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Cheap Apartments for Rent in San Mateo, CA from $1,300 (64 Rentals)
Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in San Mateo.
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$1,945 - $3,045Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
3633 Colegrove Apartments
3633 Colegrove StSan Mateo, CA 94403
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$2,095Studio Apartments Contact Us For Availability
East Hillsdale Apartments
348 E Hillsdale BlvdSan Mateo, CA 94403
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$2,308 - $4,7021 to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
Colonial Garden Apartments
460 N Humboldt StSan Mateo, CA 94401
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$2,425 - $4,152Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
De Sabla Apartments
10 De Sabla RdSan Mateo, CA 94402
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$2,425 - $2,4501 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
Ambassador Apartments
145 N El Camino RealSan Mateo, CA 94401
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$2,450 - $3,0951 to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
Madison Place
400 E Hillsdale BlvdSan Mateo, CA 94403
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Rent Specials
$1,850 - $1,865Studio Apartments Available Now
Bonnie Brae Terrace, A 62+ Community
2400 Carlmont DrBelmont, CA 94002
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$1,875 - $2,950Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments Contact Us For Availability
Tradewind Surf Apartments
1110 Polynesia DrFoster City, CA 94404
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$1,995 - $3,195Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments Contact Us For Availability
Tradewind Surf Apartments
801 Foster City BlvdFoster City, CA 94404
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$2,040Studio Apartments Available Now
Apartment in San Carlos Creek
17-25 Devonshire BlvdSan Carlos, CA 94070
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$2,195Studio Apartments Contact Us For Availability
Bellevue Apartments
1445 Bellevue AveBurlingame, CA 94010
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$2,245 - $2,5451 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
Villa Tuscany Apartment Homes
789 El CaminoBurlingame, CA 94010
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$2,250 - $2,350Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments Contact Us For Availability
Alta off the Avenue
1415 Floribunda AveBurlingame, CA 94010
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$2,400 - $3,2001 to 2 Bedroom Apartments Contact Us For Availability
Beachcomber Bali
1441 Beach Park BlvdFoster City, CA 94404
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$2,500 - $2,995Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
Arlington
1401 Floribunda AveBurlingame, CA 94010
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San Mateo, CA Local Guide
Cats being cats at CuriOdyssey in Coyote Point by Flickr User: aaron_anderer is licensed under CC BY 2.0
How much does it cost to rent an apartment in San Mateo?
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheap San Mateo Studio Apartments | $2,816 | $1,850 | $4,212 |
| Cheap San Mateo 1 Bedroom Apartments | $3,440 | $1,800 | $8,861 |
| Cheap San Mateo 2 Bedroom Apartments | $4,325 | $2,210 | $10,000+ |
| Cheap San Mateo 3 Bedroom Apartments | $5,513 | $3,422 | $9,440 |
| Cheap San Mateo 4 Bedroom Apartments | $7,452 | $7,030 | $7,875 |
Browse Top Apartments in San Mateo
See all Apartments in San MateoExplore San Mateo
San Mateo, CA Local Guide
Written By:
Staff Writer Local Guide Expert
- San Mateo Neighborhoods
- Nearby Cities
- ZIP codes
- Local Counties
- School Districts
Cheapest Neighborhoods for Apartments in San Mateo, CA
Pricing Updated: 11/07/2025Current apartment rentals in the San Mateo, CA area range in price from to with an overall median price of . Here is today’s list neighborhoods with the lowest median pricing for San Mateo Apartments for rent:
| Neighborhood | Median Price | Min Price | Available Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baywood Aragon | $4,691 | $2,425 | 23 |
| Baywood Park | $4,780 | $1,850 | 55 |
| North Central | $8,395 | $1,800 | 43 |
Cheapest Available San Mateo Apartments for Rent
The cheapest available apartment rental in San Mateo, CA is a Studio unit found at Bonnie Brae Terrace, A 62+ Community in the Western Hills neighborhood priced from $1,850. 3633 Colegrove Apartments in the Sugarloaf neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $1,945. Here is today’s list of the most affordable San Mateo apartments for rent:
| Apartment Listing | Model Name | Bed/Bath | Priced From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonnie Brae Terrace, A 62+ Community | Studio | Studio,1BA | $1,850 |
| 3633 Colegrove Apartments | Studio | Studio,1BA | $1,945 |
| Apartment in San Carlos Creek | 0BR/1.0BA | Studio,1BA | $2,040 |
| Oakview | STUDIO | Studio,1BA | $2,205 |
| Hillsdale Garden | Studio | Studio,1BA | $2,218 |
| Villa Tuscany Apartment Homes | 1 Bedroom | 1BR,1BA | $2,245 |
| Fourth Circle | Studio | Studio,1BA | $2,245 |
| 1950 Ivy St | 1 Bedroom | 1BR,1BA | $2,275 |
| The Riley at Belmont Hills | Studio | Studio,1BA | $2,363 |
| 243 N. Ellsworth | 1 bed 1 Bath | 1BR,1BA | $2,395 |
Best Value Apartments for Rent in San Mateo, CA
As of November 07, 2025 the best value apartment in the San Mateo area is the $2.67 price per square foot 2 Bedrooms + Family Room Model at 718 N Claremont St in the in the Central San Mateo neighborhood starting from $3,200. The second greatest value San Mateo apartment is the Plan 2A Model at Belmont Terrace starting at $3,709 with a $3.17 price per square foot in the Western Hills neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for San Mateo apartments based on price per square foot:
| Apartment Listing | Model Name | Bed/Bath | Price Per Sq.Ft. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 718 N Claremont St | 2 Bedrooms + Family Room | 2BR,1BA | $2.67 |
| Belmont Terrace | Plan 2A | 2BR,2BA | $3.17 |
| Burlingame Towers | 2x2 | 2BR,2BA | $3.31 |
| 645 Rollins Rd, Unit 3 | 645 Rollins Rd | 2BR,1.5BA | $3.29 |
| Lantern Cove | Cedarwood | 2BR,2BA | $3.37 |
| 515 N El Camino Real | 2 Beds, 1 bath | 2BR,1BA | $3.00 |
| Belmont Square Apartments | 2x1 | 2BR,1BA | $3.05 |
| Old County Road Apartments | 1 Bed 1 Bath | 1BR,1BA | $3.34 |
| 1015 Continentals (Casa Belview) | 1BR/1.0BA | 1BR,1BA | $3.38 |
| Villa Tuscany Apartment Homes | 1 Bedroom | 1BR,1BA | $3.01 |
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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.
Pet Friendly LifestyleSan Mateo, CA
Ranked #72
Among cities in California for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities.
Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score
2.5Pet Friendly
Best Local Schools in San Mateo, CA
George Hall Elementary
San Mateo-Foster City School District
Public School - Grades K-5 (387)
9 out of 10
Parkside Montessori
San Mateo-Foster City School District
Public School - Grades PK-8 (328)
7 out of 10
School data provided by Great Schools
Remember the 3 Rules of Real Estate:Location, Location, Location!
Explore San Mateo, CA Rentals by Map
See the most popular apartments and homes in San Mateo, CA
Getting Around San Mateo, CA
Walk Score®
86 / 100
Very Walkable
Most errands can be accomplished on foot
Bike Score®
73 / 100
Very Bikeable
Biking is convenient for most trips
Transit Score®
42 / 100
Some Transit
A few nearby public transportation options
What Are Walk Score®, Transit Score®, and Bike Score® Ratings?
- Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address.
- Transit Score® measures access to public transit.
- Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap San Mateo Apartments
What is a cheap apartment in San Mateo?
A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in San Mateo is under $2,395.
What is the price of a cheap apartment in San Mateo?
The cheapest apartment in San Mateo is Villa Tuscany Apartment Homes which is listed at $2,245, while the average apartment in San Mateo costs $5,955.
What types of apartments are the cheapest in San Mateo?
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 19 regular apartments in San Mateo 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 Mateo?
Cheap apartments in San Mateo have an average cost of $728 which is $5,227 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in San Mateo.
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.
A San Francisco Local Expert’s Guide to the Top Budget-Friendly Bay Area Neighborhoods to Rent
Written by: Shannon Hilson
If you’re anything like me, the thought of San Francisco is synonymous with concepts like creativity, character, and quirky local style.
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.