
Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Downtown San Diego Neighborhood of San Diego, CA from $500 (53 Rentals)
Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the Downtown San Diego area of San Diego.


Market Street Square

Peachtree Inn - Fully furnished units!

532 21st St

Harrington Heights - Affordable Housing

Luther Tower - 55+ Affordable Community

Vantaggio Little Italy

Studios435: Furnished Studios

Windsor Apartments

2611 Logan Ave

1932 Kearney Ave

Horton 4th Avenue

Redwood Terrace

The Helm - Affordable Housing

821 20th St

2551 Commercial St

900 F Street

City View

Market Street Village
Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA Local Guide

How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Downtown San Diego?
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown San Diego Studio Apartments | $2,441 | $974 | $9,872 |
| Downtown San Diego 1 Bedroom Apartments | $3,273 | $1,011 | $10,000+ |
| Downtown San Diego 2 Bedroom Apartments | $4,772 | $2,012 | $10,000+ |
| Downtown San Diego 3 Bedroom Apartments | $6,367 | $3,355 | $10,000+ |
| Downtown San Diego 4 Bedroom Apartments | $10,427 | $10,000 | $10,000+ |
Browse Apartments in this Neighborhood
There are currently 53 rentals with your search options within a 2 mile radius of the Downtown San Diego Neighborhood of San Diego, CA.
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Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA Local Guide
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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 Listing | Model Name | Bed/Bath | Priced From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trolley Court | Standard | Studio, | $974 |
| Studio 15 | Studios - 50% AMI - Utilities included | Studio,1BA | $1,050 |
| Peachtree Inn - Fully furnished units! | Standard | Studio,1BA | $1,062 |
| Luther Tower - 55+ Affordable Community | Studio | Studio,1BA | $1,350 |
| Vantaggio Little Italy | Small full size bed | Studio,1BA | $1,450 |
| Island Flats | Small Studio | Studio,1BA | $1,500 |
| WLA Windsor | 0BR/1.0BA | Studio,1BA | $1,550 |
| WLA 509 Park | 0BR/1.0BA | Studio,1BA | $1,550 |
| Studios435: Furnished Studios | 0BR/1.0BA | Studio,1BA | $1,550 |
| Horton 4th Avenue | Studios | Studio,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 Listing | Model Name | Bed/Bath | Price Per Sq.Ft. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2329 Curlew St, Unit #3 | 2329 Curlew St | 3BR,3BA | $2.25 |
| Strata | B2F-PH | 2BR,2BA | $2.94 |
| Juniper | 2BR/2.0BA | 2BR,2BA | $3.01 |
| Pioneer – Lofts (PIOLOF) | Lofts | 1BR,1BA | $2.58 |
| Arrive Broadway Lofts | Avenue Studio | Studio ,1BA | $2.56 |
| 420 S Evans St, Unit Evans | 420 S Evans St | 2BR,1BA | $2.33 |
| Horton 4th Avenue | 1BD | 1BR,1BA | $2.60 |
| 418 Thorn St, Unit 418 | 418 Thorn St | 1BR,1BA | $2.83 |
| 3434 Reynard Way, Unit Josie | 3434 Reynard Way | 1BR,1BA | $2.81 |
| City View | Plan C | 1BR,1BA | $3.00 |
Quick Rent Budget Calculator
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Pet Friendly LifestyleDowntown San Diego, San Diego, CA
Ranked #4
Among cities in California for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities.
Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score
4.0Pet Friendly
Best Local Schools in Downtown San Diego, San Diego, CA
San Diego International Studies
Roosevelt International Middle
School data provided by Great Schools
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.

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.

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.

How to Negotiate Your Apartment Lease and Save Money
Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.
Everything is a negotiation in real estate!

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.






























