Student Housing San Diego, CA

San Diego is one of the most beautiful student cities in the United States and attracts thousands of students from across the world every year. This is largely due to the presence of top universities like San Diego State University and the University of California, San Diego, known for their academic excellence and vibrant student life.

There are several popular neighborhoods in San Diego for student living, such as Hillcrest, Mission Valley, and College Area, which offer a variety of options, including shared apartments, En-Suite / Non-En-Suite rooms, and studio apartments. Some top student apartments in San Diego includes The Merian, Topaz, and College View, and the starting rent for these properties is just $1325 per month!

However, with so many options available, choosing the best student housing in San Diego can feel overwhelming for students. This is where University Living comes in. With over 10+ years of experience in the accommodation abroad industry, we have helped more than 2,000,000 students find their home away from home. So, if you are an international student looking for properties in San Diego, you are at the right place.

In order to boost convenience and provide students with better options in terms of the type of properties, student housing in the USA is divided into 2 basic types, namely: Student Housing and Private Apartments. These types are common for student properties in San Diego as well! Both of these have their own pros and cons and therefore are suited for different sets of people with different budgets. Student housing is further divided into 4 types, which have been detailed in brief below:

Student Housing

Also popularly called PBSAs (Purpose-Built Student Accommodations), these are special properties that are made specifically for student housing in San Diego. The best part about these properties is that their rent includes major utility bills like electricity, water, gas, and Wi-Fi bills, along with several facilities that students might require while pursuing their education in the city. To cater to the needs of students with all sorts of economic backgrounds, PBSAs are further divided into 4 types, which are also explained briefly below:

• Shared Apartments: These are the most affordable type of student rooms in San Diego. Students get to share a room with 2/3 other occupants along with a shared washroom, living room, and kitchen. Since everything is shared, the per-person costs turn out to be incredibly low.

• En-Suite Accommodations: These are the most preferred type of student apartments in San Diego. In these properties, students get to have an entire room to themselves along with a personal washroom and come with a shared living room and kitchen.

• Non En-Suite Accommodations: These properties are very similar to En-Suite Accommodations. The only difference between the two is that, unlike its counterpart, a Non-En-Suite Accommodation does not come with a personal washroom. Students get a personal room, but the washroom, living room, and kitchen are shared among all occupants of the property.

• Studio Apartments: These are the most comfortable and private student apartments in San Diego. In these properties, students get to have an entire unit to themselves that comes with a bed, bathroom, and a kitchen.

Private Apartments

Private Apartments are the most comfortable type of properties in San Diego. These are not a part of PBSAs and are leased out on an individual basis as independent units. Students who book these properties get the entire apartment with 2/3 rooms with washrooms, a living room, and a kitchen to themselves. Students must note that the rent for these properties does not include any utility bills like electricity, water, or gas. Every expense is on top of the rent you already pay. These properties are suited for both university students and working professionals.

San Diego, California, is a beautiful coastal city known for its perfect weather, stunning beaches, and relaxed lifestyle. Located just north of the Mexican border, it enjoys sunny skies and mild temperatures almost all year round, which means you can go to the beach or hike outdoors in any season. The city is home to famous attractions like the San Diego Zoo (one of the best in the world), Balboa Park (filled with museums and gardens), and the historic Gaslamp Quarter (known for its restaurants and nightlife). It also has a strong military presence, with major Navy and Marine Corps bases located here.

San Diego is laid-back and health-conscious, with locals who love surfing, biking, jogging along the beach, and eating fresh fish tacos. The pace of life is slower and more relaxed than nearby Los Angeles, making it a great place for families, students, and anyone who enjoys outdoor living. The city has a high cost of living, especially for housing, but many feel the beautiful weather and quality of life are worth it. The food scene is excellent, with amazing Mexican food (thanks to its border location), seafood, and craft beer, San Diego is actually known as the "craft beer capital of America."

There are a plethora of options for students to choose from when it comes to top student accommodation. However, not every property is worth it. There are certain criteria that a good property should fulfil. The property should be located close to the university and the city center and should be located in a neighborhood that has great transport links to the rest of the city. Therefore, here are some of the top properties for student accommodation in San Diego starting at just $1325 per month!

• The Merian

• Topaz

• College View

• 9870 Carroll Canyon Road

• 7215 Charmont Drive

• Regents Court

• La Regencia

• Vantage Pointe

• 7524 Charmont Drive

• Iconic on Alvarado

Note: Book the top student properties in San Diego at the best prices, only at University Living!

San Diego is one of the most affordable cities to live in the USA, and everything from food to student accommodation is affordable when compared to other major student cities like New York or Washington, DC. However, it is recommended that students make a budget and track their expenses to avoid overspending. If you plan accordingly, you can expect to spend a month in San Diego for well under $1950. The table below highlights the major expenses that students might undertake as students in the city:

Note: Students must note that these figures are tentative and might change based on their actual consumption and expenses! If you want to have a better estimate of the cost of living in San Diego, you can use University Living’s exclusive cost of living calculator!

San Diego is the second-largest city in California and is home to more than a million residents who live in some of the most aesthetic neighborhoods in the region. The city is also home to several thousand students who are pursuing higher education in some of the top educational institutions in the city. Although students can live in any neighborhood they deem fit, it is recommended that they live in areas that already have an established student community so that they can reach out to their peers in case of any emergency or problems in the new city.

College Area (SDSU)

One of the best areas for student housing in California for students at SDSU is the College Area. Located 8 miles away from downtown, this is the true student neighborhood of San Diego and houses the highest concentration of students in any neighborhood in the city! The College Area has great transport connectivity to the rest of the city, with SDSU Trolley Station (Green Line) being a major hub, taking students directly to Mission Valley, Downtown, and Petco Park. Since this neighborhood is student-centric, there are several good and affordable food options like Trujillo’s Taco Shop, which is famous for its California Burritos, and one of those can easily fill up one person! Some of the best places to shop in College Area include Grocery Outlet and the Northgate Market for good quality Mexican produce and meats. The average rent for student housing in the College Area ranges between $1400 and $1700 per month!

Mission Valley

Located close to the College Area, another one of the main neighborhoods for student apartments in San Diego is Mission Valley. This locality is the best suited for students of the SDSU and the University of San Diego! Located 8 miles north of Downtown, Mission Valley is a sprawling suburban neighborhood filled with massive apartment complexes, shopping centers, and golf courses. The biggest advantage of Mission Valley is its location! You can literally get to SDSU, USD, Old Town, or the beach in 15 minutes. Transport connectivity is also top-notch, and one of the best breakfast spots in the city is The Broken Yolk, which is famous for its high-end tacos! The Dave & Buster's and Etna's Pizza & Bar are some of the top spots in the city where students prefer to hang out during the weekends! The average rent for student rooms in Mission Valley ranges between $1800 and $2200 per month!

Hillcrest

Located just 3 miles north of the city center, Hillcrest is one of the most vibrant neighborhoods for student rooms in San Diego! It is the historic heart of San Diego's LGBTQ+ community, and it's one of the most walkable, vibrant, and diverse neighborhoods in the city. Hillcrest is packed with independent restaurants, vintage shops, and nightlife, and has great transport connectivity throughout the city! If you love food that comes in huge portions, the Hash House A Go Go is the best place in the city, which is famous for its twisted farm food, sage fried chicken, and waffles, and the portion sizes are exceptionally massive! The Bread & Cie is another famous student hotspot which serves some of the best sourdough and sandwiches in the city. Hillcrest has some of the best bars in the city, including Urban Mo's, which is an iconic gay bar with a patio and great bar food, while The Rail is a tiny, dark dive bar which is absolutely loved by students! The average rent for student properties in Hillcrest ranges between $1500 and $1800 per month!

La Jolla / UTC (University City)

Located 12 miles north of Downtown and connected through the Blue Line Trolley, a major student neighborhood for student housing in San Diego is La Jolla and UTC! The area is split into two parts: UTC (University Town Centre) and La Jolla proper. The UTC is a modern, dense area of high-rise luxury apartments and a giant shopping mall, popular with UCSD students, while La Jolla proper offers great ocean views but is quite expensive! This neighborhood is known for its great food scene, and some of the top spots to enjoy a good meal are Din Tai Fung, Shake Shack, Hattie B's Hot Chicken, and the Taco Stand. If you love beer, the Draft Republic is the best place for you! It has a massive beer hall with bowling, ping pong, and arcade games, and is frequented by students on weekends! This area also has great beaches like Torrey Pines State Beach and the La Jolla Shores! The average rent for student properties in UTC ranges between $2000 and $2300 per month!

In order to make the daily commute easier for students and residents of the city, San Diego has created an extensive network of public transit systems. These include bus and light rail (Trolley) services, which provide last-mile connectivity throughout the city. While buses provide great intra-city connectivity, light rail is mostly used for inter-city travel. The bus and rail services in San Diego have been explained briefly below:

Buses

The bus services in San Diego operate on fixed routes throughout San Diego County and cover most of the neighborhoods to major universities or the Trolley stations. These services are the lifeline for students in the city, and a single side trip costs just $2.50. Some of the major bus routes include Rapid 215, Rapid 235, and Rapid 237. Students who are 18 and under get free travel with the Youth Opportunity Pass!

Trolley (Light Rail)

One of the fastest and most convenient modes of public transit in the city for students in the city is the Trolley, which is a light rail system operated by MTS, and is ideal for traveling longer distances and connecting to major destinations in the city! The services have been divided into three lines, namely Green, Orange, and Blue. These ensure last-mile connectivity throughout the city and therefore are loved by students! One-way trip costs $2.50 while a one-day pass costs $6!

San Diego is one of the top tourist destinations in California and is a very aesthetic city! The city is home to several parks and museums that are frequented by students. Every year, millions of tourists visit the city to view these attractions, and the best part is that these do not have any entry fee, or some provide discounted tickets to students! Some of the top tourist destinations in the city have been explained briefly below:

Balboa Park

Spread over a whopping 1200 acres of land, Balboa Park is the crown jewel of San Diego and is home to over 18 museums, beautiful gardens, and the Old Globe Theatre. If you are an art, history, and nature enthusiast, this place is a must-visit for you! The park's architecture and sprawling green spaces are perfect for a relaxing day out. The admission to the park is free, while the museum fees range from $20 to $30, and the Museum Month in February offer half-price tickets in all 70 participating museums across the city!

San Diego Zoo

Located inside Balboa Park, the San Diego Zoo is one of the most famous zoos in the world. This is the zoo that pioneered cageless, open-air exhibits that create natural habitats for over 12,000 rare and endangered animals! The zoo has every animal from giant pandas to koalas to polar bears to elephants, and is nothing short of a paradise for animal lovers. The Zoo also houses the Denny Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, which is an interactive area for kids and students.

La Jolla Cove & La Jolla Shores

Often considered the best of Southern California, La Jolla is a Mediterranean-style coastal village known for its dramatic ocean bluffs, sandy beaches, and vibrant marine life. The Coast Boulevard offers some of the most stunning views in the city, while students can also go snorkelling or kayaking in the ecological reserve, and watch the sea lions and seals sunbathing on the beaches! This is one of the best spots in San Diego for sunset views, perfect for a romantic date!