A display substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display apparatus are provided. The display substrate includes: a base substrate; a sealant on the base substrate; and a contact layer between the base substrate and the sealant, the contact layer being in contact with the sealant. In the display substrate, a contact layer surface of the contact layer, which is away from the base substrate, is not flat at a contact position where the contact layer is in contact with the sealant.