Cheap Apartments for Rent in the UCSC Neighborhood of Santa Cruz, CA from $1,600 (15 Rentals)

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

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240 River Street
Studio Apartments

240 River Street

232-240 River StSanta Cruz, CA 95060
  • Utilities Included
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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
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317 Spruce St
2 Bedroom Apartments

317 Spruce St

317 Spruce StSanta Cruz, CA 95060
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  • Smoke Free
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Chestnut Street
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Chestnut Street

143 Chestnut StSanta Cruz, CA 95060
Showing Results 1-15, Page 1 of 1

UCSC, Santa Cruz, CA Local Guide

Cheapest Available UCSC Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the UCSC area of Santa Cruz, CA is a 1 Bed unit found at Mission Street Cottages priced from $1,602. St. George Apartments has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $2,200. Here are the most affordable UCSC apartments for rent in Santa Cruz, CA:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Mission Street CottagesA11BR,1BA$1,602
St. George ApartmentsStudioStudio,1BA$2,200
108 Sycamore StStudioStudio,1BA$2,200
1804 Mission StJr. 1 BedroomStudio,1BA$2,575
Cypress PointResidence 1Studio,1BA$2,653

Best Value Apartments for Rent in UCSC, CA

As of March 28, 2025 the best value apartment in the UCSC area is the $4.75 price per square foot 2 Beds, 1 bath Model at Westmont Townhomes in the in the Escolona neighborhood starting from $4,275. The second greatest value UCSC apartment is the 2 Bed 1 Bath Model at Chestnut Street starting at $4,274 with a $4.75 price per square foot in the Escolona neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for UCSC apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
Westmont Townhomes2 Beds, 1 bath2BR,1BA$4.75
Chestnut Street2 Bed 1 Bath2BR,1BA$4.75
Pacific ShoresMitchell`s Cove1BR,1BA$5.06
Hidden Creek Apartments2 Bed 1 Bath2BR,1BA$4.52
Anton PacificStudio-1EStudio ,1BA$5.45
1804 Mission StJr. 1 BedroomStudio ,1BA$4.55
1010 Pacific ApartmentsResidence A11BR,1BA$4.82
108 Sycamore StStudioStudio ,1BA$5.18
118 1st St, Unit Walk to the Beach118 1st St1BR,1BA$4.50
Mission Street CottagesS1Studio ,1BA$4.93

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Pet Friendly Lifestyle
Ucsc, Santa Cruz, CA

Ranked #13

Among neighborhoods in Santa Cruz, CA for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

4.0
Pet Friendly

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Best Local Schools in
Ucsc, Santa Cruz, CA

School data provided by Great Schools

Best Local Schools in
Ucsc, Santa Cruz, CA

School data provided by Great Schools

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap UCSC Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in UCSC?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in UCSC is under $2,950.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in UCSC?

The cheapest apartment in UCSC is Mission Street Cottages which is listed at $1,602, while the average apartment in UCSC costs $4,850.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in UCSC?

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 9 regular apartments in UCSC 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.

decorative image for Understanding Amenity Fees: Know Where You Might Be Able to Save Money article

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.