Cheap Apartments for Rent in San Diego County, CA from $500 (415 Rentals)

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

Your Guide to Co-Signers: The Risks, Rewards, and Everything in Between

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property at 664 Carefree Dr

664 Carefree Dr

San DiegoCA92114

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Cheapest Available San Diego County Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in San Diego County, CA is a 2 Beds unit found at Balboa Plaza in the Kearny Mesa neighborhood priced from $625. Jean C. McKinney Manor in the Valencia Park neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 1 Bed apartment currently listed from $834. Here is today’s list of the most affordable San Diego County apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Balboa PlazaTwo Bedroom One Bath2BR,1BA$625
Jean C. McKinney Manor1 Bed, 1 bath1BR,1BA$834
Victory on Paseo5BR/3BA - A5BR,3BA$871
Trolley CourtStandardStudio,1BA$974
3942 8th AveStudioStudio,$995
Studio 15Studios - 50% AMI - Utilities includedStudio,1BA$1,050
Peachtree Inn - Fully furnished units!StandardStudio,1BA$1,062
Hillcrest InnStudioStudio,1BA$1,250
The Residences at 3954 KansasOne Bedroom, One Bath1BR,1BA$1,292
Harrington Heights - Affordable HousingStudio - 50% AMIStudio,1BA$1,301

Best Value Apartments for Rent in San Diego County, CA

As of September 14, 2025 the best value apartment in the San Diego County area is the $1.14 price per square foot 605 E Alvarado St Model at 605 E Alvarado St, Unit Loft in the in the South Fallbrook neighborhood starting from $2,500. The second greatest value San Diego County apartment is the 8 Bedroom Studio Suites with Balcony Model at 6nineteen starting at $2,000 with a $1.43 price per square foot in the College West neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for San Diego County apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
605 E Alvarado St, Unit Loft605 E Alvarado St2BR,1BA$1.14
6nineteen8 Bedroom Studio Suites with Balcony3BR,3BA$1.43
Prisma Student Housing4BR/2BA - View B14BR,2BA$1.03
Cerca Student Housing4BR/2BA - Globe - A4BR,2BA$1.12
Paseo Place2x2 Shared2BR,2BA$1.29
Balboa PlazaTwo Bedroom One Bath2BR,1BA$0.64
Union GrantvilleB22BR,2BA$1.96
Iconic on Alvarado: Off-Campus Student HousingB12BR,2BA$1.91
The Residences at 3954 KansasOne Bedroom, One Bath1BR,1BA$1.72
Jean C. McKinney Manor1 Bed, 1 bath1BR,1BA$1.47

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap San Diego County Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in San Diego County?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in San Diego County is under $1,301.

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

The cheapest apartment in San Diego County is Jean C. McKinney Manor which is listed at $834, while the average apartment in San Diego County costs $30,000.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in San Diego County?

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 442 regular apartments in San Diego County 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 County?

Cheap apartments in San Diego County have an average cost of $251 which is $29,749 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in San Diego County.

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 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.

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Your Guide to Co-Signers: The Risks, Rewards, and Everything in Between

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

For many people, obstacles can arise during the rental application process for a variety of issues.

decorative image for The Ultimate Long-Distance Moving Checklist: Tips from a Real Estate Pro article

The Ultimate Long-Distance Moving Checklist: Tips from a Real Estate Pro

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Hard truth. Moving is never easy. I’ve done it all – from local moves to cross-country relocations From packing to unpacking the last box, I have found moving to be an exhausting, expensive and stressful experience every time.

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Cash or credit? Understanding the Importance of Credit Score in Real Estate and Renting

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Throughout the day, think about all the times that you have to pay for something. So many of us reach automatically for a credit card or even our phone for a quick payment.