Apartments for Rent in Scottsdale, AZ - 529 Rentals available

Renter's Guide to Scottsdale

A new home in the Old West awaits you. Scottsdale came from humble beginnings, starting out as no more than an orange grove and a few houses, but has grown into a major suburb of Phoenix. It now has excellent opportunities in education and entertainment, and careers in the medical, information, and investment fields.

Scottsdale is particularly attractive for families. In 2014, MyLife rated the city as the absolute best in the nation for raising children. WalletHub also listed Scottsdale as the 9th best city for families. The economy here is strong too, which is why Forbes gave the city a 2016 award for growth in the information sector.

Scottsdale is a moderate-sized city, about as large as Gilbert, AZ. It's one-seventh the size of Phoenix and about half the size of Kansas City.

Its location conveniently places Scottsdale 13 miles from Phoenix and only about 125 miles from Sedona. Sightseers are just 231 miles from the Grand Canyon.

Scottsdale has a dry, desert climate. Summer highs can exceed 100ºF, while the lows in January rarely drop below freezing. If you hate cold weather, you don’t have to worry in Scottsdale. Rain is somewhat rare, almost never reaching more than 2 inches in any month. No need for a raincoat here!

You do have to worry about the occasional summer dust storm though.

There isn't much autumn weather in Scottsdale, with winter occurring November through February, spring in March through May, and summer from June through October.

Cost of Living in Scottsdale, AZ

Valley Metro serves the entire Phoenix metro area with public bus and rail transit. The price for a single adult fare is $2 and kids under 5 ride free if accompanied by a paying adult. A 31-day pass is $32 and semester tickets are available for students at an average price of $200.

Several taxi companies, such as Apache Taxi, Clean Air Cab, and Yellow Cab serve the Scottsdale area, so finding a cab is pretty easy. The average commute time is a quick 19.5 minutes, considerably less than the national average of 26 minutes.

A three-course meal for two at a mid-priced restaurant costs from $45 to $85.50. The average price for a regular cappuccino is $4.05. On average, electricity, heating, water, and garbage for a 915-square-foot apartment in Scottsdale costs $175 per month. That's a bit more than the national average of $147.

Living in Scottsdale

Scottsdale has many pluses, including tons of outdoor recreation opportunities. Hikers and mountain bikers will love all the trails here. The city also has an excellent mix of high and low income housing available to suit every budget.

Of course, no place is perfect. Other than the hot weather, the most frequent complaints about Scottsdale seem to be linked to its rapid downtown growth. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing though, as it provides you with amazing pubs, breweries, restaurants, and galleries.

Besides its natural desert beauty, Scottsdale boasts ethnic culture from Native American and Latin American influences. This is best reflected by the incredible food and many forms of art available in the city.

Things to do in Scottsdale

Scottsdale is a city full of young adults, which means there are plenty of entertainment options.

If you’re a baseball fan, you can watch the San Francisco Giants at their spring training at Scottsdale Stadium, or support the minor league home team, the Scottsdale Scorpions. Golf is also huge in Scottsdale, and you can hit the links at the Boulders Resort & Golden Spa.

When you want some family outdoor time, the mountains are calling. Scottsdale is surrounded by mountain wilderness which is perfect for picnics, hikes, and climbing.

For shopping, Scottsdale Fashion Square is the largest mall in the area, with 240 stores to choose from. Kierland Commons is another, more urban option. Or you can get a taste of historic western architecture while you shop downtown in Old Town Scottsdale.

When it’s time for family fun, the water park at the Westin Kierland Resort is a perfect choice. You'll have a ton of fun, and cool off at the same time. If you’re a train enthusiast, you won't want to miss the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, with its train rides and museums.

Another great park is the 17-acre Cactus Park, which features a pool, volleyball court, and playground. For even more free outdoor adventures, visit the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Not only does it have great examples of desert nature, but there are miles of trails for biking or walking – and dogs are welcome too.

Couples can spend some fun time together playing the tables at Casino Arizona. If you’re looking for a quieter setting for togetherness, then take in a movie at the iPic Theater in Scottsdale Quarter.

Every year the Phoenix Open Golf Tournament is held in North Scottsdale. But if you're more of a movie buff, there’s always the annual Scottsdale International Film Festival. Foodies can give their taste buds a treat too, sampling the best Southwest food each year at the Scottsdale Culinary Festival.

For art lovers, Scottsdale is absolutely packed with art galleries. Not only is there the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art downtown, but there are private galleries all throughout the Marshall Way Arts District and beyond.

There's also some great architecture to check out in Scottsdale. Many of the town’s structures date back to the 19th century, and there are excellent examples of Native American, Spanish, and Old West architecture. Furthermore, Scottsdale is home to one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpieces, Taliesin West. The home embodies the soul of desert architecture and is not to be missed.

Working in Scottsdale

Scottsdale has several large industries that offer employment opportunities, including healthcare, insurance, and communications. The city’s largest employer is the HonorHealth Medical Center, a large hospital system with over 430 beds. Those in healthcare or allied health support will find many career opportunities here or at the Mayo Clinic or Magellan Health, two other prominent Scottsdale employers.

The insurance giant, Vanguard Group, provides jobs for those in insurance, business, or finance. General Dynamics Mission Systems also heavily contributes to Scottsdale’s job market, with careers in communications, engineering, and information technology.

Top Colleges in Scottsdale

Although Scottsdale Community College, with its emphasis on business education, is the most popular higher learning option in Scottsdale, many University of Arizona students commute from Scottsdale to Tempe since it's so close. And aspiring chefs can make their dreams cine true by attending the Scottsdale Culinary Institute.

Tips for Renting in Scottsdale

You’ll find your Scottsdale apartment comes with some important protections. For example, landlords are required to spell out exactly what your security deposit covers. Arizona law also limits the security deposits to one and a half times that of your monthly rent.

Even better, you have the right to withhold rent payments if the landlord hasn’t fixed certain critical problems, like sewage issues.

Finally, Arizona landlords must give renters 30 days’ notice before raising rent and five days’ notice before beginning eviction proceedings for late rent.