S5
Studio • 1 Bath • 583 – 586 Sq Ft
Starting at $2,227/mo
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$2,227 – $4,418/mo
As of October 14, 2026, Shift in San Diego, CA has 29 apartments for rent from $2,227 to $4,418/mo. Studios start at $2,227, one-bedrooms at $2,540, and two-bedrooms at $3,375. The average asking rent has risen 2.8% since May 8, 2026, from $3,033 to $3,119.
Shift has 29 units available across 22 floor plans: 2 studio layouts (568–586 sq ft), 11 one-bedroom layouts (773–1,045 sq ft), and 9 two-bedroom layouts (1,109–1,658 sq ft). Prices checked October 14, 2026.
Studio • 1 Bath • 583 – 586 Sq Ft
Starting at $2,227/mo
Studio • 1 Bath • 568 Sq Ft
Starting at $2,595/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1302 | $2,595 | 568 | Oct 11 |
1 Bedroom • 1 Bath • 841 Sq Ft
Starting at $2,540/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0510 | $2,540 | 841 | Mar 8 |
1 Bedroom • 1 Bath • 773 Sq Ft
Starting at $2,635/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1203 | $2,635 | 773 | Oct 12 |
1 Bedroom • 1 Bath • 834 Sq Ft
Starting at $2,657/mo
1 Bedroom • 1 Bath • 823 – 844 Sq Ft
Starting at $2,662/mo
1 Bedroom • 1 Bath • 906 Sq Ft
Starting at $2,723/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0700 | $2,723 | 906 | Dec 15 |
1 Bedroom • 1 Bath • 884 Sq Ft
Starting at $2,757/mo
1 Bedroom • 1 Bath • 849 – 850 Sq Ft
Starting at $2,775/mo
1 Bedroom • 1 Bath • 837 Sq Ft
Starting at $2,965/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909 | $2,965 | 837 | Nov 24 |
1 Bedroom • 1 Bath • 903 Sq Ft
Starting at $3,035/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1807 | $3,035 | 903 | Nov 14 |
1 Bedroom • 1 Bath • 1,045 Sq Ft
Starting at $3,045/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1001 | $3,045 | 1,045 | Nov 13 |
1 Bedroom • 1 Bath • 859 Sq Ft
Starting at $3,115/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | $3,115 | 859 | Oct 21 |
2 Bedrooms • 2 Baths • 1,151 Sq Ft
Starting at $3,375/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0311 | $3,375 | 1,151 | Oct 12 |
2 Bedrooms • 2 Baths • 1,109 Sq Ft
Starting at $3,564/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1504 | $3,564 | 1,109 | Oct 21 |
2 Bedrooms • 2 Baths • 1,253 Sq Ft
Starting at $3,620/mo
2 Bedrooms • 2 Baths • 1,181 Sq Ft
Starting at $3,672/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1801 | $3,672 | 1,181 | Oct 12 |
2 Bedrooms • 2 Baths • 1,283 Sq Ft
Starting at $3,727/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0418 | $3,727 | 1,283 | Oct 12 |
2 Bedrooms • 2 Baths • 1,177 Sq Ft
Starting at $3,747/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0222 | $3,747 | 1,177 | Oct 12 |
2 Bedrooms • 2 Baths • 1,243 Sq Ft
Starting at $3,812/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0224 | $3,812 | 1,243 | Oct 12 |
2 Bedrooms • 2 Baths • 1,171 Sq Ft
Starting at $4,035/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | $4,035 | 1,171 | Nov 13 |
2 Bedrooms • 2 Baths • 1,658 Sq Ft
Starting at $4,418/mo
| 1 available unit | Price | Sq ft | Available | Open unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | $4,418 | 1,658 | Oct 12 |
See all 121 units listed at Shift, including ones no longer available.
At Shift, a studio starts at about $2,537 a month all-in: $2,227 rent and an estimated $310 for electric, gas, water, internet, renters insurance, and laundry. A one-bedroom starts at about $2,867 and a two-bedroom at about $3,785.
All-in from$2,537/mo
Most landlords ask for a monthly income of about 3× the rent, so qualifying at Shift takes about $80,172 a year for a studio, $91,440 for a one-bedroom, and $121,500 for a two-bedroom. Keeping the $2,537 all-in month for a studio within 35% of take-home pay takes an income of about $122,400 a year.
Total monthly housing cost
$2,537/mo
Income to afford it comfortably
$122,400/yr
Income to qualify
$80,172/yr
$ —/mo
See what you can afford here
Add your income and debts for a rent budget at this building.
Over the past year, the average asking rent at Shift has ranged from $2,937 to $3,357. The current average is $3,119, up $86 (2.8%) from $3,033 at the start.
At Shift, leases run 12 months.
Rent
$2,227 – $4,418/moLease term
12 monthsEarliest move-in
Mar 8Shift is pet friendly. It lists 18 amenities, including 7th floor sky terrace and package acceptance.
7th Floor Sky Terrace
Dog Park
Expansive Closets With Upgrades
Floor To Ceiling Windows More Info On Floor To Ceiling Windows
Full Ceramic Tile Backsplash
Get Rewarded For Paying Rent And Shopping Local
Keyless Entry Front Door Locks
Kitchen Island With Quartz More Info On Kitchen Island With Quartz
Modern Two-Tone Cabinetry With Under-Mount Lighting
Onsite Retail With Unique Eateries And Services Right At Your Doorstep
Package Acceptance
Quartz Countertops
Resident Social Lounge
Shuffleboard
Signature San Diego Views
Walk-In Showers More Info On Walk-In Showers
Balcony
Courtyard View
1501 Island Ave, San Diego, CA, 92101
Shift has a 4.2 out of 5 rating from more than 200 resident reviews. Residents rate amenities and shared spaces (4.0) and management (4.0) highest and maintenance (2.3) lowest.
Shift Apartments offers spacious, modern units with excellent amenities including a rooftop pool, gym, and community events in a walkable downtown location. However, the property has experienced significant operational challenges under recent management, including prolonged HVAC failures, garage gate malfunctions, inconsistent maintenance, and communication issues. Staff quality varies considerably, with exceptional front-desk and leasing personnel receiving consistent praise, while management responsiveness to maintenance requests and resident concerns has declined. The surrounding neighborhood presents ongoing challenges with homelessness and security concerns.
Management responsiveness and communication are inconsistent, with positive experiences during leasing and move-in contrasting sharply with delayed maintenance responses and unclear updates on ongoing issues. Staff professionalism varies significantly, with front-desk and leasing personnel frequently praised for helpfulness, while maintenance and facility management concerns—particularly air conditioning outages lasting months and common-area upkeep—remain unresolved. Billing communication has included errors and fee increases on previously advertised amenities, adding to resident frustration. Recent management transitions have coincided with declining service quality and resident satisfaction.
Shift offers extensive amenities including a rooftop pool, 24/7 gym, assigned parking, EV chargers, and co-working spaces that residents generally appreciate. However, maintenance responsiveness has declined, with recurring issues including broken garage gates, non-functional AC units, dirty common areas, and aging equipment showing wear. Communication about repairs and fee changes has been inconsistent, and some amenities advertised as included now carry additional charges.
Building maintenance and infrastructure issues dominate resident concerns, with prolonged HVAC failures, broken garage gates, and elevator problems reported across multiple reviews. Common areas show visible wear including stained hallways, dirty elevators, and inconsistent upkeep, while security vulnerabilities and lack of transparency about repairs create resident frustration. Staff responsiveness varies significantly, with some front desk and maintenance personnel praised for professionalism, though management communication about major issues remains a persistent complaint.
Maintenance responsiveness and follow-through have been significant concerns, with widespread reports of prolonged HVAC outages lasting months without clear timelines or communication. Residents report extended wait times for repairs, lack of transparency on resolution dates, and unresolved issues including garage door malfunctions, plumbing problems, and flooding. While maintenance staff are described as friendly and responsive when directly approached, systemic delays and communication gaps have created frustration, particularly given that residents continue paying full rent during extended service outages.
Shift's downtown East Village location offers convenient walking access to restaurants, coffee shops, Petco Park, and grocery stores, with free assigned garage parking and EV chargers. However, residents report significant neighborhood challenges including high noise levels from traffic and sirens, a visible homeless population, and street conditions that require caution. The building's security infrastructure—including a frequently non-functional garage gate and limited camera coverage—has been cited as insufficient, with at least one documented break-in to storage units.
Shift is very walkable and bikeable, and transit is good.
Air quality near Shift was good on 44 of the past 365 days, and at its worst in March (average AQI 77, moderate). Daily highs averaged 80°F in October, the warmest month, and lows averaged 51°F in December, the coldest.
44 good-air days
of the past 365: Moderate, AQI 60
80° / 51°
average October high / December low: 75° high, 55° low
Very low
Oct 14–18 forecastTree: none, grass: none, weed: very low
| Month | Average high | Average low | Average AQI | Good-air days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 69°F | 51°F | 69 (moderate) | 4 of 31 |
| February | 69°F | 52°F | 68 (moderate) | 4 of 28 |
| March | 75°F | 56°F | 77 (moderate) | 0 of 31 |
| April | 70°F | 56°F | 60 (moderate) | 5 of 30 |
| May | 69°F | 59°F | 57 (moderate) | 8 of 31 |
| June | 71°F | 61°F | 55 (moderate) | 7 of 30 |
| July | 77°F | 66°F | 55 (moderate) | 3 of 31 |
| August | 80°F | 69°F | 64 (moderate) | 3 of 31 |
| September | 80°F | 67°F | 59 (moderate) | 1 of 30 |
| October | 80°F | 61°F | 70 (moderate) | 0 of 31 |
| November | 68°F | 54°F | 71 (moderate) | 4 of 30 |
| December | 68°F | 51°F | 75 (moderate) | 5 of 31 |
Indulge in the epitome of urban luxury living at Shift Apartments, nestled in the heart of vibrant Downtown San Diego. With sweeping views of the city and the tranquil waters of the Bay, Shift Apartments offers a sophisticated retreat. Immerse yourself in the sleek, contemporary design of our spacious residences, where every detail is meticulously crafted to exceed expectations. From the exclusive amenities, including a rooftop pool and 24-hour fitness center, to the personalized touches you'll find inside your home, Shift Apartments redefines upscale urban living. Embrace a lifestyle of elegance, convenience, and distinction at Shift Apartments!
The closest school to Shift is e3 Civic High School, a charter high school 0.3 miles away. The closest public school is East Village High, 0.5 miles away.
| School | Type | Level | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
e3 Civic High School Charter · High | Charter | High | 0.3 mi |
Urban Discovery Academy Charter Charter · High | Charter | High | 0.3 mi |
Urban Discovery Academy Charter Charter · High | Charter | High | 0.3 mi |
St. Vnicent De Paul VLG Child Care Center Private · Preschool | Private | Preschool | 0.3 mi |
Nha Early Link-Sherman Head Start Private · Preschool | Private | Preschool | 0.5 mi |
San Diego City College Cdc Private · Preschool | Private | Preschool | 0.5 mi |
College Head Start Child Development Center-Nha Private · Preschool | Private | Preschool | 0.5 mi |
East Village High Public · High | Public | High | 0.5 mi |
Area 2-City College Head Start Private · Preschool | Private | Preschool | 0.5 mi |
Garfield High School Public · High | Public | High | 0.6 mi |
Shift is managed by MG Properties. The leasing office's phone number is (844) 489-0433.
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