Cleveland Apartments · Cleveland, OH

Apartments for Rent in Cleveland Under $700

Yes, Cleveland has apartments renting under $700 a month, though they sit below the citywide median. Per Zumper's July 2026 report, Cleveland's studio median is $1,060, so sub-$700 units are typically older, smaller studios or 1-bedrooms outside downtown. Rent Finder Cleveland's rental homes start near $700 and all accept Section 8.

Are there apartments for rent in Cleveland under $700?

Yes — but a $700-a-month apartment sits below Cleveland's typical asking rent, so expect an older, smaller unit rather than a newly renovated one. Per Zumper's July 2026 rent report, the citywide studio median is $1,060 and the overall median across all unit types is $1,250, up 4.2% year-over-year. A separate count from apartments.com (accessed July 4, 2026) identified 1,051 Cleveland-area units listed under $1,000, which gives a sense of how much inventory exists in the broader affordable tier that sub-$700 listings are drawn from.

Cleveland's rents also vary a lot by data source, and it helps to know why. RentCafe's July 2026 report — which tracks larger, professionally managed apartment complexes — puts the citywide average at $1,564 for 787 square feet, well above Zumper's figures. That gap exists because RentCafe's sample skews toward newer, bigger buildings, while Zumper reflects the broader median of active listings, including the smaller and older units that a $700 budget usually buys.

What does a $700-a-month apartment look like?

At this price point, expect an older studio or a small one-bedroom in a building that hasn't been recently updated — often without in-unit laundry, off-street parking, or central air. These units tend to be more common outside downtown and University Circle, where newer construction pushes RentCafe's averages higher. Ask specifically what's included: whether heat, water, and electric are billed separately, and whether any appliances are provided.

Utility setup also affects your real monthly cost. Cleveland is served by two separate electric providers — Cleveland Public Power or The Illuminating Company — depending on the address, and natural gas comes from either Enbridge Gas Ohio or Columbia Gas of Ohio. Confirming which utilities are included, and which provider serves a specific unit, is worth doing before you sign anything.

How Rent Finder Cleveland fits a $700 budget

We manage 90+ rental homes across the greater Cleveland area, with rents that typically range from about $700 to $1,800 a month depending on size and location. Our portfolio leans toward 2- and 3-bedroom rental homes — a mix of single-family houses, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes — rather than traditional studio apartment buildings, so availability at the smallest, lowest-budget end varies. Every home we manage accepts Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and is HUD-inspection-ready, which can matter a lot on a tight budget since voucher assistance covers part of the rent.

If a $700 budget is your target, book a free showing and tell our leasing team your bedroom needs so we can point you to what's currently available, or browse our broader Cleveland apartment guide for nearby price points, including apartments under $1,000.

Where are lower-cost apartments typically located?

Cleveland's more affordable rental stock tends to sit outside the newest downtown and University Circle developments, in older buildings served by the city's extensive Greater Cleveland RTA bus network rather than the Red, Blue, or Green rail lines. Most of Rent Finder Cleveland's own rental homes sit on the city's East and Southeast sides — ZIP codes such as 44105 (Slavic Village), 44110 (Collinwood), 44108 (Glenville), 44104 (Fairfax/Central), 44103 (Hough), and 44120 (Buckeye-Shaker) — with a smaller number on the West side around 44102 (Cudell/Detroit-Shoreway) and 44109 (Old Brooklyn). These ZIPs anchor a lot of the citywide affordability data cited above.

If you commute downtown or to University Circle, it's worth checking a prospective address against RTA's rail and bus routes before committing to a lower-cost unit farther from a station — the HealthLine bus rapid transit route along Euclid Avenue connects Public Square to University Circle and East Cleveland, while the Red Line runs from Cleveland Hopkins Airport through downtown to the east side.

Section 8 and other help for renters on a tight budget

CMHA (Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority) runs the local Housing Choice Voucher program and accepts preliminary applications year-round with no closing date, though selection happens through periodic random 'mini-lotteries' rather than strict first-come-first-served — CMHA describes wait times ranging from a few days to several months. Ohio has no statewide law requiring landlords to accept vouchers, and the City of Cleveland does not currently have a source-of-income protection ordinance of its own — only a handful of Cuyahoga County suburbs, including Cleveland Heights, South Euclid, University Heights, and Warrensville Heights, have passed local protections as of July 2026. That makes it worth confirming voucher acceptance directly with any landlord before you tour, especially at the lowest price points where turnover among private landlords is higher.

For the full picture on applying, income limits, and payment standards, see our Section 8 housing guide for Cleveland. If a $700 budget doesn't turn up enough options, it's also worth comparing nearby price bands rather than searching by one number alone — many renters end up widening their search to include units in the mid-$800s to low-$900s once they see what's actually on the market.

Rent Finder Cleveland is an equal housing opportunity provider and does business in accordance with the Fair Housing Act. Availability, pricing, and terms are subject to change.