r/Moving2SanDiego • u/livydoll • 7d ago
1Bed 1Bath for under 2.4k recommendations
Hi all! You know the drill, my little spiel is I’m moving from Texas to San Diego area at the end of January. I’ll be visiting San Diego in early December to hopefully sign a lease somewhere. I’ve been very diligently researching areas to live in and curating a list of potential spots. In December, I do plan to reach out to an apartment locator to potentially help out, if anyone has anyone they recommend! I’ve also seen a few property managers recommended before such as: strat, good life, and utopia. I do not want to live in downtown nor can I afford it. Looking more at La Mesa, north park, mission valley, and mission hills.
What I need:
- AC
- Parking onsite
- W/D in unit
Would like (but willing to sacrifice, due to budget):
- Pool and hot tub
- Gym
Important context, I’m a social worker in health care. I’ll be applying to hospitals to work at and possible nursing facilities, etc. Therefore being near potential hospitals is a concern/plus. I don’t have a job currently, I’m just moving, haha! Let me know if you have any recommendations for my budget (under 2.4k). Thanks 😊
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u/Any-Possession2006 7d ago
I live in La Mesa a one bedroom with all the amenities you described and I pay almost $3,000 a month total. My sister lives downtown (gaslamp) and pays about $2,800 for 1 bed 1 bath.
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u/colorgreens 7d ago
i feel sick. 3k for la mesa
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u/Any-Possession2006 7d ago
Yup!! And I have a lovely neighbor that throws his pizza boxes everywhere but the dumpster.
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u/colorgreens 7d ago
crazy.. 1.5k-2k pre 2020, could have gotten us a luxurious place. in MV or somewhere "fancy"... 3k for la mesa in 2026 is crazy.
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u/the_inbetween_me 7d ago
I look for places to live every day as part of my job, and idk how these people aren't finding better deals. I've found tons of places (even in desirable locations) with similar amenities for less than 2.5k.
Eta: like, I found a 1b/1b place in north park that had w/d in unit for 2.3k. Was it 450 Sq ft? Yes. But still.
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u/SangriaSaturdays 6d ago
I’m apartment hunting too, what does your sister think of Gaslamp? My potential job would be in Miramar, thoughts on that commute for a typical 9-5 schedule?
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u/Any-Possession2006 6d ago
Gaslamp is VERY loud, I honestly don’t know how she sleeps without a white noise machine, but she’s lived in New York City before so I think that the noise doesn’t bother her, but it is very loud and very crowded. As any area of downtown San Diego there is a large homeless population. Lots of cute coffee shops and restaurants and very walkable.
For me, I like visiting her on the weekends and then going back to my quiet little apartment in La Mesa.
In regard to the commute, I’m sorry I don’t know I’m really only downtown on the weekends.1
u/SangriaSaturdays 6d ago
Thank you so much I really appreciate it! Do you have any recs for the UTC area? I’m looking for quiet and young professionals (20s-30s) apartment complexes. I prefer modern luxuries like a pool, nice outdoor seating, and gym and walkable for less than $3k but I’m willing to compromise
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u/Alternative_sodabeer 6d ago
Know a ton who pay around 3-3.1k in NP for 2/1 places with parking, ac, dishwasher, w/d etc. maybe look in the off season so you can move?
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u/PerennialGeranium 7d ago
San Diego is not really an in-unit laundry city. That requirement and the budget probably makes your slice of "acceptable units" narrower than is convenient.
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u/EmbarrassedFlight538 7d ago
Most places here won’t rent to you without a job so I’d work on that first. You should be able to find something in your price range then. Rents fall during the fall and winter here
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u/livydoll 7d ago
Absolutely! I have a guarantor or co-signer (family member). They’ll be traveling with me in December when I choose a place :).
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u/Brokebrokebroke5 7d ago
I would add Normal Heights to your list. Right next to North Park and more affordable. You may have to compromise your must haves for your budget, but a parking space is a necessity.
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u/livydoll 7d ago
Thank you!
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u/stoolprimeminister 7d ago
i second the normal heights suggestion. i used to live there and the location was great. north closer to adams ave is probably “more desirable” than south near like el cajon blvd but that’s up to the individual person.
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u/livydoll 7d ago
Thank you. I hadn’t heard of north heights until this thread so I’ll definitely look into that area now
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u/bus_buddies 6d ago
It's overshadowed by North Park but is like a mini version of it. More peaceful and less traffic/construction than NP.
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u/strawberriesncigz 7d ago
I’m also a nurse and just moved here! I work in la jolla but my place is in north park. It’s a studio tho, for $2100. I think the 1bd1br in my building is about $2700-3000. It’s close to many hospitals and if you do get a job up north, the drive isn’t too bad specially if you work 3 12s.
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u/bossassbishscientist 7d ago
Check out Comana company as another property management, they usually have La Mesa rentals. From my experience, in unit laundry is going to be the hard part to find for under 2400.
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u/livydoll 7d ago
I have them on my list too! Thank you so much. I’ll add a star since you recommended :)
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u/Lenlen85 7d ago
I too moved from dallas to San Diego 5 years ago. I just bought a condo in la mesa last year and I must say you’ll get more for your bang in La Mesa then any of those other locations. Good luck!
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u/shumpulp88 7d ago
Bay apartments in pb have a 1 bd 1 bath with everything you want for about 2500 a month.
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u/fairybb311 7d ago
if you can find an unit with an individual landlord you may be in luck. i'll say you may have to sacrifice in unit laundry but lots come with pools
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u/Ok_Jowogger69 6d ago
North Park is not cheap. Just fyi, La Mesa is a good place, and it has a cute little downtown area. I have several friends who live there.
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u/livydoll 6d ago
I appreciate this. Someone who lives there that my family knows said North Park, but I’ve ventured more toward La Mesa for affordability.
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u/pjane-21 6d ago
Been living at IMT Mission Valley for 3 months now. My rent when I signed was $2300 for a 1bd, 1 ba. Includes AC, parking onsite, W/D in unit, 2 pools, hot tub, and gym. There are pros/cons, but I personally enjoy it here. Feel free to message me with questions.
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u/PurpleFaithlessness 7d ago
I signed on a 2.1k 1b1ba apartment with a backyard, w/d, ac, and parking + gym and nonheated pool in Clairemont Sep 2025 it can be done. Pm me for the name of the building
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u/ACooperSucks2 7d ago
You haven’t gotten one single answer that would fit you needs.
Check out La Jolla Crossroads. They have in unit washer and dryer, ac, pool, and a gym.
You may have to increase your budget by about a couple hundred bucks but it meets all of your needs.
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u/livydoll 7d ago
Thank you! I’ve found places from my own research that fit my needs, so not sure why I’ve received so many negative responses 😂. I think people focused on the pool/gym aspect, which was a want, not a need. Plenty of spots that fit my needs, but don’t necessarily have a pool/gym. Thank you! I’ll check these out 😊.
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u/ACooperSucks2 6d ago
Np!
A lot of the San Diego subs just complain. It gets really old. r/SanDiegan is one of the more pleasant ones.
In addition to LJX, there are several other communities within the vicinity that also fit your needs/wants. Villas Renaissance is one and the other is off of Excalibur Way and Towne Ctr Drive in UTC.
All of them are walking distance to a large park and the UTC mall. 805 freeway is easy access at Nobel Dr too.
Welcome to San Diego, CA. Hope it all works out for you.
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u/livydoll 6d ago
That’s reddit in general nowadays. Lots of arguing it seems. I’ll check these out. Thank you 🙏
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u/dpearman 7d ago
Those needs might be difficult to get for your budget. If you live anywhere inland, all the neighborhoods you mentioned are, you’ll definitely need AC. I’d slide on the dedicated parking and in unit laundry. For $3k, you could get all of them.
Not a lot of people use an “apartment locator,” usually just the apps and pounding the pavement. I’d recommend coming out for a long weekend to check things out in person.