You can try craig's list. I've had a lot of success finding good deals on that website. Just make sure you take a friend with you or tell someone where you're going.
The best thing to do if you are looking for a cheap apartment in any city is to use your networks. Someone at your church or school may be aware of an unadvertised place.T he next place to look is probably at an apartment locator who has a wide range of listings.
You should check for cheap apartment rentals online at sites such as craigslist. Craigslist has a section for apartment rentals. You can also check the local papers online.
The easiest thing to do would be to use craigslist. You can either set up your own wanted ad, or view others that have been set up. Just be wary, there are possible scams on craislist.
One of the most important things is to know the areas of Philadelphia. You don't want to live in a crime area. Look on the internet for cheap apartments.
Set your target prize range as well as itemizing your available cash for your appartment. Narrow down the neighborhood you whant to live in. You can find much of information about Philadelphia's neighborhoods on Wikipedia. Or you can check Gophila. com or Philly. com.