR,1BA$2.58
Arrive Broadway LoftsAvenue StudioStudio ,1BA$2.56
420 S Evans St, Unit Evans420 S Evans St2BR,1BA$2.33
Horton 4th Avenue1BD1BR,1BA$2.60
418 Thorn St, Unit 418418 Thorn St1BR,1BA$2.83
3434 Reynard Way, Unit Josie3434 Reynard Way1BR,1BA$2.81
City ViewPlan C1BR,1BA$3.00

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
Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA

Ranked #4

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

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

4.0
Pet Friendly

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Lifestyle Ratings

ApartmentHomeLiving brings you our detailed rental analysis called 'Lifestyle Ratings' - a comparison of rentals in cities across the United States including Downtown San Diego, San Diego, and the greater San Diego area. LifeStyle Ratings are a useful tool for comparing and sorting apartments and neighborhoods when choosing your rental home. This takes in many factors including our Star Ratings to compare for the best outdoor access, luxury amenities, transit availability, pet-friendly communities, family-friendliness, walking, and biking. These search options are in the site filters at the top of this page.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Downtown San Diego Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Downtown San Diego?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Downtown San Diego is under $1,602.

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

The cheapest apartment in Downtown San Diego is Redwood Terrace which is listed at $1,625, while the average apartment in Downtown San Diego costs $10,427.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Downtown 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 52 regular apartments in Downtown 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 Downtown San Diego?

Cheap apartments in Downtown San Diego have an average cost of $231 which is $10,196 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Downtown 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! 

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.