Last updated
Average Rent in Santa Maria CA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 3 apartment communities in Santa Maria CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,628/mo
Lowest Available
$2,054/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
3
tracked daily
Units Listed
31
available now
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Santa Maria CA?
As of May 2026, the average rent in Santa Maria CA is $2,628 per month across 3 apartment communities and 31 available units.
The most affordable option is Amara Apartments starting at $2,054/mo. By unit type, a 1-bedroom averages $2,077/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $2,441/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $3,026/mo.
Prices range from $2,054 to $3,157 per month. The most common price point is the $3,000 range, where 12 units are currently listed.
Santa Maria CA Rent Price History
Average Rent by Bedroom
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Santa Maria CA
Rent Prices by Apartment in Santa Maria CA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amara Apartments | $2,054/mo | $2,203/mo | 11 | 3.5 |
| Centennial Gardens | $2,328/mo | $2,690/mo | 10 | 4.6 |
| St. Claire Apartment Homes | $3,004/mo | $3,033/mo | 10 | 4.3 |
Google Search Trends for Santa Maria CA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Santa Maria CA
What is the average rent in Santa Maria CA?
Is rent going up or down in Santa Maria CA?
What is the cheapest apartment in Santa Maria CA?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Maria CA?
How many apartments are available in Santa Maria CA?
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
$105,000/year
30 percent rule -- using our average rent of $2,628/mo.
Comfortable income
$126,000/year
25 percent rule -- leaves more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($2,054/mo), you need to earn at least $82,000/year.
Median household income in Santa Maria CA is $84,617 , about 33% 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) | $2,628 |
| Utilities | $754 |
| Groceries | $567 |
| Transportation | $1,798 |
| Healthcare | $877 |
| Other goods and services | $1,403 |
| Estimated total | $8,027/mo |
Population
109,880
Median household income
$84,617
Census median rent
$1,842/mo
Rent as % of income
33.6%
Median age
29.3
Mean commute
22 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.
Explore Santa Maria CA Apartments
Browse all 3 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.