Last updated
Average Rent in Santa Barbara, CA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 8 apartment communities in Santa Barbara, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$4,828/mo
▲ +2.2% from last month
Lowest Available
$2,500/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
8
tracked daily
Units Listed
27
available now
Price Cuts This Week in Santa Barbara, CA
3 listed units across 2 buildings in Santa Barbara, CA dropped their asking rent in the past 7 days, an average cut of $380/mo. These are the largest cuts, tracked unit by unit with daily price checks.
| Apartment | Unit | Last Week | Now | Cut |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richardson Real Estate Services | Unit 102bad59-daef-488d-8e13-f7e65a09bcdb | $17,500 | $16,500 | $1,000 |
| Richardson Real Estate Services | Unit e9430c9e-998c-4ba5-9d0e-16e25ecc4104 | $3,250 | $3,150 | $100 |
| Hope Ranch Apartments | Unit 6819, Plan 1B | $2,937 | $2,897 | $40 |
Rent by Neighborhood in Santa Barbara, CA
Compare average rent across Santa Barbara, CA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends. View these neighborhoods on the rent map
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | 30d Change | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alta Mesa | $7,672 | ▼ $2,616 | $3,150 | 1 | 8 |
| Eastside | $4,245 | ▲ $869 | $4,245 | 1 | 1 |
| Westside | $3,773 | ▲ $129 | $2,500 | 4 | 13 |
| Santa Barbara 93105 | $3,225 | ▼ $225 | $3,000 | 1 | 2 |
| Hope | $3,075 | ▲ $22 | $2,877 | 1 | 3 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Santa Barbara, CA?
As of September 2026, the average rent in Santa Barbara, CA is $4,828 per month across 8 apartment communities and 27 available units. Rents have increased $104 (2.2%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is Olive Street Lofts starting at $2,500/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $3,200/mo, a 1-bedroom averages $3,018/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $4,220/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $7,360/mo, a 4-bedroom averages $9,800/mo.
Prices range from $2,500 to $16,500 per month. The most common price point is the $2,800 range, where 5 units are currently listed.
Santa Barbara, CA Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | $3,852 | - | 8 |
| August 2026 | $3,937 | +$85 | 8 |
| September 2026 | $4,016 | +$79 | 8 |
The trend line and monthly averages track each building's average listed price, recorded daily with outliers trimmed. The current month is a month-to-date figure, so it can sit above or below today's live market average shown at the top of this page.
Average Rent by Bedroom
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Santa Barbara, CA
Rent Prices by Apartment in Santa Barbara, CA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Street Lofts | $2,500/mo | $3,200/mo | 2 | - |
| Hope Ranch Apartments | $2,877/mo | $3,075/mo | 3 | 4.3 |
| Ivy Apartment Homes Santa Barbara | $2,900/mo | $4,089/mo | 9 | 2.7 |
| La Brezza Apartment Homes | $2,900/mo | $2,900/mo | 1 | 2.7 |
| Coronel Place Apartments | $2,950/mo | $2,950/mo | 1 | 3.9 |
| The Messina Townhomes | $3,000/mo | $3,225/mo | 2 | 3 |
| Richardson Real Estate Services | $3,150/mo | $7,672/mo | 8 | 4.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Santa Barbara, CA
What is the average rent in Santa Barbara, CA?
Is rent going up or down in Santa Barbara, CA?
What is the cheapest apartment in Santa Barbara, CA?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara, CA?
How many apartments are available in Santa Barbara, CA?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Santa Barbara, CA?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$193,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $4,828/mo.
Comfortable income
$232,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($2,500/mo), you need to earn at least $100,000/year.
Median household income in Santa Barbara, CA is $101,672 , about 56% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Santa Barbara, CA
Overall prices in Santa Barbara, CA runs above the national average by about 14% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 113.7, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Santa Barbara, CA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $4,828 |
| Utilities | $754 |
| Groceries | $567 |
| Transportation | $1,798 |
| Healthcare | $877 |
| Other goods and services | $1,403 |
| Estimated total | $10,227/mo |
Population
88,024
Median household income
$101,672
Census median rent
$2,302/mo
Census rent burden
32.9%
Median age
39.4
Mean commute
17 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Google Search Trends for Santa Barbara, CA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore Santa Barbara, CA Apartments
Browse all 8 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.