Apartments students actually rent
Every community below is real and was checked against its own website in August 2026 — the links go straight to each property's site and floor-plan page so you can compare layouts and current rates.
| Community | Distance | Units & sizes | Rent | Furnished? | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nobel Court Closest conventional community to campus; W/D, fireplace and ceiling fans in every unit | 0.5 mi — walkable | 1x1 and 2x2, renovated and classic 575-1,069 sqft | 1BR from $2,704; 2BR from $3,981/unit | No | website |
| Costa Verde Village On top of the UTC trolley and SuperLoop stops. NOTE: no pets allowed | ~1 mi (5-min drive) | Studio-3BR, nine plans 620-1,477 sqft | studio $2,800; 2BR $3,435-$3,835/unit | No | website |
| La Jolla Crossroads The 3BR Castello splits to roughly $1,600-$1,700 per person — best per-bed value here | ~1.5 mi (Judicial Dr) | Studio-3BR, some with mezzanine lofts 647-1,639 sqft | studio $2,625; 3BR $4,800-$5,050/unit | No | website |
| Axiom La Jolla Rare ACADEMIC-YEAR lease option instead of a forced 12-month term — a real saving if you go home for summer | 1.2 mi | 1BR, 2BR + loft, 2BR townhomes | call for rates (~$2,600-$3,905/unit reported) | No | website |
| Regents Court Furnished units available through a CORT partnership — useful for one-year and exchange students | ~1.4 mi | 1BR-3BR, 14 plans 622-1,694 sqft | 1BR from $3,336/unit (low end = 12-mo term) | Both | website |
| Regents La Jolla Walk Score 80, Bike Score 92 — genuinely bikeable to campus; amenity-heavy | 1.4 mi | 1BR and 2BR | call for rates ($3,020-$4,285/unit per UCSD portal) | No | website |
| The Villas of Renaissance Irvine Company resort-style; furthest out, but has 3BRs for bigger roommate groups | 2.5 mi | Studio-3BR | call for rates | No | website |
Rates and availability change every lease season — verify everything with the property before signing.
How this compares with living on campus
UC San Diego's cheapest on-campus option is Seventh College / apartment mini-double at $11,033 per nine-month academic year, housing only. Remember that campus rates often bundle things an apartment does not — and an apartment lease usually runs 12 months instead of the academic year.
See on-campus rates & what's included
What you'll need
Heads up — this school breaks the usual rules
- The published room rate is not the real bill. UCSD hall rates are housing ONLY — a dining plan is separately required at most colleges and adds $5,100–$8,200 a year for incoming students.
- Skip the mini-fridge if you are in apartment-style housing (Seventh, Eighth, Sixth apartments, Pangea, Rita Atkinson, Pepper Canyon) — those units have full kitchens. Only residence-hall rooms need one.
- If you do buy: fridge must be under 5.0 cubic feet and microwave 750 watts or less, one of each per room. Coordinate with roommates so you do not end up with duplicates.
- Pepper Canyon West is a 12-month contract, not 9 months — compare it per month, not sticker to sticker.
Buying the standard college checklist here will waste money — check your building first.
Furnished units still need bedding, kitchen basics and cleaning gear; unfurnished rentals add the big anchors — mattress, bed frame, sofa and a table. Our checklist filters by furnished vs unfurnished so you only pack what your unit is missing.
Apartment checklist Apartment shop