Average Rent in Santa Maria, CA
What is the average rent in Santa Maria, CA?
The average listed apartment rent in Santa Maria, CA is $2,406 per month, as of November 14, 2026. This sample includes 61 priced apartments in 7 buildings. These are tracked asking prices, not signed leases.
We use published total monthly rent when known and base rent otherwise. Unknown fees remain unknown. Included building observations run from November 7, 2026 through November 14, 2026. Buildings without a qualifying price do not count in this sample. The guide directory can include more buildings.
7 apartment buildings, 61 units. Recorded asking prices and price history where available.
Browse apartments in Santa Maria, CACheapest
$1,503/mo
La Vista
Properties
7
tracked daily
Units
61
available now
Santa Maria, CA Resident Access
City Club members share insider gate codes, parking links, and amenity tips.
Analysis
Rent Price Breakdown
Compare pricing across all 7 properties in Santa Maria, CA.
Average rent trend, last 3 months
All bedroom types, citywide. Choose a window above to scope the view.
Average Rent by Property
Starting Price vs Average
Rent by Bedroom Count
Price per Square Foot
Santa Maria, CA Rent Prices
All 7 properties ranked by lowest available rent.
Vandenberg Senior Residence
1316 S Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454, USA
La Vista
740 S Western Ave, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA
Vizcaya Apartments
1720 S Depot St, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA
The Village Townhomes
1004 W Cook St, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA
Amara Apartments
329 W Carmen Ln, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA
Siena Apartments
1245 Sonya Ln, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA
Centennial Gardens
800 W Battles Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA
| # | Property | From | Avg | $/sqft | Rating | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vandenberg Senior Residence 1316 S Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454, USA | $1,295 as of Nov 1 | $1,295 | $3.80/ft² | 3.2 (6) | 4 |
| 2 | La Vista 740 S Western Ave, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA | $1,503 | $1,715 | $2.88/ft² | 4.3 (233) | 15 |
| 3 | Vizcaya Apartments 1720 S Depot St, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA | $1,862 | $2,340 | $2.44/ft² | 3.8 (36) | 4 |
| 4 | The Village Townhomes 1004 W Cook St, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA | $1,895 | $1,895 | $2.74/ft² | 3.6 (30) | 1 |
| 5 | Amara Apartments 329 W Carmen Ln, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA | $2,043 | $2,144 | $2.87/ft² | 3.5 (41) | 9 |
| 6 | Siena Apartments 1245 Sonya Ln, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA | $2,161 | $2,433 | $3.22/ft² | 4.3 (148) | 9 |
| 7 | Centennial Gardens 800 W Battles Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA | $2,296 | $2,959 | $2.56/ft² | 4.6 (9) | 11 |
Rent & Price History by Building
Compare apartment listings by price, bedrooms, and neighborhood.
Vandenberg Senior Residence
3.2 (6)1316 S Broadway, Santa Maria, CA 93454, USA
La Vista
4.3 (233)740 S Western Ave, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA
Vizcaya Apartments
3.8 (36)1720 S Depot St, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA
The Village Townhomes
3.6 (30)1004 W Cook St, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA
Amara Apartments
3.5 (41)329 W Carmen Ln, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA
Siena Apartments
4.3 (148)1245 Sonya Ln, Santa Maria, CA 93458, USA
By Area
Santa Maria, CA neighborhoods
Tracked buildings across 2 named neighborhoods. Pick one to see its apartments.
Santa Maria, CA Average Rent Prices 2026
The average listed rent in Santa Maria, CA is $2,406 per month, based on 61 units across 7 apartment communities. Prices range from $1,503 at La Vista to $3,321 at Montiavo.
Average Rent by Bedroom Type
| Type | Avg Rent | Starting From | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,543/mo | $1,503/mo | 5 |
| 1 Bed | $1,946/mo | $1,624/mo | 13 |
| 2 Bed | $2,372/mo | $1,829/mo | 27 |
| 3 Bed | $3,125/mo | $2,296/mo | 15 |
| 4 Bed | $2,867/mo | $2,867/mo | 1 |
We schedule daily price checks. The included observations can have different dates. Request an area we do not cover so we can review it for coverage.
Market Context
Who rents in Santa Maria, CA, and what they pay
Tracked one-bedroom rent in Santa Maria, CA averages $1,946/mo , with two-bedroom units averaging $2,372/mo. At the local median household income of $84,617, that works out to 34% of gross income, above the 30 percent affordability ceiling, a stretched-budget market.
The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2023 release pegged median gross rent in Santa Maria, CA at $1,842/mo. The current tracked market average runs 31% higher than that benchmark, reflecting both two to three years of rent growth and the fact that the Census figure covers all renter-occupied housing in Santa Maria, CA while the tracked market average covers units currently listed in larger apartment communities.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Santa Maria, 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
$96,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $2,406/mo.
Comfortable income
$115,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,503/mo), you need to earn at least $60,000/year.
Median household income in Santa Maria, CA is $84,617 , about 27% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Santa Maria, CA
Overall prices in Santa Maria, 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 Maria, CA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,406 |
| Utilities | $754 |
| Groceries | $567 |
| Transportation | $1,798 |
| Healthcare | $877 |
| Other goods and services | $1,403 |
| Estimated total | $7,805/mo |
Population
109,880
Median household income
$84,617
Census median rent
$1,842/mo
Census rent burden
33.6%
Median age
29.3
Mean commute
22 min
Methodology
Rent data
We use listed asking rents and schedule daily data updates. Individual buildings can have different verification dates. Check the building or unit page for its latest price and availability.
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
We estimate annual income by dividing annual rent by 30 percent for the affordability figure and 25 percent for the comfortable-income figure. These estimates are a guide, not a guarantee of rental approval.
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.
Compare
Nearby cities in California
How Santa Maria, CA rent compares to other markets in the state.
| City | Avg Rent | vs Santa Maria, CA | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | $3,106 | +29% | 50 |
| San Diego, CA | $3,375 | +40% | 36 |
| Anaheim, CA | $2,883 | +20% | 34 |
| EL Cajon, CA | $2,267 | -6% | 33 |
| Antioch, CA | $2,364 | -2% | 32 |
| Hayward, CA | $2,789 | +16% | 32 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Santa Maria, CA?
The average listed apartment rent in Santa Maria, CA is $2,406 per month, as of November 14, 2026. This sample includes 61 priced apartments in 7 buildings. These are tracked asking prices, not signed leases.
What is the median rent in Santa Maria, CA?
The median asking rent in Santa Maria, CA is $2,322 per month, computed from 61 priced listings; check the observation dates shown on this page. The average is $2,406/mo; the median resists skew from luxury listings.
What is the cheapest apartment rent in Santa Maria, CA?
The lowest available rent in Santa Maria, CA starts at $1,503 per month. Confirm current availability, fees, and lease terms with the selected listing.
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Maria, CA?
1-bedroom apartments in Santa Maria, CA average $1,946/mo. The lowest listed 1-bedroom starts at $1,624/mo across 13 units tracked.
How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in Santa Maria, CA?
2-bedroom apartments in Santa Maria, CA average $2,372/mo. Units start from $1,829/mo across 27 units currently listed.
Rent Trends in Santa Maria, CA
Track how apartment prices are changing over time.
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