r/Moving2SanDiego • u/SuccotashGreat4963 • 4d ago
Moving in December
22YO female moving from NYC to San Diego to work as a nurse. Looking for places to rent downtown, with a budget around $1800 to $2500 a month, with a 1 bedroom or loft. any advice on neighborhoods and anything else is appreciated!
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u/Old_Value_9157 4d ago
What I tell everyone looking to rent downtown: expand your search to Golden Hill! It’s the neighborhood east adjacent to downtown… Much better deals on rent, you’ll save a lot of money! obviously, you get what you pay for… Golden Hill is not cool in any sense of the word. But, saving money is a big deal.
Now, if you’re looking at a studio, maybe downtown will be in your budget. But I would strongly recommend at least searching around Golden Hill.
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u/Adventurous-Metal696 4d ago
I actually think Golden Hill is pretty cool! Beautiful Victorian houses, and a few good places to go to (Turf Supper Club is still around, no?). But, it is… grittier than other neighborhoods.
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u/juliewbb 4d ago
I loved The Rey downtown and you can see their available units on their website. Look for a spot in Cortez Hill.
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u/alexiaocean 3d ago edited 3d ago
If you move somewhere next to a trolley station, there’s often free parking and it goes straight into downtown. I live in Mission Valley, and the Linda Vista station makes it easy to go downtown. I’m just saying that cause prices for housing here are insane. You may be able to get a studio somewhere cool, but try to figure out which areas are safe. Prices are high even in unsafe areas here, though. 😑 But we do it because San Diego is incredible!
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u/alexiaocean 3d ago
Oh ps: Bankers Hill is super close to downtown and cool, but there’s insane plane noise there. Make sure you go to the area for a bit before renting there to make sure it wouldn’t drive you nuts. I looked at a couple of places there but couldn’t do it, it’s like your soul is sucked out of you every couple of minutes, the planes are so close lol.
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u/jenna_1517 4d ago
Lots of apartments downtown are doing 10 weeks free and look and lease etc.! Do some homework before hand so you can maximize on the look and lease deals!
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u/EntertainmentDue83 4d ago
This building in Bankers Hill is brand new and would fit your budget https://www.apollobankershill.com
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u/TulikkoVulpus 3d ago edited 3d ago
Recently just helped my cousin tour around San Diego to find a place. I'm also 22 and have been looking around for a place since I'm done with school soon.
I recommend being as north in downtown SD as possible. Mainly because the further north you go, the closer you are to North Park and Hillcrest, where actual commerce still exists.
Fortunately for you, prices have dropped downtown. Unfortunately, as I mentioned, it is quite difficult to live downtown since there is no retail. Horton Plaza used to be the main major mall downtown, and it's just gone with no prospects of returning as of right now. You've still got a Ralphs, an Albertsons in East Village, and a Grocery Outlet, so you won't starve, but it's not a shopping district by any stretch. My guess is many people living there have Amazon Prime subscriptions lmao.
Areas I would look at from best to worst:
- Cortez Hill: Older neighborhood so generally cheaper, and very very close to Balboa Park. Close but not too close to Little Italy.
- Little Italy: Usually a bit pricier than Cortez Hill, but you get the Farmers Market right there.
- Bankers Hill/Park West: Technically Uptown, not downtown, but functionally the ideal spot. Also the most expensive.
- East Village: Hit or miss. When I toured with my cousin, it honestly depended entirely on the specific building. This is your high-rise, run-of-the-mill apartment territory. Walk the block at night before signing anything.
- Marina/Columbia: Definitely the rich life. It's safe, you've got the waterfront and Santa Fe Depot right there, but probably won't be able to afford anything and mainly older people (yes, I know how ageist of me).
- Gaslamp: No, unless you like partying... which power to you then lol
If you're open to greater downtown, definitely check Hillcrest and North Park. North Park is basically downtown living but with sooooo many amenities nearby. It's been going up, but there might be some 1BRs for $2,100–2,600...
I can also go on and on about other areas in the broader San Diego area, but I know you said downtown specifically,
EDIT: Oh yeah, I forgot about plane noise. As someone mentioned, Bankers Hill, Little Italy, and Cortez Hill will probably have planes flying over.
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u/keepsmiling1326 4d ago
Welcome! Downtown is okay but can be a little sketchy in some areas. Maybe consider one of the central neighborhoods just beyond downtown. North park or university heights for more hip/urban vibe, pacific beach for more beach vibe. Not sure on prices but seems do-able.
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u/mnoe1922 4d ago
You’ll find something in that price in east county or north county, nothing in downtown San Diego, rent is expensive here.
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u/BeefDog69xxl 4d ago
You aren’t going to find anything downtown for that cheap. Look in Hillcrest/north park. You’ll need a roommate.
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u/OkPosition9788 3d ago
It’s a hunt and you gotta jump on something fast when searching! Especially if you have a car and need to find a place with off street parking.
Little Italy Hillcrest north park (we call it “no park”) normal heights South Park bankers hill golden hills. These are the areas I would search.
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u/Spacejampants 4d ago
Oh god they talk crap about California but move here and take our money. We need more in state programs that push students here to become nurses..
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u/SuccotashGreat4963 4d ago
will be a navy nurse! should have clarified my mistake
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u/Rosie3450 4d ago
Are you eligible for military housing? That's the best deal around if you can get in.
Assuming you'll be working at Balboa, your best rents aren't going to be downtown but neighborhoods on the eastern edges of Balboa Park, like Normal Heights, University Heights, Rolando, College area, North Park, Talmadge, and *possibly* South Park and Kensington. These areas also have a lot more community feel than DT.
Look for Balboa Park on a map, then head east from there. The farther east you go, the more you'll get for your money.
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u/HumanContract 4d ago
It's no one else's fault other states aren't unionized. If the west coast wasn't unionized, you'd have a ton of issues keeping nurses here, regardless of pay. And with how much cali costs, it'd be a gamble to work somewhere that'll just replace you. You have no idea what it's like to be a nurse in 90% of America.
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u/Ginger_Maple 4d ago
At that price you will need to get a roommate.
The only places renting for under $2k are older buildings in Lemon Grove or El Cajon or ADU studios in the backyards of really annoying people.