Rental! Leave it.

Looks clean and in good repair.

Overall it looks fairly cute. New light fixtures and fan, a better paint color would help a lot. I can't tell what the floor is. Is it ceramic or old self-stick type vinyl tiles? If it is the latter, then a different floor.

define 'low budget". But an improvement for looks and function would be a better cohesive lighting plan. three vastly different fixtures right now....makes the place look a little sub par and this is a big kitchen...it can stand out in a certain sense ....... so light it up more effectively,

Paint walks a warm white, ceiling too. Replace fan to just bigger light. Remove upper doors on non matching cabinet unit on the right to give it a hutch/ open shelf look.
Put butcher block counter on open hutch to better match the rest of the the kitchen. Replace DW Door to SS to make stainless more prominent in the room. If you want, backsplash in Subway white tile for pizazz.

Paint inside of hutch white to look open and fresh.

Coordinate the lights… or was that your last low budget improvement?

Get rid of the ceiling fan, new vinyl flooring and new laminate countertops.

I should have worded my original post a little better. Walls will be painted agreeable gray and cabinets will be painted alabaster. Light fixtures will also be updated regardless. I am exploring the thought of updating the flooring and/or countertops. Mostly looking for ideas and price options to update those two. Trying to see what the cost would be and deciding on if I am able to go ahead and replace both now if it isn’t so expensive or which one to update first with the other being replaced later on (within a year.)

do you have what is called "inspiration pictures" ?? With the side section opposite the fridge you can get something interesting going with counters/ backsplash tile..maybe a contrasting theme on this side area...etc. . Counters are all over the place with price. You could do cheaper/plain around sink and cooktop and a focus theme on the other. The floor maybe is in decent shape and could stay.......??? Do the cabs need a paint job? This will be spendy. they look okay but dont know.

Granite or guartz counters. To save, select from those on sale. I would update the hinges to be hingeless (hidden inside cabinet). and vinyl wood looking planks.