close
View Me
from $1,895Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
3633 Colegrove Apartments
3633 Colegrove StSan Mateo, CA 94403
Cheap Apartments for Rent in San Mateo, CA from $1,300 (56 Rentals)
Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in San Mateo.
close
View Me
from $2,1841 to 3 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
Colonial Garden Apartments
460 N Humboldt StSan Mateo, CA 94401
close
View Me
from $2,1851 to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
Royal Pines
525 N El Camino RealSan Mateo, CA 94401
close
View Me
820 N El Camino Real
San MateoCA94401
close
View Me
close
View Me
from $2,3251 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
Ambassador Apartments
145 N El Camino RealSan Mateo, CA 94401
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
from $2,400Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
De Sabla Apartments
10 De Sabla RdSan Mateo, CA 94402
close
View Me
from $2,4501 to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
Madison Place
400 E Hillsdale BlvdSan Mateo, CA 94403
close
View Me
from $2,4501 Bedroom Apartments Available Aug 1
East Hillsdale Apartments
348 E Hillsdale BlvdSan Mateo, CA 94403
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
Rent Specials
from $1,750Studio Apartments Available Now
Bonnie Brae Terrace
2400 Carlmont DrBelmont, CA 94002
close
View Me
from $1,995Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Jul 12
Tradewind Surf Apartments
1110 Polynesia DrFoster City, CA 94404
close
View Me
from $2,045Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
Villa Tuscany Apartment Homes
789 El CaminoBurlingame, CA 94010
close
View Me
from $2,195Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
Alta off the Avenue
1415 Floribunda AveBurlingame, CA 94010
close
View Me
from $2,2501 to 2 Bedroom Apartments Contact Us For Availability
Beachcomber Bali
1441-1451 Beach Park BlvdFoster City, CA 94404
close
View Me
from $2,3001 Bedroom Apartments Available Now
1020 El Camino Real
1020 El Camino RealBurlingame, CA 94010
close
View Me
from $2,363Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Aug 7
The Riley at Belmont Hills
1039 Continentals WayBelmont, CA 94002
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
close
View Me
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 | $2,782 | $1,750 | $4,135 |
| Cheap San Mateo 1 Bedroom Apartments | $3,388 | $2,150 | $9,999 |
| Cheap San Mateo 2 Bedroom Apartments | $4,445 | $2,736 | $8,265 |
| Cheap San Mateo 3 Bedroom Apartments | $5,348 | $3,619 | $6,904 |
| Cheap San Mateo 4 Bedroom Apartments | $9,233 | $6,950 | $10,000+ |
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: 07/07/2025Current 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 | $4,895 | $2,395 | 22 |
| Baywood Park | $4,915 | $1,750 | 24 |
| North Central | $5,835 | $2,184 | 32 |
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 in the Western Hills neighborhood priced from $1,750. Colonial Garden Apartments in the Central San Mateo neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 1 Bed apartment currently listed from $2,184. 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 | Studio | Studio,1BA | $1,750 |
| Colonial Garden Apartments | Plan 1 | 1BR,1BA | $2,184 |
| Royal Pines | 1 Bed 1 Bath | 1BR,1BA | $2,185 |
| Alta off the Avenue | 0BR/1.0BA | Studio,1BA | $2,195 |
| Fiesta Apartments | JUNIOR ONE BEDROOM.304 | 1BR,1BA | $2,195 |
| Villa Tuscany Apartment Homes | 1 Bedroom | 1BR,1BA | $2,245 |
| 1950 Ivy St | 1 Bedroom | 1BR,1BA | $2,275 |
| The Preston at Hillsdale | Studio | Studio,1BA | $2,300 |
| Ambassador Apartments | 1x1 | 1BR,1BA | $2,325 |
| Fourth Circle | Studio | Studio,1BA | $2,365 |
Best Value Apartments for Rent in San Mateo, CA
As of July 08, 2025 the best value apartment in the San Mateo area is the $2.58 price per square foot 1 Bed, 1 Den, 2 Bath Model at One Three Four Elm Apartments in the in the Central San Mateo neighborhood starting from $3,090. The second greatest value San Mateo apartment is the 2 Bedrooms + Family Room Model at 718 N Claremont St starting at $3,200 with a $2.67 price per square foot in the Central San Mateo 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Three Four Elm Apartments | 1 Bed, 1 Den, 2 Bath | 2BR,2BA | $2.58 |
| 718 N Claremont St | 2 Bedrooms + Family Room | 2BR,1BA | $2.67 |
| Geraldine | Gordon | 2BR,2BA | $3.15 |
| Belmont Square Apartments | 2x1 | 2BR,1BA | $3.05 |
| eaves Foster City | B1 | 2BR,1BA | $3.49 |
| 111 Elm St | 2 bed 1 bath | 2BR,1BA | $3.44 |
| Bellevue Apartments | 1BR/1.0BA | 1BR,1BA | $3.31 |
| Royal Pines | 1 Bed 1 Bath | 1BR,1BA | $2.91 |
| Villa Tuscany Apartment Homes | 1 Bedroom | 1BR,1BA | $3.01 |
| Madison Place | 1 x 1 | 1BR,1BA | $3.44 |
Quick Rent Budget Calculator
How much rent can you afford?
The common "Rule of Thumb" is that rent should be no more than 30% of your income. How much is that? Enter your monthly income and click "Calculate My Budget" to find out.
Let everyone know!
Do you know the San Mateo area?
If you’re an expert on all things San Mateo, tell us what you love (and don't) by rating it and writing a review.
Write a Review
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 #68
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)
8 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
San Mateo, CA Apartments MapSan Mateo, CA Rental Homes MapGetting 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 $2,365.
What is the price of a cheap apartment in San Mateo?
The cheapest apartment in San Mateo is Colonial Garden Apartments which is listed at $2,184, while the average apartment in San Mateo costs $5,215.
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 7 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 $602 which is $4,613 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.
Roommate Matching: Finding the Right Fit and Avoiding Pitfalls
Written by: Cheryl Bowman
A fantastic way to save money and enjoy a built-in community is to share an apartment. However, a bad roommate situation can turn your dream rental into a nightmare.
The Art of the Rental Viewing: What to look for during a property tour
Written by: Marie Brown
You’ve scrolled through countless listings, walked through a blur of rentals, and finally found what feels like the one. The pictures? Fantastic. The neighborhood seems just right.
Know Your Budget: Calculating What You Can Realistically Afford When Renting
Written by: Lauren Harrington
Renting an apartment or house isn’t just about looking through online ads, choosing a few apartments or homes you want to tour, filling out an application, and putting down a deposit. Those things are all necessary and important.