# 🔍 Craigslist Deal Finder (`dash_authority/craigslist-scraper`) Actor Scrape Craigslist classifieds from any US city — furniture, cars, jobs, housing, electronics. Fast listing extraction with prices, dates, and URLs. $1/1K results. - **URL**: https://apify.com/dash\_authority/craigslist-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Dash Authority](https://apify.com/dash_authority) (community) - **Categories:** Developer tools, Automation, Other - **Stats:** 1 total users, 0 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing $2.00 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Craigslist Scraper Scrape Craigslist listings from any US city. Extract titles, prices, locations, dates, images, and URLs across all Craigslist categories — for sale, jobs, housing, services, gigs, and more. ### Use Cases **Deal Hunting:** Monitor specific categories or search terms for underpriced items. Great for resellers watching "free stuff," "cars & trucks," or "electronics." **Market Research:** Compare pricing across cities. See what a used sofa costs in Portland vs. Austin vs. Denver — all in one dataset. **Job Market Analysis:** Pull job listings by city and category. Track hiring trends, salary ranges (when posted), and company activity. **Real Estate Monitoring:** Scrape housing listings with prices, neighborhoods, and posting dates. Useful for rental market analysis or investment research. --- ### Input | Field | Type | Description | |-------|------|-------------| | city | string | City subdomain (e.g., "portland", "seattle", "newyork") | | searchTerm | string | What to search for | | category | string | Category code: sss (for sale), jjj (jobs), hhh (housing), srv (services), gg (gigs) | | maxResults | integer | Max listings (default: 30) | | extractDetails | boolean | Visit each listing for descriptions and images | | proxyConfiguration | object | Apify proxy settings (recommended) | #### Tips - The `city` field uses Craigslist's subdomain format. "portland" → portland.craigslist.org. Not "Portland, OR." - Use `extractDetails: true` to get descriptions and images. Without it, you only get titles, prices, and URLs — but runs are 10x faster. - Category codes: `sss` = for sale, `jjj` = jobs, `hhh` = housing, `srv` = services, `ggg` = gigs, `ccc` = community. --- ### Output #### Summary Mode (default) ```json { "title": "La Z Boy Leather Sofa (price lowered)", "price": "$1,600", "location": "NE Portland", "date": "2026-04-15", "url": "https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/fuo/d/beaverton-la-boy-leather-sofa/7901676976.html", "thumbnail": "https://images.craigslist.org/d/.../300x300.jpg", "id": "7901676976" } ```` #### Detail Mode (`extractDetails: true`) Adds to the above: - `description` — full posting text - `imageUrls` — all images from the listing - `attributes` — Craigslist-specific fields (condition, make/model, etc.) #### Key Fields - `title`, `price`, `location` — the headline info - `url` — direct link to the listing - `date` — posting date - `thumbnail` — first image (summary mode) - `imageUrls` — all images (detail mode) - `description` — full text (detail mode) *** ### Integrations & API - **Export formats:** JSON, CSV, Excel, XML, HTML - **Scheduling:** Run hourly to catch new listings as they post. - **Zapier / Make:** Get alerts when specific items appear (e.g., "free piano"). - **API:** Apify Python or Node.js client for programmatic access. *** ### FAQ **How fast is it?** Summary mode: ~5 seconds for 30 results. Detail mode: 1-2 minutes since it visits each listing page. **Can I scrape multiple cities at once?** Run separate instances per city, or use the Apify Scheduler to run them sequentially. **Why are some prices missing?** Not all Craigslist listings include a price. Free items, job postings, and some housing listings don't have one. **Is this legal?** The scraper collects publicly posted data. Craigslist has taken legal action against scrapers in the past — use responsibly and respect their Terms of Use. *** ### Support Report issues via the **Issues** tab on this Actor's page. # Actor input Schema ## `city` (type: `string`): City subdomain (e.g., 'portland', 'seattle', 'newyork', 'sfbay') ## `searchTerm` (type: `string`): What to search for (e.g., 'sofa', 'apartments', 'guitar') ## `category` (type: `string`): Craigslist category code. Common: sss (for sale), jjj (jobs), hhh (housing), ccc (services). Leave blank for all. ## `maxResults` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of listings to return. ## `extractDetails` (type: `boolean`): Visit each listing page for full description and images. Slower but more data. ## Actor input object example ```json { "category": "sss", "maxResults": 30, "extractDetails": false } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = {}; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("dash_authority/craigslist-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = {} # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("dash_authority/craigslist-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{}' | apify call dash_authority/craigslist-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=dash_authority/craigslist-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "🔍 Craigslist Deal Finder", "description": "Scrape Craigslist classifieds from any US city — furniture, cars, jobs, housing, electronics. Fast listing extraction with prices, dates, and URLs. $1/1K results.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "Lgs9auiNeML9BM1zb" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/dash_authority~craigslist-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-dash_authority-craigslist-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/dash_authority~craigslist-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-dash_authority-craigslist-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/dash_authority~craigslist-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-dash_authority-craigslist-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "city", "searchTerm" ], "properties": { "city": { "title": "Craigslist City", "type": "string", "description": "City subdomain (e.g., 'portland', 'seattle', 'newyork', 'sfbay')" }, "searchTerm": { "title": "Search Term", "type": "string", "description": "What to search for (e.g., 'sofa', 'apartments', 'guitar')" }, "category": { "title": "Category", "enum": [ "sss", "jjj", "hhh", "ccc", "eee", "bbb" ], "type": "string", "description": "Craigslist category code. Common: sss (for sale), jjj (jobs), hhh (housing), ccc (services). Leave blank for all.", "default": "sss" }, "maxResults": { "title": "Max Results", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 300, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of listings to return.", "default": 30 }, "extractDetails": { "title": "Extract Full Details", "type": "boolean", "description": "Visit each listing page for full description and images. Slower but more data.", "default": false } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```