Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Balboa Park Neighborhood of San Diego, CA from $500 (118 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the Balboa Park area of San Diego.

property at 950 Ninth Ave

950 Ninth Ave

San DiegoCA92101

Smart Renter's Guide: Calculating Affordable Rent & Housing Costs

Wondering how to determine your rental budget? This comprehensive guide covers everything from the 30% rule to hidden fees and effective budgeting strategies.

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property at 1808 Third Ave

1808 Third Ave

San DiegoCA92101

Navigating the Rental Market: Tips for First-Time Renters

Entering the rental market? Learn these simple tips and strategies to avoid common pitfalls and make confident choices. Rent with peace of mind.

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Balboa Park - One of the Best Affordable Neighborhoods in San Diego

Named as one of the Best Affordable Neighborhoods to rent in San Diego by our , Local Expert Hayden Goldberg. See how it ranks!

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Versa
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Versa

2355 Via AltaSan Diego, CA 92108
Senior Living
  • Utilities Included

San Diego's Best Affordable Neighborhoods

Learn about San Diego and the best places to live with original content written by our , Local Expert Hayden Goldberg

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CCBA Senior Garden
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

CCBA Senior Garden

438 3rd AveSan Diego, CA 92101
Senior Living
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Santa Fe Manor
1 Bedroom Apartments

Santa Fe Manor

3835 Swift AveSan Diego, CA 92104
Senior Living
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14th Street
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

14th Street

1028 14th StSan Diego, CA 92101
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Casa De Lago
1 to 3 Bedroom Apartments

Casa De Lago

4145 Iowa StSan Diego, CA 92104
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DL Dodson
1 Bedroom Apartments

DL Dodson

510 Dodson StSan Diego, CA 92102
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Metro Villas Apartments
1 to 4 Bedroom Apartments

Metro Villas Apartments

4031-4091 39th StSan Diego, CA 92105
  • Utilities Included

Know Your Rights - How Discrimination Laws Impact Landlords and Tenants

Read our practical guide to landlord and tenant rights. Understand protected classes, reasonable accommodations, and legal exceptions to prevent housing discrimination.

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Balboa Park, San Diego, CA Local Guide

Cheapest Available Balboa Park Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the Balboa Park area of San Diego, CA is a Studio unit found at 3942 8th Ave priced from $1,050. Peachtree Inn has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $1,062. Here are the most affordable Balboa Park apartments for rent in San Diego, CA:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
3942 8th AveStudioStudio,$1,050
Peachtree InnStandardStudio,1BA$1,062
Vantaggio Little ItalySmall full size bedStudio,1BA$1,450
WLA Windsor0BR/1.0BAStudio,1BA$1,500
WLA 509 Park0BR/1.0BAStudio,1BA$1,550
Luther Tower - 55+ Affordable CommunityStudioStudio,1BA$1,551
Windsor ApartmentsStudioStudio,1BA$1,595
Union GrantvilleB102BR,2BA$1,595
The Marquis at HillcrestThe UniversityStudio,1BA$1,600
Overlook Point ApartmentsStudio Upgraded FlooringStudio,1BA$1,635

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Balboa Park, CA

As of May 16, 2025 the best value apartment in the Balboa Park area is the $2.27 price per square foot Huge Loft Units Model at Lofts at 734 University Ave in the in the Balboa Park neighborhood starting from $3,000. The second greatest value Balboa Park apartment is the Large 2 Bed 1.5 Bath Model at Koll Center starting at $2,850 with a $2.71 price per square foot in the Balboa Park neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Balboa Park apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
Lofts at 734 University AveHuge Loft Units1BR,1BA$2.27
Koll CenterLarge 2 Bed 1.5 Bath2BR,1.5BA$2.71
Cornerstone Lofts1/1 Loft1BR,1BA$2.48
The O'Neil North ParkThe O'Neil North Park2BR,2BA$2.85
Viridian LoftsOne Bedroom One Bath1BR,1BA$2.27
4052 Oregon2BR/1.0BA2BR,1BA$2.59
Pacific Vu ApartmentsOne Bedroom1BR,1BA$2.26
Horton 4th Avenue1BD1BR,1BA$2.84
4245 34th StTwo Bedroom One Bathroom2BR,1BA$2.80
Hillside ApartmentsStandard1BR,1BA$2.40

Quick Rent Budget Calculator

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Pet Friendly Lifestyle
Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

Ranked #1

Among neighborhoods in San Diego, CA for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

4.0
Pet Friendly

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Best Local Schools in
Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

School data provided by Great Schools

Lifestyle Ratings

ApartmentHomeLiving.com compiles millions of data points to bring you our detailed rental search system called 'Lifestyle ratings', composed of rentals and neighborhoods across the USA, including Balboa Park, San Diego, and the greater San Diego 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 rankings of the best places for easy access to the parks, luxury amenities, places to raise kids, raising pets, transit options, and how walkable or bikeable each community and area is. These search options are in the site filters at the top of this page.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Balboa Park Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Balboa Park?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Balboa Park is under $1,635.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Balboa Park?

The cheapest apartment in Balboa Park is Redwood Terrace which is listed at $1,695, while the average apartment in Balboa Park costs $10,000.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Balboa Park?

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 35 regular apartments in Balboa Park 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 Balboa Park?

Cheap apartments in Balboa Park have an average cost of $946 which is $9,054 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Balboa Park.

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.

decorative image for Top 10 Most Affordable Neighborhoods in San Diego: A Local Real Estate Expert Guide article

Top 10 Most Affordable Neighborhoods in San Diego: A Local Real Estate Expert Guide

Written by: Hayden Goldberg

Aloha! I’m Hayden, your local San Diego Realtor and relocation expert with ApartmentHomeLiving.com.

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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.

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The Freedom of Short-Term Leases: Exploring the Advantages for Renters

Written by: Bobbi Jackson

If you’re looking to relocate right now, a popular solution that may best fit your current rental needs is a short-term lease.

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Navigating the Rental Market: Tips for First-Time Renters

Written by: Sandy Baker

Making the decision to rent is exciting and terrifying at the same time. For many people, there are a lot of unknowns.