Santa Barbara

Locals often take a cruise down Cabrillo street in West Beach.
Aerial of homes in East Mesa.
East Beach residents are only minutes away from the Pacific Ocean.
Downtown Santa Barbara is located between the ocean and mountains.
Lower State Santa Barbara is very central to the city.

Santa Barbara, CA Area Guide

From mountain to ocean

Coastal Nautical Artistic Luxurious

Between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Santa Barbara combines coastal living with Mediterranean-style architecture. The city's Spanish Colonial Revival buildings and year-round mild climate have earned it the nickname "The American Riviera." The rental market remains competitive, with one-bedroom apartments averaging $2,224 per month (up 3.6% year-over-year), while two-bedrooms average $3,235 (up 2.6%). The Mesa and Upper State Street areas feature apartment communities and rental homes near beaches and downtown.

Santa Barbara's outdoor lifestyle centers around its beaches, State Street shopping district, and the historic Mission Santa Barbara. The University of California Santa Barbara campus contributes to the area's educational atmosphere. Local events include farmers' markets throughout the week and the annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Residents have access to numerous hiking trails and bike paths, including Rattlesnake Canyon trail. The city holds an interesting place in cinema history - Flying A Studios operated here from 1910 to 1922, producing approximately 1,200 silent films before the industry shifted to Hollywood.

Explore the City

East Beach residents are only minutes away from the Pacific Ocean.

Downtown Santa Barbara is located between the ocean and mountains.

Lower State Santa Barbara is very central to the city.

Locals head to East Beach to surf a good beach break.

Santa Barbara Harbor is a great place to experience the marine lifestyle in Santa Barbara.

Rent Trends

As of February 2026, the average apartment rent in Santa Barbara, CA is $2,061 for a studio, $2,290 for one bedroom, $3,403 for two bedrooms, and $4,374 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Santa Barbara has increased by 1.3% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,290/month
523 Sq Ft
House
$15,064/month
1,990 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Santa Barbara, CA

Transportation

82

Very Walkable

out of 100 WalkScore® Rating

If you enjoy walking, you’ll enjoy renting in this area! It’s a very walkable neighborhood.

39

Some Transit

out of 100 TransitScore® Rating

You'll likely want a car when living in this area since it has few transit options.

84

Very Bikeable

out of 100 BikeScore® Rating

This area is very bikeable. You’ll find a variety of bike paths and lanes.

Schools

Montecito Union

Public

Grades K-6

353 Students

Vieja Valley Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

313 Students

Monte Vista Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

267 Students

Mountain View Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

351 Students

Cold Spring Elementary

Public

Grades K-6

188 Students

La Colina Junior High

Public

Grades 7-8

832 Students

La Cumbre Junior High

Public

Grades 7-8

426 Students

Santa Barbara Junior High

Public

Grades 7-8

512 Students

Santa Barbara County Community

Public

Grades 5-12

27 Students

Santa Barbara County Special Education School

Public

Grades K-12

49 Students

San Marcos Senior High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,926 Students

Santa Barbara Senior High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,924 Students

Santa Barbara County Community

Public

Grades 5-12

27 Students

Santa Barbara County Special Education School

Public

Grades K-12

49 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
  • Rocky Nook Park
  • El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park
  • Tuckers Grove County Park
  • Santa Barbara Botanic Garden

Military Bases

Airports

  • Santa Barbara Municipal

Top Apartments in Santa Barbara

Houses for Rent in Santa Barbara

Property Management Companies in Santa Barbara, CA

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.