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$1,895down 2.32%
1 Bedroom$2,295No change
2 Bedroom$3,050up 1.13%
3 Bedroom$4,200up 0.12%
4 Bedroom$5,600up 8.74%
Median rent as of September 21, 2025
This September, we've analyzed our 2,853 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 2,853 condos, houses, and apartments for rent in San Diego. Specifically, 297 studio apartments, 904 one-bedroom apartments, 985 two-bedroom apartments, 402 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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$2,190
2 Bedrooms · 1 Bathroom Apartment · Mt Hope, San Diego
info5+ Days Ago
406 Gavin St #B is a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment for rent. It is located in the Mt Hope neighborhood of San Diego. It has apartment amenities including on-site laundry, storage, and outdoor space.  View apartment
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Short stay
$3,600
1 Bedroom Apartment · University Heights, San Diego
1072 Johnson Avenue 1072 Johnson Ave is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and 1 bedroom units available. It is located in the University Heights neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including outdoor space. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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Short stay
$3,050
1 Bedroom Apartment · Cortez, San Diego
855 Beech Street 855 Beech St #46 is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and 1 bedroom units available. It is located in the Cortez neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including elevator, and swimming pool. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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$2,810
1 Bedroom Apartment · North Park, San Diego
3918 Arizona Street 3918 Arizona St #35 is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and 1 bedroom units available. It is located in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including elevator, and roof deck. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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Online tours
$2,700
1 Bedroom Apartment · Mission Valley West, San Diego
610 Del Sol Drive 610 Del Sol Dr #12 is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and 1 bedroom units available. It is located in the Mission Valley West neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including ev charging, swimming pool, elevator, and business center. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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Online tours
$2,910
Studio Apartment · Harborview, San Diego
1980 Kettner Boulevard 1980 Kettner Blvd #6 is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and studio units available. It is located in the Harborview neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including outdoor space, business center, elevator, and swimming pool. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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Verified
$2,095
Studio Apartment · Hillcrest, San Diego
The Anderson 526 Anderson Pl is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and studio units available. It is located in the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including outdoor space, controlled access, and on-site laundry. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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Verified
$1,695–$1,845
Studio Apartment · Midtown, San Diego
2810 Union 2810 Union St is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and studio units available. It is located in the Midtown neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including residents lounge, on-site laundry, and outdoor space. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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Verified
$2,795
2 Bedrooms Apartment · North Park, San Diego
Hartley Apartments 3728 Herman Ave is an apartment rental building with 1 floorplan, and 2 bedrooms units available. It is located in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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Verified
$2,350–$3,850
1–2 Bedrooms Apartments · North Park, San Diego
Meade North Park 3104 Meade Ave is an apartment rental building with 3 floorplans, and 1–2 bedrooms units available. It is located in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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Verified
$2,700–$4,450
Studio–1 Bedroom Apartments · North Park, San Diego
Le Parc 2820 Polk Ave is an apartment rental building with 8 floorplans, and studio–1 bedroom units available. It is located in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. It has building amenities including residents lounge. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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$2,695–$7,495
Studio–2 Bedrooms Apartments · Park West, San Diego
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Kaya 2710 3rd Ave is an apartment rental building with 16 floorplans, and studio–2 bedrooms units available. It is located in the Park West neighborhood of San Diego. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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$2,195–$3,395
Studio–2 Bedrooms Apartments · North Park, San Diego
The Gardens on Bancroft 3934 Bancroft St is an apartment rental building with 6 floorplans, and studio–2 bedrooms units available. It is located in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly building. View building
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Short stay
$5,425
1 Bedroom · 1 Bathroom Apartment · Mission Beach, San Diego
info2 Days Ago
3764 Bayside Ln is a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment for rent. It is located in the Mission Beach neighborhood of San Diego.  View apartment
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Short stay
$4,560
1 Bedroom · 1 Bathroom Apartment · Mission Valley East, San Diego
593 Camino De La Reina is a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment for rent. It is located in the Mission Valley East neighborhood of San Diego. It has apartment amenities including outdoor space, storage, swimming pool, residents lounge, package service, elevator, and fitness center. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly apartment. View apartment
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Verified
Short stay
$10,123
4 Bedrooms · 3 Bathrooms Apartment · Park West, San Diego
info2 Days Ago
3330 Albatross St is a 4 bedroom, 3 bathrooms apartment for rent. It is located in the Park West neighborhood of San Diego. It has apartment amenities including garage parking. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly apartment. View apartment
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Verified
Short stay
$4,200
2 Bedrooms · 2 Bathrooms Apartment · North Park, San Diego
info2 Days Ago
3030 Suncrest Dr is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathrooms apartment for rent. It is located in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego. It has apartment amenities including swimming pool, and fitness center. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly apartment. View apartment
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Verified
Short stay
$5,519
1 Bedroom · 1 Bathroom Apartment · University City, San Diego
info2 Days Ago
9263 Regents Rd is a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment for rent. It is located in the University City neighborhood of San Diego. It has apartment amenities including elevator, and swimming pool. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly apartment. View apartment
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Verified
Short stay
$5,567
1 Bedroom · 1 Bathroom Apartment · University City, San Diego
info2 Days Ago
8775 Costa Verde Blvd is a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment for rent. It is located in the University City neighborhood of San Diego. It has apartment amenities including swimming pool, and elevator. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly apartment. View apartment
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Verified
Short stay
$3,739
1 Bedroom · 1 Bathroom Apartment · Adams North, San Diego
4788 W Mountain View Dr is a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment for rent. It is located in the Adams North neighborhood of San Diego. Cats and dogs are allowed, making it a pet-friendly apartment. View apartment