$500 Smart Home Starter Kit for Renters: The Full Apartment Setup
How We Test
Every device is installed in a real apartment with no drilling allowed. We live with it for at least two weeks, then remove it and check the wall. We score install ease, removability, portability and whether a landlord would object — then we publish the score, good or bad.
$500 buys a rental apartment that is genuinely smart: keyless entry, a doorbell you can answer from work, lighting that responds, a camera covering the door, climate control, and a security system that calls you when something opens.
Everything here installs with adhesive or a plug, nothing is drilled, and all of it moves with you.
The Kit
| # | Device | Price | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TP-Link Kasa EP25 smart plugs (4-pack) | $35 | Plugs |
| 2 | SwitchBot Lock Pro | $129 | Lock |
| 3 | Ring Battery Doorbell | $99 | Doorbell |
| 4 | LIFX Color A19 (2-pack) | $60 | Lighting |
| 5 | TP-Link Tapo C120 | $35 | Camera |
| 6 | SwitchBot Hub 2 | $70 | Climate + bridge |
| 7 | Ring Alarm 5-piece | $199 | Security |
| Total | $627 |
That is over $500, so here is the version that fits:
The $500 Cut
Drop the Ring Alarm 5-piece ($199) and the SwitchBot Lock Pro ($129) and add the Wyze Lock ($89):
| # | Device | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kasa EP25 smart plugs (4-pack) | $35 |
| 2 | Wyze Lock | $89 |
| 3 | Ring Battery Doorbell | $99 |
| 4 | LIFX Color A19 (2-pack) | $60 |
| 5 | TP-Link Tapo C120 | $35 |
| 6 | SwitchBot Hub 2 | $70 |
| 7 | Aqara Hub M2 + 4 sensors | $112 |
| Total | $500 |
You keep the doorbell, both cameras, the lock, the lighting and climate — and you get a real alarm for $112 instead of $199.
What Each Piece Does
1. Plugs — $35
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Lamps, heater, coffee maker, holiday lights. Four plugs cover a one-bedroom completely. Still the best $35 in the whole category — see the smart plugs guide.
2. Lock — $89
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Replaces only the inside half of your deadbolt. Landlord's key still works, nothing is drilled, auto-unlock when you arrive. The $129 SwitchBot Lock Pro is better if you want fingerprint entry — see no-drill smart locks.
3. Video Doorbell — $99
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Battery powered, mounts with adhesive or a no-drill bracket, and answers the door from your phone. This is the device renters get the most day-to-day value from after the lock. Full detail in no-drill video doorbells.
Important: only do this if your door is your own. If you live in a building with a shared corridor and a landlord-owned intercom, skip it.
4. Lighting — $60
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Two colour bulbs for the fixtures you actually use — bedroom and living room. LIFX needs no hub, which is why it is here instead of Hue. See smart lighting for renters for the budget alternatives.
5. Camera — $35
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The best cheap indoor camera we have tested: 2K, local SD recording with no subscription, and it sits on a shelf. Point it at the front door. See renter security cameras.
6. Climate — $70
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Controls your existing AC or thermostat over infrared without touching the wall, and doubles as a Matter bridge. Read smart thermostats for renters before buying anything that needs a screwdriver.
7. Security — $112
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Hub with a 95 dB siren plus four adhesive contact sensors for the door and windows. No subscription, ever. If you want professional monitoring instead, the $199 Ring Alarm is the better buy — see renter security systems.
Setup Order
- Plugs — five minutes, instant payoff
- Lock — weekend job, test the auto-unlock radius properly
- Hub 2 — needs a warm afternoon to learn the AC codes
- Camera + doorbell — do them together, they share an app if you use Ring
- Lighting — the fun one, save it for when you need a win
- Security sensors — last, because you want to test every window
What $500 Does Not Buy You
- Outdoor cameras that survive weather. Apartment balconies are usually fine, but check your lease before mounting anything outside.
- Whole-home audio. Skip it. Renters move and speakers are heavy.
- Smart blinds. $89–129 each and they belong on the blinds page, not in a starter kit.
- Anything wired. No smart switches, no in-wall dimmers, no doorbell transformers.
Is $500 Worth It Versus $250?
Yes, if you plan to stay more than a year. The jump from $250 to $500 buys you three things that genuinely change daily life:
- A doorbell you can answer when you are not home
- A real alarm instead of just a camera
- A second camera so the door and the room are both covered
If you are moving in six months, buy the $250 kit instead and skip the alarm.
Cost of Ownership
| Item | Upfront | Ongoing |
|---|---|---|
| Plugs | $35 | $0 |
| Wyze Lock | $89 | ~$8/yr batteries |
| Ring Doorbell | $99 | $0, or $5/mo recording |
| LIFX bulbs | $60 | $0 |
| Tapo C120 | $35 | $0 (SD card) |
| SwitchBot Hub 2 | $70 | $0 |
| Aqara alarm | $112 | $0 |
| Total | $500 | $0–68/yr |
Nothing here requires a subscription to function. The Ring plan only adds cloud recording.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need all of this on day one? No. Buy in the setup order above and stop whenever you like. Each step works on its own.
Will this all work together? Mostly via Matter and Alexa/Google. The Aqara sensors and the SwitchBot hub both bridge to Matter, and the Ring doorbell stays in the Ring app. Two apps is normal; four is not needed here.
What if my building has no door I control? Skip the doorbell and the lock, and put the money into a second camera and a better alarm.
Can I install the doorbell without drilling? Yes — Ring sells a no-drill mount, or use a strong adhesive bracket on a flat door frame. Do not mount it on a shared corridor wall.
How long does the whole setup take? About four hours spread over a weekend, plus a week of living with it to tune the automations.
Affiliate Disclosure
We earn a commission from Amazon when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It does not change our rankings — we cut $127 of devices out of this kit to hit the budget and said exactly what we dropped.
Last updated: October 31, 2026
Affiliate Disclosure
We earn a commission from Amazon and other retailers when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes our rankings: we recommend the same devices whether or not a program pays us. Read the full policy.