Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Beach Flats Neighborhood of Santa Cruz, CA from $1,300 (11 Rentals)
Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the Beach Flats area of Santa Cruz.

310 Chestnut St, Unit 2
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.

108 Sycamore St

Cypress Point
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Beach Flats, Santa Cruz, CA Local Guide

How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Beach Flats?
Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
---|---|---|---|
Beach Flats Studio Apartments | $2,843 | $1,895 | $4,020 |
Beach Flats 1 Bedroom Apartments | $3,512 | $2,200 | $5,095 |
Beach Flats 2 Bedroom Apartments | $5,081 | $3,499 | $6,043 |
Beach Flats 3 Bedroom Apartments | $4,900 | $4,850 | $4,950 |
Beach Flats 4 Bedroom Apartments | $6,650 | $6,650 | $6,650 |
Browse Apartments in this Neighborhood
There are currently 11 rentals with your search options within a 1 mile radius of the Beach Flats Neighborhood of Santa Cruz, CA.
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Beach Flats, Santa Cruz, CA Local Guide
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Cheapest Available Beach Flats Apartments for Rent
 The cheapest available apartment rental in the Beach Flats area of Santa Cruz, CA is a 1 Bed unit found at Mission Street Cottages priced from $1,602. 516 Center St has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $1,895. Here are the most affordable Beach Flats apartments for rent in Santa Cruz, CA:
Apartment Listing | Model Name | Bed/Bath | Priced From |
---|---|---|---|
Mission Street Cottages | A1 | 1BR,1BA | $1,602 |
516 Center St | 516 Center St | Studio,1BA | $1,895 |
St. George Apartments | Studio | Studio,1BA | $2,200 |
108 Sycamore St | Studio | Studio,1BA | $2,200 |
The Breakers | The Shoreline | 1BR,1BA | $2,500 |
Best Value Apartments for Rent in Beach Flats, CA
As of May 14, 2025 the best value apartment in the Beach Flats area is the $5.50 price per square foot 2 Bed/2 Bath-11A Model at Anton Pacific in the in the Downtown Santa Cruz neighborhood starting from $5,530. The second greatest value Beach Flats apartment is the 2 Bed 1 Bath Model at Chestnut Street starting at $4,192 with a $4.66 price per square foot in the Escolona neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Beach Flats apartments based on price per square foot:
Apartment Listing | Model Name | Bed/Bath | Price Per Sq.Ft. |
---|---|---|---|
Anton Pacific | 2 Bed/2 Bath-11A | 2BR,2BA | $5.50 |
Chestnut Street | 2 Bed 1 Bath | 2BR,1BA | $4.66 |
Westmont Townhomes | 2 Beds, 1 bath | 2BR,1BA | $4.75 |
152 C Leibrandt Ave 3 Bed/2 Bath | 152 C | 3BR,2BA | $5.28 |
Oceanview | A1 | 1BR,1BA | $5.07 |
Five55 | B1 | 1BR,1BA | $5.68 |
1010 Pacific Apartments | Residence A1 | 1BR,1BA | $5.24 |
Hidden Creek Apartments | 1 Bed 1 Bath | 1BR,1BA | $5.24 |
108 Sycamore St | Studio | Studio ,1BA | $5.18 |
Mission Street Cottages | S1 | Studio ,1BA | $4.93 |
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.
Pet Friendly LifestyleBeach Flats, Santa Cruz, CA
Ranked #7
Among neighborhoods in Santa Cruz, CA for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities
Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score
4.0Pet Friendly
Best Local Schools in Beach Flats, Santa Cruz, CA
Gault Elementary
School data provided by Great Schools
Getting Around the Beach Flats Neighborhood in Santa Cruz, CA
Walk Score®
87 / 100
Very Walkable
Most errands can be accomplished on foot
Bike Score®
99 / 100
Biker's Paradise
Daily errands can be accomplished on a bike
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.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Beach Flats Apartments
What is a cheap apartment in Beach Flats?
A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Beach Flats is under $3,295.
What is the price of a cheap apartment in Beach Flats?
The cheapest apartment in Beach Flats is Mission Street Cottages which is listed at $1,602, while the average apartment in Beach Flats costs $6,650.
What types of apartments are the cheapest in Beach Flats?
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 4 regular apartments in Beach Flats that we think qualify as ‘cheap apartments’ that do not have special requirements to apply to rent.
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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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.

The Freedom of Short-Term Leases: Exploring the Advantages for Renters
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If you’re looking to relocate right now, a popular solution that may best fit your current rental needs is a short-term lease.

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.

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