Cheap Apartments for Rent in San Mateo, CA from $1,850 (94 Rentals)

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

property at 1757 Nash Dr
$1,900

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$1,900

Total Monthly Price$1,900
Studio, 1 Bath Home for Rent
Available Now
Furnished

1757 Nash Dr

San MateoCA94401
  • Smoke Free

Bay Living Like a Local: The Insider's Guide to Life and Renting in San Francisco, CA

Unlock the personality of Renting and Living in the City by the Bay. Learn where to eat the best tacos, find hidden views, and embrace the charming contradictions of San Francisco life.

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116 Elm St
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

116 Elm St

116 Elm StSan Mateo, CA 94401
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Rent According to Income: A Look at Income-Restricted Rentals

Find income-restricted rentals and housing subsidies. Explore government programs designed to help low-income families secure stable, affordable housing.

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Montara
1 to 3 Bedroom Apartments

Montara

2775 S Delaware StSan Mateo, CA 94403
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816 Highland Ave
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

816 Highland Ave

816 Highland AveSan Mateo, CA 94401
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Kiku Crossing
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments

Kiku Crossing

480 E 4th AveSan Mateo, CA 94401
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227 Elm St
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

227 Elm St

227 Elm StSan Mateo, CA 94401
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130-132 Dartmouth Rd
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

130-132 Dartmouth Rd

130-132 Dartmouth RdSan Mateo, CA 94402
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Where to Live, Where to Work: Your Guide to Top Neighborhoods to Rent Near San Francisco's 5 Best Employers

Maximize your work-life balance in San Francisco. Discover the ideal neighborhoods for renting, from SoMa to Nob Hill, for employees of the city's 5 leading companies.

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1950 Ivy St
1 Bedroom Apartments

1950 Ivy St

1950 Ivy StSan Mateo, CA 94403
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Gateway Apartments
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Gateway Apartments

438 N El Camino RealSan Mateo, CA 94401
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Park Central
1 to 3 Bedroom Apartments

Park Central

724 Laurel AveSan Mateo, CA 94401
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1113 Haddon Dr
1 Bedroom Apartments

1113 Haddon Dr

1113 Haddon DrSan Mateo, CA 94402
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1109 Haddon Dr
1 Bedroom Apartments

1109 Haddon Dr

1109 Haddon DrSan Mateo, CA 94402
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Terrace Hills
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Terrace Hills

619 N San Mateo DrSan Mateo, CA 94401
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433 Turner Terrace
1 Bedroom Apartments

433 Turner Terrace

433 Turner TerSan Mateo, CA 94401
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San Francisco's Best Affordable Neighborhoods

Learn about San Francisco and the best places to live with original content written by our San Francisco, CA Local Expert Shannon Hilson

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960 Palm
1 Bedroom Apartments

960 Palm

960 Palm AveSan Mateo, CA 94401
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The Villa at San Mateo
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

The Villa at San Mateo

4000 S El Camino RealSan Mateo, CA 94403
Senior Living
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100 Dartmouth Rd
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

100 Dartmouth Rd

100 Dartmouth RdSan Mateo, CA 94402
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515 N El Camino Real
2 Bedroom Apartments

515 N El Camino Real

515 N El Camino RealSan Mateo, CA 94401
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46 Madison Ave.
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

46 Madison Ave.

46 Madison AveSan Mateo, CA 94402
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Renters Insurance 101: What It Is, What It Covers, and Why You Need It

From theft to fire to water damage, the unexpected can happen to any renter. Discover why renters insurance is one of the smartest and most affordable investments you can make as a tenant.

San Mateo, CA Local Guide

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Local Guide Expert

Cheapest Neighborhoods for Apartments in San Mateo, CA

Pricing Updated: 09/06/2026

Current apartment rentals in the San Mateo, CA area range in price from $3,195 to $7,250 with an overall median price of $5,361. Here is today’s list neighborhoods with the lowest median pricing for San Mateo Apartments for rent:

NeighborhoodMedian PriceMin PriceAvailable Units
Baywood Aragon$5,015$4,2502
North Central$5,499$3,1955

Cheapest Available San Mateo Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in San Mateo, CA is a Studio unit found at 21 East 40th Ave. in the Sugarloaf neighborhood priced from $2,195. Country Club in the Central San Mateo neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $2,205. Here is today’s list of the most affordable San Mateo apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
21 East 40th Ave.0BR/1.0BAStudio,1BA$2,195
Country ClubStudioStudio,1BA$2,205
The Riley at Belmont HillsStudioStudio,1BA$2,363
Fourth CircleStudioStudio,1BA$2,425
Hillsdale Garden1 Bed B1BR,1BA$2,525
Madison Place1 x 11BR,1BA$2,795
The Preston at HillsdaleOne Bedroom One Bath 5501BR,1BA$2,995
Fosters LandingPlan 1A1BR,1BA$3,227
1249-1265 Oak Grove Ave1 Beds, 1 Baths1BR,1BA$3,250

Best Value Apartments for Rent in San Mateo, CA

As of September 06, 2026 the best value apartment in the San Mateo area is the $3.95 price per square foot 2BR/2.0BA Model at El Dorado Apartments in the in the Belmont neighborhood starting from $4,795. The second greatest value San Mateo apartment is the Wake Model at Waters Edge starting at $4,609 with a $4.19 price per square foot in the Birds neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for San Mateo apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
El Dorado Apartments2BR/2.0BA2BR,2BA$3.95
Waters EdgeWake2BR,2BA$4.19
Glendora ApartmentsGlendora 1x1wd1BR,1BA$3.97
400 Studio Cir, Unit 4400 Studio Cir2BR,1BA$4.00
Crestview ApartmentsPlan H: 1 Bed 1 Bath1BR,1BA$4.07
888 San Mateo Apartments1xD (AVAIL 10/03/2026)1BR,1BA$4.44
Madison Place1 x 11BR,1BA$3.93
Hillsdale Garden1 Bed A1BR,1BA$4.38
616 Cedar St, Unit B616 Cedar StStudio ,1BA$3.08
The Riley at Belmont HillsStudioStudio ,1BA$4.38

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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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Local Guide To the Best Student Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent Near Colleges in San Francisco

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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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San Mateo Overview

San Mateo is a warm, welcoming city with down-to-earth people from all walks of life. Easy access to big cities and beautiful vacation destinations makes San Mateo a perfect place to raise a family, start a career, or anything in between.

Why live in San Mateo, CA?

San Mateo is great for those who don't want to deal with the burdens of a big city, but who would also like access to the big cities when needed. 35 minutes south and you'll end up in San Jose, or head 30 minutes north to the beautiful city of San Francisco. That's not to say San Mateo doesn't have its own impressive amenities. Downtown you'll find over 200 restaurants to choose from for a night of great food and entertainment. On top of all that, the San Mateo school district is one of the best around, with parents raving about great teachers.

San Mateo, CA
Population: 105,025

Ranked #295

in US Census Population by City

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

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Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap San Mateo Apartments

What is the Cheapest Studio apartment in San Mateo?

Currently the most affordable Cheap Studio Apartment in San Mateo is at 21 East 40th Ave. listed at $2,195.

How much is rent for a Cheap One Bedroom San Mateo Apartment?

The lowest price for a Cheap One Bedroom San Mateo Apartment is $2,525 at Hillsdale Garden.

What is the lowest price for a Cheap Two Bedroom San Mateo Apartment for rent?

Today's best deal for a Cheap Two Bedroom Apartment in San Mateo is starting from $3,388 at Hillsdale Garden.

What is the most affordable San Mateo Three Bedroom Apartment?

The best deal on a cheap San Mateo Three Bedroom Apartment rental is at The Preston at Hillsdale and starts from $4,678.

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.

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