Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Western Neighborhood of Santa Cruz, CA from $1,800 (25 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the Western area of Santa Cruz.

property at 228 John St

$1,200

Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$1,200

Total Monthly Price
$1,200

3 Bedroom, 1 Bath Home for Rent

Available Aug 1

228 John St

Santa CruzCA95060
property at 235 Union St

$2,000

Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$2,000

Total Monthly Price
$2,000

1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Home for Rent

Available Now

235 Union St

Santa CruzCA95060

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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Cypress Point
Rent Specials
$2,802 - $4,436
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$2,802 - $4,436

Total Monthly Price
Varies
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Cypress Point

101 Felix StSanta Cruz, CA 95060
Student Housing
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240 River Street
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments

240 River Street

232-240 River StSanta Cruz, CA 95060
  • Utilities Included

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.

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516 Center St
Studio Apartments

516 Center St

516 Center StSanta Cruz, CA 95060
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803 Laurel St
2 Bedroom Apartments

803 Laurel St

803 Laurel StSanta Cruz, CA 95060
  • Utilities Included
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Lincoln Apartments
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Lincoln Apartments

316-324 Lincoln StSanta Cruz, CA 95060
  • Utilities Included
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317 Spruce St
2 Bedroom Apartments

317 Spruce St

317 Spruce StSanta Cruz, CA 95060
  • Utilities Included
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108 Sycamore St
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

108 Sycamore St

108 Sycamore StSanta Cruz, CA 95060
  • Utilities Included

How I Find the Perfect Rental for My Clients: A Real Estate Pro's Guide

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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Copa Cabanas
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Copa Cabanas

1112 Mission StSanta Cruz, CA 95060
property at 4497 Highway 9

$2,150

Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$2,150

Total Monthly Price
$2,150

Studio, 1 Bath Home for Rent

Available Now

4497 Highway 9, Unit #A

4497 Highway 9
FeltonCA95018

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.

Western, Santa Cruz, CA Local Guide

Cheapest Available Western Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the Western area of Santa Cruz, CA is a Studio unit found at The Palomar Inn priced from $1,860. St. George Apartments has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $2,200. Here are the most affordable Western apartments for rent in Santa Cruz, CA:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
The Palomar InnPalomar Inn -SROStudio,1BA$1,860
St. George ApartmentsStudioStudio,1BA$2,200
Cypress PointResidence 1Studio,1BA$2,802
Copa CabanasA1-R1BR,1BA$2,850
1010 Pacific ApartmentsAT11BR,1BA$2,899

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Western, CA

As of July 29, 2026 the best value apartment in the Western area is the $3.10 price per square foot 2/1 Model at Baytree Apartments in the in the Western neighborhood starting from $3,185. The second greatest value Western apartment is the B4 Model at Oceanview starting at $5,295 with a $5.57 price per square foot in the Western neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Western apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
Baytree Apartments2/12BR,2BA$3.10
OceanviewB42BR,2BA$5.57
130 Grove St130 Grove St2BR,2BA$3.24
Westmont Townhomes2 Beds, 1 bath2BR,1BA$4.64
1804 Mission StStandard Loft1BR,1.5BA$3.82
Pacific ShoresMitchell`s Cove1BR,1BA$4.42
Chestnut StreetPlan 1A1BR,1BA$4.58
Copa CabanasA1-R1BR,1BA$4.55
Anton PacificStudio-1EStudio ,1BA$5.82
1010 Pacific ApartmentsResidence A11BR,1BA$5.41

Don't Settle: How to Negotiate Your Apartment Lease and Save Money

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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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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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.

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Pet Friendly Lifestyle
Western, Santa Cruz, CA

Ranked #1

Among cities in California for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities.

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

4.0
Pet Friendly

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Lifestyle Ratings

ApartmentHomeLiving brings you Lifestyle Ratings of rentals in areas across the United States including Western, Santa Cruz, and the greater Santa Cruz area. LifeStyle Ratings are a useful tool for comparing and sorting apartments and neighborhoods when choosing your rental home. This takes in many factors including our Star Ratings to compare for convenient access to the outdoors, luxury amenities, pet-friendly features, places that make kids happy, proximity to transit, and more. Find Lifestyle Search in the filter options (above). Happy Searching!

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Western Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Western?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Western is under $2,995.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Western?

The cheapest apartment in Western is Copa Cabanas which is listed at $2,850, while the average apartment in Western costs $7,550.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Western?

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 20 regular apartments in Western that we think qualify as ‘cheap apartments’ that do not have special requirements to apply to rent.

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

Written by: Robin Stewart

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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Renters Insurance 101: What It Is, What It Covers, and Why You Need It

Written by: Robin Stewart

Insurance seems to be a part of life. In some states, having insurance is the law, as is the case for automobile insurance. Renters are no exception.

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Apartment Occupancy Rates: Renter Attraction vs Renter Retention

Written by: Robin Stewart

There’s a tenet in marketing about client or customer attraction and retention. Studies and data have consistently shown it costs less to keep a current customer than to attract a new one.

decorative image for How I Find the Perfect Rental for My Clients: A Real Estate Pro's Guide article

How I Find the Perfect Rental for My Clients: A Real Estate Pro's Guide

Written by: Robin Stewart

Evaluating rental properties for clients draws many parallels to house-hunting. Whether an apartment, loft, townhouse, or other rental, finding the right place means finding “home” for your client.