Near Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA 248 Apartments for Rent

Ocean Beach is a laid-back, beach-loving community that’s proud of its unique culture and local businesses. If you’re ready to embrace the Ocean Beach way of life, you can rent a beachside cottage or an apartment that’s right in the middle of all the shopping and dining in this vibrant neighborhood.

Transportation

• I-8
• I-5
• San Diego River Pathway
• Walkable

Demographic

• Young professionals
• Single and married renters

Contains:

• Ocean Beach Dog Beach
• Ocean Beach Municipal Pier
• Robb Field Athletic Field
• Dusty Rhodes Park

Close to:

• Mission Bay
• Downtown San Diego
• Little Italy

Ocean Beach in three words: alternative, laid-back, local

Ocean Beach is the picture of laid-back ocean living. Unlike Pacific Beach, you won’t find throngs of college kids or wild parties here, but rather an active community of easygoing residents who support Ocean Beach’s many local businesses. And even though SeaWorld is just across the river, Ocean Beach feels miles away from San Diego’s tourism hub. People from all walks of life settle down in Ocean Beach apartments when they’re ready to embrace a fun, relaxed lifestyle. Love it or hate it, Ocean Beach’s funky, alternative vibe isn’t changing anytime soon.

When you’re researching your Ocean Beach apartment, don’t expect to find any large apartment complexes or high-rises. Ocean Beach apartments are mostly smaller condos, townhomes, and beach cottages. It’s a great place to find a unique rental that’s perfect for your style and personality. Rental rates are reasonable and fall below the city average, so if you want an ocean view without paying penthouse prices, consider renting in Ocean Beach. Many Ocean Beach apartments are located in the northwestern corner of the neighborhood,  just off the beach. You’ll be steps away from the ocean and also just blocks away from I-8 and the San Diego River bike path. Traffic doesn’t stall here the way it does in Pacific Beach, so you’ll have a worry-free commute. If you head south, you’ll find some small apartment buildings in the lively areas around Newport Avenue and the Ocean Beach Pier.

Ocean Beach is an overall dog-friendly community, so finding pet-friendly apartments isn’t a problem; just check with the landlord to find out about any extra deposits. The biggest issue facing renters in Ocean Beach is the lack of parking, so try to negotiate for a reserved space at your apartment.

Ocean Beach is a pedestrian- and bike-friendly community, so you can go straight from your apartment to the beach, local shops, and great restaurants without worrying about parking your car. This neighborhood fully embraces its local businesses and opposes chain restaurants and big box retail. You’ll find that most of these businesses have set up shop on busy Newport Avenue between the beach and Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Newport is home to an eclectic mix of coffee shops, yoga studios, casual restaurants, and tattoo parlors.

Most Ocean Beach renters stick to local offerings for their grocery shopping, too. On Wednesday evenings, 2 blocks of Newport are closed off for the weekly Ocean Beach Farmers’ Market which has local produce, fresh seafood, and plenty of ready-to-eat meals as well. For the other days of the week, head to Ocean Beach People’s Organic Food Store, a local co-op that’s a popular destination for all San Diego residents. Of course, the ocean is the main attraction in Ocean Beach, and renters soak up the sun at the Ocean Beach Pier or Ocean Beach Dog Beach. The Dog Beach is one of the first off-leash dog beaches in the country and it’s still wildly popular over 40 years after opening. After your dog has had a workout at the beach, you can raise your heart rate at the adjacent Robb Athletic Field which has basketball courts, tennis courts, a skateboard park, and a full indoor fitness facility.

Some people say that Ocean Beach captures the spirit of California in the 60s and 70s, but the neighborhood is far from stale. People who rent in Ocean Beach would rather walk to local shops than drive to oversized shopping centers, and it is the perfect place to live a laid-back life. But if you want to mix things up, you’re just a few minutes away from fine dining in Little Italy or a fun night out in Gaslamp Quarter. Grab your bike and come explore the unique streets of Ocean Beach; you just might catch a “For Rent” sign in the window of a charming beach cottage.