San Diego
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San Diego
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Living in San Diego

With its perennial sunshine, stunning beaches, potent brews, perpetual friendliness and mastery of all things chill, San Diego culture is like a stress-reducing tonic for big city life.

San Diego has been called “the birthplace of California,” and you can see its permeating culture of cool in cities all along the west coast. The wind-tossed hair, the suntans, the passion for big waves and the endless enthusiasm for life is hard to resist.

The people of this southern California playground all share these easy, breezy vibes, no matter how far different the various cultures may seem. From the barrios to the bungalows to the military neighborhoods to the raucous college crowds, everyone is entranced by San Diego’s eclectic mix of fresh fish tacos, palm trees, art, live music, and bonfires on the beach.

Landmarks ICN
landmarks

Aside from beaches and baseball games, San Diego is full of cultural and historical landmarks. On the list of must-see museums, you have the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Man. There are historic ship exhibits at the San Diego Maritime Museum. Historic theaters like the Old Globe Theatre and San Diego Repertory Theatre continue to entertain, and the Joan B. Kroc Theatre hosts live music, dance and performing arts in its 600-seat state-of-the-art complex. Other notable landmarks include Mount Soledad, Spanish Landing and Casa de Machado y Stewart, which provide important perspectives on Mexico’s early and continued influence in the city.

Activities ICN
activities

No matter where you’re from, there is always something to love about life in San Diego. There’s the famous San Diego Zoo, with its cuddly pandas and koalas. There’s Legoland. There’s the craft beer scene and the food, music and late-night memories that go with it. There’s the museums of Balboa Park and the rooftop parties of the Gaslamp. There’s nearby Tijuana. And of course, there’s the 60+ beaches where you can enjoy some of America’s most amazing weather.

Transportation ICN
transportation

Public transportation is provided by the the SDMTS bus system, the San Diego Trolley, the Coaster, and the Pacific Surfliner commuter rail. An additional rail line, the Sprinter, serves northern San Diego County.

Sports ICN
sports

There’s nothing quite like catching a ballgame at Petco Park, where San Diego sports fans cheer on their hometown baseball team: The Padres. And thanks to the year-round sunshine, every day is a good day to enjoy some action at the ballpark.

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weather

All this talk of sunny San Diego weather is more than just words. The Farmers’ Almanac has named San Diego one of the top-ten best climates, and The Weather Channel has put San Diego at the top of the list for best summer climates in America. There is an average of 201 days above 70 degrees annually, and rainy days are few and far between.

Landmarks ICN
company headquarters

The biggest employer in San Diego is the United States Navy - and it’s no surprise considering San Diego plays host to the largest naval fleet in the world. You can add an ever-expanding tech sector, booming tourism industry, and strong medical, government, and biotechnology fields to your employment opportunities too. The University of California-San Diego, Sharp HealthCare, San Diego County, Qualcomm, City of San Diego, Kaiser Permanente, and UC San Diego Health round out the list of top employers. Meanwhile, more than 400 biotechnology companies call San Diego Home, and the new iHub Innovation Center is a breeding ground for future science-tech collaborations. A cluster of mobile manufacturers are located here as well, including Nokia, LG, Kyocera, Cricket and Novatel.

Trend ICN

Rent Trends for Apartments in San Diego

September 2025
Bedroom countSan Diegovs Last Month
Studio$1,900down 1.30%
1 Bedroom$2,295No change
2 Bedroom$3,050down 0.55%
3 Bedroom$4,175down 0.60%
4 Bedroom$5,225up 0.48%
Median rent as of September 14, 2025
This September, we've analyzed our 2,904 listings in San Diego to determine the rent trend. We're updating our tables in real time to give you the most up to date San Diego median apartment rent prices by bedroom count.
Nearby ICN

Neighborhoods in San Diego

Downtown

Skip the touristy stuff and hit the local bars, restaurants and live music venues.

Gaslamp

The Gaslamp is the historic Victorian-era heart of San Diego’s nightlife. Vintage buildings share the skyline with modern high rises and hip clubs. There is also a rich selection of art galleries, theatres, symphony halls, concert venues and museums. For a bird’s eye view, have a drink at one of the rooftop bars and take it all in.

Hillcrest

Funky shops, fabulous bars, bohemian vibes and an electric personality make Hillcrest one of the hippest communities to be a part of. Here, you can score a one bedroom apartment for less than $1K, or splurge on a two bedroom overlooking Balboa Park for a few hundred more.

Old Town

This historic neighborhood is where San Diego was first settled. The Mormon Battalion Museum provides free guided tours, and the surrounding streets are full of authentic Mexican eats, clothes, and souvenirs.

Little Italy

Charming and tasty treasurers abound in this highly-walkable neighborhood, especially on saturdays when the Italian street market is in full swing.

La Jolla

La Jolla is a lovely spot with upscale restaurants, art galleries, boutiques and beautiful beach views.
Renting an apartment icn$

Renting an Apartment in San Diego

Prepare

Whether you’re on the hunt for cheap apartments in San Diego, or prefer a roomier two bedroom on the beach, you’ll need to get your renting arsenal ready before hitting the town. Prepare your list of references, proof of income, photo ID’s and checkbook. You’ll need enough money in your savings account to cover a security deposit and first month’s rent, and a little running-around money wouldn’t hurt either.

Know the rental market

San Diego rentals come in three basic varieties: luxury hotel-style rentals, modest motel-style, and quaint cottage. Most modern luxury apartments come with cool perks like resort-style swimming pools and garage parking. Quaint beachy cottages are often pricey and small, but come with a serious cool factor. The motel-style buildings are where you will find all the cheap apartments in San Diego, and can have a hip retro feel.

Bring your pets

Pet friendly apartments in San Diego are aplenty, and beach life is just as fun for Fido as it is for you. However, plan to put down a $300 pet deposit at most places, and possibly $40/month for pet rent.

Find ICN

Find Your Dream Apartment for Rent in San Diego

PadMapper has 2,904 condos, houses, and apartments for rent in San Diego. Specifically, 305 studio apartments, 928 one-bedroom apartments, 1,025 two-bedroom apartments, 398 three-bedroom apartments are currently available for rent.
We have options to filter by price, bedroom count, bathroom count, long-term or short-term, housing type, pet friendly, no broker fee, and you can search for an apartment by custom keywords.

San Diego CA Apartments for Rent

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$2,878–$3,954
1–3 Bedrooms Apartments · Carmel Valley, San Diego
Del Mar Ridge 12629 El Camino Real is an apartment rental building with 3 floorplans, and 1–3 bedrooms units available. It is located in the Carmel Valley neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including on-site management, fitness center, swimming pool, business center, storage, controlled access, elevator, and garage parking. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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$2,649–$3,361
2–3 Bedrooms Apartments · Rancho Bernardo, San Diego
Deerwood 15640 Bernardo Center Dr is an apartment rental building with 5 floorplans, and 2–3 bedrooms units available. It is located in the Rancho Bernardo neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including residents lounge, outdoor space, fitness center, swimming pool, on-site laundry, on-site management, package service, and storage. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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$2,310–$3,022
1–2 Bedrooms Apartments · Bay Park, San Diego
Canyon Ridge 3187 Cowley Way is an apartment rental building with 3 floorplans, and 1–2 bedrooms units available. It is located in the Bay Park neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including residents lounge, outdoor space, fitness center, swimming pool, on-site laundry, on-site management, and package service. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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$2,341–$2,854
1–2 Bedrooms Apartments · Sabre Springs, San Diego
Ridgewood Village 12435 Heatherton Ct is an apartment rental building with 3 floorplans, and 1–2 bedrooms units available. It is located in the Sabre Springs neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including swimming pool, fitness center, on-site laundry, on-site management, and package service. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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$2,849–$3,585
1–2 Bedrooms Apartments · Carmel Valley, San Diego
The Village at Del Mar Heights 13138 Kellam Ct is an apartment rental building with 2 floorplans, and 1–2 bedrooms units available. It is located in the Carmel Valley neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including swimming pool, fitness center, and on-site management. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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Luxury
Verified
$4,229
1 Bedroom Apartment · Hillcrest, San Diego
Camden Hillcrest 4305 3rd Ave is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and 1 bedroom units available. It is located in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including fitness center, swimming pool, business center, storage, residents lounge, outdoor space, and elevator. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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$3,000
1 Bedroom Apartment · Gaslamp, San Diego
Steele Lofts 529 Market St is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and 1 bedroom units available. It is located in the Gaslamp neighborhood of San Diego.  View building
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$2,595–$3,250
1 Bedroom Apartment · Gaslamp, San Diego
Pioneer Warehouse Lofts 311 4th Ave is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and 1 bedroom units available. It is located in the Gaslamp neighborhood of San Diego.  View building
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Verified
$3,250
1 Bedroom Apartment · Core-Columbia, San Diego
McClintock Warehouse Lofts 1202 Kettner Blvd is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and 1 bedroom units available. It is located in the Core-Columbia neighborhood of San Diego.  View building
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Rent special
$2,639–$4,066
1–2 Bedrooms Apartments · Mission Valley West, San Diego
The Margo 201 Del Sol Dr is an apartment rental building with 2 floorplans, and 1–2 bedrooms units available. It is located in the Mission Valley West neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including residents lounge, outdoor space, elevator, garage parking, fitness center, swimming pool, on-site laundry, on-site management, package service, and ev charging. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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Online tours
$2,195
Studio Apartment · North Park, San Diego
Florida 3531 Florida St is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and studio units available. It is located in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including outdoor space, controlled access, and swimming pool.  View building
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$2,450–$2,950
1–2 Bedrooms Apartments · Corridor, San Diego
KPH8 34TH 4270 34th St is an apartment rental building with 2 floorplans, and 1–2 bedrooms units available. It is located in the Corridor neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including on-site laundry, and controlled access. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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Online tours
$3,600
2 Bedrooms · 2 Bathrooms Apartment · Marina, San Diego
info9 Hours Ago
701 Kettner Blvd #15 is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathrooms apartment for rent. It is located in the Marina neighborhood of San Diego. It has apartment amenities including swimming pool. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly apartment. View apartment
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$3,750
2 Bedrooms · 2 Bathrooms Apartment · Park West, San Diego
info9 Hours Ago
3100 6th Ave #309 is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathrooms apartment for rent. It is located in the Park West neighborhood of San Diego. It has apartment amenities including fitness center. Dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly apartment. View apartment
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$1,900
1 Bedroom · 1 Bathroom Apartment · Stockton, San Diego
557 557 22nd St San Diego is a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment for rent. It is located in the Stockton neighborhood of San Diego. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly apartment. View apartment
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$2,895–$3,895
2–3 Bedrooms Apartments · Morena, San Diego
Lauretta Landing 5526 Lauretta St is an apartment rental building with 2 floorplans, and 2–3 bedrooms units available. It is located in the Morena neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including on-site laundry, and controlled access. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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$2,295–$3,495
1–3 Bedrooms Apartments · Point Loma Heights, San Diego
Villa Point Loma 3748 Curtis St is an apartment rental building with 2 floorplans, and 1–3 bedrooms units available. It is located in the Point Loma Heights neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including fitness center, swimming pool, storage, residents lounge, outdoor space, and on-site laundry.  View building
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$2,450
1 Bedroom Apartment · Little Italy, San Diego
Vivo Property - Main 1929 Columbia St is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and 1 bedroom units available. It is located in the Little Italy neighborhood of San Diego.  View building
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$2,500–$2,700
2 Bedrooms Apartments · San Ysidro, San Diego
Casa De Flores 601 Blackshaw Ln is an apartment rental building with 2 floorplans, and 2 bedrooms units available. It is located in the San Ysidro neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including controlled access, outdoor space, swimming pool, and on-site laundry.  View building
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$1,795
Studio Apartment · Golden Hill, San Diego
The Metro 836 26th St is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and studio units available. It is located in the Golden Hill neighborhood of San Diego. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building