Cheap Apartments for Rent in San Diego, CA from $500 (356 Rentals)

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property at 1808 Third Ave

1808 Third Ave

San DiegoCA92101
Showing Results 1-50, Page 1 of 8

San Diego, CA Local Guide

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Written By:
Justin Habersaat
Editing Staff

Cheapest Neighborhoods for Apartments in San Diego, CA

Pricing Updated: 04/12/2025

Current apartment rentals in the San Diego, CA area range in price from $705 to $60,000 with an overall median price of $5,340. The three San Diego neighborhoods with the lowest median rent pricing are Teralta West at $1,950, Fox Canyon at $1,450, and Encanto at $1,450. Here is today’s list of the top 10 neighborhoods with the lowest median pricing for San Diego Apartments for rent:

NeighborhoodMedian PriceMin PriceAvailable Units
Teralta West$1,950$1,9501
Fox Canyon$1,987$1,45020
Encanto$1,999$1,45021
North Encanto$1,999$1,40018
Teralta East$1,999$1,45019
Sherman Heights$2,010$1,9201
Azalea Hollywood Park$2,095$1,0001
Azalea Park$2,095$1,0001
Castle$2,095$1,00029
Crest$2,195$2,1951

Cheapest Available San Diego Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in San Diego, CA is a 4 Beds unit found at The Rive San Diego in the Rolando neighborhood priced from $855. 3942 8th Ave in the Balboa Park neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $1,050. Here is today’s list of the most affordable San Diego apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
The Rive San Diego4x4 B4BR,4BA$855
3942 8th AveStudioStudio,$1,050
Peachtree InnStandardStudio,1BA$1,062
Vista PalmsVista Palms 0+1sStudio,1BA$1,295
Terrace Gardens Apartments - Seniors 55+One Bedroom One Bath1BR,1BA$1,400
900-910 Manchester St1/1 Small1BR,1BA$1,446
Southern HighlandsStudioStudio,1BA$1,447
University Gardens1 Bedroom, 1 Bath1BR,1BA$1,450

Best Value Apartments for Rent in San Diego, CA

As of April 13, 2025 the best value apartment in the San Diego area is the $1.81 price per square foot 3 Beds, 2 Baths Model at Harborview Apartments in the in the Rosebank neighborhood starting from $3,895. The second greatest value San Diego apartment is the 3635 Cherokee Ave Model at 3635 Cherokee Ave starting at $1,300 with a $1.04 price per square foot in the Balboa Park neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for San Diego apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
Harborview Apartments3 Beds, 2 Baths3BR,2BA$1.81
3635 Cherokee Ave3635 Cherokee Ave3BR,1.5BA$1.04
Spring Gardens3 bed 2 bath3BR,2BA$2.16
HS Grand Ave2/12BR,1BA$1.93
Paseo Place2x2 Shared2BR,2BA$1.29
Terre at the RanchOrchard2BR,2BA$2.04
7466 Girard Ave, Unit 7442-A7466 Girard Ave1BR,1BA$1.89
Terre at CanyonRavine2BR,2BA$2.11
55+ Senior Living at Quail Creek ApartmentsTwo Bedrooms2BR,2BA$2.09
The Glorias ApartmentsStudioStudio ,1BA$2.10

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San Diego Overview

San Diego is a major city on the Pacific Coast in Southern California and is adjacent to the Mexican border. Home to over 1.3 million people, San Diego is the eighth largest city in the United States and is nicknamed “America’s Finest City”. The major industries are military/defense, tourism, international trade, and manufacturing. There is also a wide variety of apartments in San Diego available for residents who move here to find a great place to call home.

Why live in San Diego, CA?

While the cost of living is higher than average in San Diego, the city offers near perfect weather year round, a wide variety of outdoors activities, beautiful beaches, museums and other cultural centers, and a professional sports events. Fans of local sports have their choice of supporting the San Diego Chargers (football), the San Diego Padres (baseball), the San Diego Gulls (ice hockey) and a newly formed rugby team.

Pet Friendly Lifestyle
San Diego, CA

Ranked #4

Among cities in California for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

3.5
Pet Friendly

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

Explore San Diego, CA Rentals by Map

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See the most popular apartments and homes in San Diego, CA

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Getting Around San Diego, CA

Walk Score®

74 / 100

Very Walkable

Most errands can be accomplished on foot

Bike Score®

57 / 100

Bikeable

Some bike infrastructure

Transit Score®

46 / 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.

San Diego, CA Area Reviews

  • Parks
  • Entertainment
  • Local Vibes
  • Restaurants
  • Location
  • Traffic
  • Public Transportation
  • Outdoor Access
  • Cost of Living
  • Safety

Hayden • 4+ years in San Diego

March 6, 2025

San Diego is an amazing city for families, young professionals, and retirees!

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap San Diego Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in San Diego?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in San Diego is under $1,450.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in San Diego?

The cheapest apartment in San Diego is Terrace Gardens Apartments - Seniors 55+ which is listed at $1,400, while the average apartment in San Diego costs $5,340.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in San Diego?

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 1,106 regular apartments in San Diego 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 Diego?

Cheap apartments in San Diego have an average cost of $429 which is $4,911 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in San Diego.

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.

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Understanding Amenity Fees: Know Where You Might Be Able to Save Money

Written by: Amber Kanuckel

With the rising costs of housing, a lot of renters are asking this question: Is it possible to opt out of various amenities that your rental property offers so that you can avoid paying the fees.

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Renting Smart: Lease Basics Every Renter Needs

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Often, in the excitement of finding a new place to live, there’s a rush to make it happen, and - too often - a new tenant signs a lease without reading it carefully.

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Battling the Butts: Your Guide to the Reality of Smoke-Free Renting

Written by: Andrea Lee Negroni, JD

While many apartment buildings are “no smoking” properties, it’s hard to know exactly how many. In 2017, the National Apartment Association reported more than half of rental properties had smoke free policies.

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How Your Move-In Inspection Can Protect Your Security Deposit

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

If you’re anything like most people, housing costs represent a huge chunk of your monthly budget. On top of that, moving can be both a stressful and expensive affair.