Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Serra Mesa Neighborhood of San Diego, CA from $1,200 (17 Rentals)

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

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property at 3550 Ruffin Rd

$2,350

3 Bedroom, 2 Bath Condo for Rent

Available Now

3550 Ruffin Rd

San DiegoCA92123
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Serra Bella Apartments
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Serra Bella Apartments

2707 Mission Village DrSan Diego, CA 92123
  • Utilities Included
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Park House Apartments
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Park House Apartments

8501-8549 Glenhaven StSan Diego, CA 92123
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Alta Mesa
1 to 3 Bedroom Apartments

Alta Mesa

3441 Ruffin RdSan Diego, CA 92123
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Vista Capri
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Vista Capri

3277 Berger AveSan Diego, CA 92123
Corporate Housing

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Cheapest Available Serra Mesa Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the Serra Mesa area of San Diego, CA is a 1 Bed unit found at The Outlook at Mission Valley Apartments priced from $1,995. Elan Sandrock Place has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 1 Bed apartment currently listed from $2,095. Here are the most affordable Serra Mesa apartments for rent in San Diego, CA:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
The Outlook at Mission Valley ApartmentsOne Bedroom1BR,1BA$1,995
Elan Sandrock Place1/1 - 600 sq/ft1BR,1BA$2,095
Gramercy Apartments1Bed 1Bath1BR,1BA$2,209
eaves Mission RidgeA1-500sf-balc1BR,1BA$2,290
Monte Vista Apartment HomesPlan 21BR,1BA$2,325

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Serra Mesa, CA

As of December 17, 2025 the best value apartment in the Serra Mesa area is the $3.28 price per square foot Lago Loft Model at Mira Bella Apartments in the in the Clairemont Mesa East neighborhood starting from $4,130. The second greatest value Serra Mesa apartment is the Three Bedroom Model at The Modern Apartments starting at $2,822 with a $2.51 price per square foot in the Clairemont neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Serra Mesa apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
Mira Bella ApartmentsLago Loft2BR,2BA$3.28
The Modern ApartmentsThree Bedroom3BR,1.5BA$2.51
IMT Mission ValleyB32BR,2BA$2.78
Gramercy Apartments2Bed 2Bath2BR,2BA$3.31
Olympus CorsairA21BR,1BA$3.79
Dezi1B-11BR,1BA$3.73
Monte Vista Apartment HomesPlan 21BR,1BA$3.27
ReNew Serra MesaArbor1BR,1BA$3.39
The Outlook at Mission Valley ApartmentsOne Bedroom1BR,1BA$3.07
Elan Sandrock Place1/1 - 600 sq/ft1BR,1BA$3.49

Getting Around the Serra Mesa Neighborhood in San Diego, CA

Walk Score®

55 / 100

Somewhat Walkable

Some errands can be accomplished on foot

Bike Score®

48 / 100

Somewhat Bikeable

Minimal bike infrastructure

Transit Score®

31 / 100

Some Transit

A few nearby public transportation options

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Serra Mesa Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Serra Mesa?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Serra Mesa is under $2,822.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Serra Mesa?

The cheapest apartment in Serra Mesa is The Outlook at Mission Valley Apartments which is listed at $1,995, while the average apartment in Serra Mesa costs $7,915.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Serra Mesa?

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 142 regular apartments in Serra Mesa 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 Serra Mesa?

Cheap apartments in Serra Mesa have an average cost of $2,681 which is $5,234 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Serra Mesa.

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.

Articles, How-To's, and Tips

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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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Renting with Roommates: Realistic Expectations for Shared Lease

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Given the high costs for housing, I have found that many people are looking for a roommate to share expenses. These arrangements can increase opportunities for more desirable and larger spaces.

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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!