Cheap Apartments for Rent in San Mateo County, CA from $1,000 (163 Rentals)

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

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Woodland Park
Rent Specials
$1,985 - $3,465

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$1,985 - $3,465
Total Monthly Price$1,985 - $3,465
Studio to 4 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Woodland Park

45 Newell RdEast Palo Alto, CA 94303
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Finding the right apartment starts with three things: location, cost, and amenities. Get the insider perspective from a real estate professional on how to nail all three.

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Westlake Apartments
Rent Specials
$2,431 - $4,053

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$2,431 - $4,053
Total Monthly PriceVaries
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Westlake Apartments

331 Park Plaza DrDaly City, CA 94015
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What Does “Rent Burdened” Mean? How Much Rent Is Too Much

Learn the official definition (spending 30% or more of your gross income on housing) and how to calculate your exact rent-to-income ratio. This guide offers expert tips on factoring in total housing costs (including utilities and fees) and budgeting accurately to avoid unnecessary financial strain.

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Juniper
Rent Specials
$2,506 - $4,236

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$2,506 - $4,236
Total Monthly PriceVaries
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Juniper

15 Poncetta DrDaly City, CA 94015
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Cheapest Available San Mateo County Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in San Mateo County, CA is a Studio unit found at El Camino Real in the San Bruno neighborhood priced from $1,799. REALM APARTMENTS in the West Atherton neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 1 Bed apartment currently listed from $1,950. Here is today’s list of the most affordable San Mateo County apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
El Camino RealStudio, 1 bathStudio,1BA$1,799
REALM APARTMENTSPlan 1A1BR,1BA$1,950
Woodland ParkStudioStudio,1BA$1,985
Brunswick StreetStudio - 60% AMIStudio,1BA$2,140
Country ClubStudioStudio,1BA$2,205
Belmont Family Apartments1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$2,278
21 East 40th Ave.0BR/1.0BAStudio,1BA$2,295
701 9th Avenue701 9th Avenue - 81BR,1BA$2,300
Crystal Springs TerraceStudio B-BMR (Income Limit)Studio,1BA$2,306

Best Value Apartments for Rent in San Mateo County, CA

As of September 04, 2026 the best value apartment in the San Mateo County area is the $2.98 price per square foot 413 Portofino Dr Model at 413 Portofino Dr, Unit 413 Portofino Drive in the in the San Carlos neighborhood starting from $3,875. The second greatest value San Mateo County apartment is the 2BR/1.0BA Model at 95 Hill St starting at $3,500 with a $2.78 price per square foot in the Southern Hills neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for San Mateo County apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
413 Portofino Dr, Unit 413 Portofino Drive413 Portofino Dr2BR,2BA$2.98
95 Hill St2BR/1.0BA2BR,1BA$2.78
Arlington Apartments2 Bedroom/2 Bathroom Laundry On-Site2BR,2BA$3.17
Grand & Linden Family Apartments2x2 Grand2BR,2BA$3.02
Verandas Apartments2x1 W/D2BR,1BA$3.35
Courtyard Apartments1x1L1BR,1BA$3.12
219 Jackson Ave1 Bed 1 Bath1BR,1BA$3.12
Gatewood Village1 Bedroom 1 Bath Affordable1BR,1BA$3.10
Marymount TowerOne Bedroom1BR,1BA$3.28
616 Cedar St, Unit B616 Cedar StStudio ,1BA$3.08

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap San Mateo County Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in San Mateo County?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in San Mateo County is under $2,306.

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

The cheapest apartment in San Mateo County is REALM APARTMENTS which is listed at $1,950, while the average apartment in San Mateo County costs $4,142.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in San Mateo 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 16 regular apartments in San Mateo 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 Mateo County?

Cheap apartments in San Mateo County have an average cost of $102 which is $4,040 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in San Mateo County.

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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Rent According to Income: A Look at Income-Restricted Rentals

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The idea of affordable housing can be subjective. Every individual is in a different place financially and vocationally. What one may easily afford could be a struggle for someone else.

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Exploring Rental Options: Apartments, Townhomes, and Lofts - Oh My!

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Where do you see yourself? When you think of home, sweet home, are you in a 3/2 apartment? Dreaming of a tall townhome? Maybe an industrial loft heavy on cool vibes is on your visioning board.

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Practical Tips for Renters: How to Identify a Great Rental and Avoid Red Flags

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Renters want to find a great apartment, the right place for them, one that checks all the boxes of location, rental cost, amenities, safety, and more.

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First Apartment Regrets: Real Renters Share What They'd Do Differently

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Hindsight is 20/20. Live and Learn. With age comes wisdom. We’re familiar with all those expressions, and all of them apply to lessons first-time renters learn.