Last updated
Average Rent in Alta Mesa & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 1 apartment community in Alta Mesa, Santa Barbara, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$7,672/mo
Lowest Available
$3,150/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
1
tracked daily
Units Listed
8
available now
Alta Mesa vs Santa Barbara, CA Average
Alta Mesa is more expensive than the Santa Barbara, CA average by $2,844/mo (59%). The citywide average is $4,828/mo across all neighborhoods.
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Alta Mesa?
As of September 2026, the average rent in Alta Mesa is $7,672 per month across 1 apartment community and 8 available units.
The most affordable option is Richardson Real Estate Services starting at $3,150/mo. By unit type, a 2-bedroom averages $5,195/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $10,950/mo, a 4-bedroom averages $13,500/mo.
Prices range from $3,150 to $16,500 per month. The most common price point is the $3,000 range, where 1 units are currently listed.
Average Rent by Bedroom
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Alta Mesa
Rent Prices by Apartment in Alta Mesa
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richardson Real Estate Services | $3,150/mo | $7,672/mo | 8 | 4.9 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Alta Mesa
What is the average rent in Alta Mesa?
Is rent going up or down in Alta Mesa?
What is the cheapest apartment in Alta Mesa?
How many apartments are available in Alta Mesa?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Alta Mesa?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$307,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $7,672/mo.
Comfortable income
$368,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($3,150/mo), you need to earn at least $126,000/year.
Median household income in Alta Mesa is $101,672 , about 72% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Alta Mesa
Overall prices in Alta Mesa 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 Alta Mesa's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $7,672 |
| Utilities | $754 |
| Groceries | $567 |
| Transportation | $1,798 |
| Healthcare | $877 |
| Other goods and services | $1,403 |
| Estimated total | $13,071/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 Alta Mesa Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore Alta Mesa Apartments
Browse all 1 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.