Quick Stats
Undergrads in Off Campus Housing
67 %
Best Time to Look for a Place
Beginning of fall quarter
Average Rents
- 1 BR - $1,205.00
- 2 BR - $1,650.00
- Studio - $925.00
Popular Areas
- Clairemont
- La Jolla
- Mira Mesa
- Pacific Beach
College Prowler Take
Finding off-campus housing for the first time can be a nerve-racking experience. Finding housing is not difficult, but finding affordable housing can be. Living in La Jolla is convenient because of the close proximity to school, but it is very expensive. To offset the cost of living in La Jolla, most students have three or four roommates. There are various advantages to living in La Jolla: It’s a safe neighborhood, it’s close to campus, there are tons of apartments available, all of the apartments are relatively new and well-maintained, and it’s also close to the beach. La Jolla can be a great place to live, and there are some apartment deals if you look hard enough.
It can also be an advantage to move out of La Jolla. Other popular cities close to campus are Pacific Beach, Clairemont, University City, and Mira Mesa. Rent is usually cheaper in these areas, and they are almost as nice as La Jolla. For students who choose to live farther from campus, the main complaint is the commute. There are usually not direct bus routes to school, which causes the commute by bus to be unbearably long. There is also a lot of traffic in the mornings and evenings on the freeways, and it is always a challenge to park on campus. If you don’t mind driving and dealing with parking, then moving out of La Jolla would be for you. Otherwise, most students decide to find roommates or pay a little extra in rent so they can live in La Jolla and have an easier commute to campus.
Students Speak Out
Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:
Anonymous says:  |
Off-campus housing is convenient...
Off-campus housing is convenient but expensive; La Jolla is very chic. One bedroom is at least $900, and that is cheap for La Jolla. There are communities nearby that are cheaper. |
Anonymous says:  |
There are tons of apartments...
There are tons of apartments around. The availability is there early, so start looking in the summertime. There is an off-campus housing office run by the school that can help you find roommates and a place that fits your budget and needs. |
Anonymous says:  |
There are lots of options within...
There are lots of options within nearby areas like Del Mar, Pacific Beach, and San Diego—not including La Jolla itself. Places outside of La Jolla are a little cheaper, though. |
Anonymous says:  |
Real estate in San Diego is a...
Real estate in San Diego is a pain, so if you ever need to look, start looking early if you don’t want something super expensive. |
Anonymous says:  |
Housing is getting more compact...
Housing is getting more compact each year. Even sophomores aren’t guaranteed housing on campus and are forced to look for off-campus options. There are a lot of apartment complexes along UCSD that vary in price. I live in Costa Verde and pay $1500 a month for two bedrooms. This is about average because our rooms are pretty big. If you’re looking for off-campus housing, get ready to be put on a waitlist. |
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