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Rental Market Trends in Santa Barbara, CA

What is the average rent in Santa Barbara, CA?

$2,320/month

Average Rent

517 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+1.1%

Increase in the Last Year

As of June 2026, the average rent in Santa Barbara, CA is $2,320 per month. This is 41% higher than the national average rent price of $1,644/month, making Santa Barbara one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Santa Barbara, you can expect to pay about $2,167 per month for a studio, $2,320 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $3,464 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $4,465 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,167/month
384 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,320/month
517 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,464/month
812 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,465/month
1,155 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$3,231/month
506 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$7,284/month
916 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$9,935/month
1,064 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$34,076/month
3,799 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,770/month
783 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Santa Barbara, CA?

In the past year, rent has increased by 1.1%, which averages out to $26 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated June 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Santa Barbara, CA
Last Updated June 2026
Above $2,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Santa Barbara, CA
Percentage*
Rent Range
0% Below $700/month
1% $700 - $1,000/month
7% $1,001 - $1,500/month
21% $1,501 - $2,000/month
71% Above $2,000/month

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Santa Barbara, CA?

Because the average rent in Santa Barbara is $2,320, you’ll want to make about $7,733 per month or $92,796 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

City

Santa Barbara, CA

689 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Santa Barbara, CA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Santa Barbara, CA to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

Explore the Area Guide for Santa Barbara, CA

Apartment Averages

Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Isla Vista Average Rent
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  • Carpinteria Average Rent

Apartment communities in Santa Barbara we think you'll love

Skyview Apartments

Skyview Apartments

910 Camino Pescadero,
Goleta, CA 93117

$2,600 - $2,850

1 Bed

825 De la Vina St

825 De la Vina St

825 De la Vina St,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

$5,500 - $5,950

1-2 Beds

1317 Punta Gorda Street

1317 Punta Gorda Street

1317 Punta Gorda St,
Santa Barbara, CA 93103

$4,250 - $4,500

2 Beds

El Jardin

El Jardin

425 Garden St,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

$4,300 - $7,550

2-3 Beds

Property Management Companies in Santa Barbara, CA

The Towbes Group, Inc.
The Towbes Group, Inc.
  • 10

    Communities

  • 1,745

    Units

  • 5

    Cities

5 Communities in Santa Barbara
Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,524

    Communities

  • 968,977

    Units

  • 898

    Cities

2 Communities in Santa Barbara
Red Tail Residential
Red Tail Residential
  • 40

    Communities

  • 5,640

    Units

  • 32

    Cities

2 Communities in Santa Barbara
Cardinal Group Management and Advisory, LLC
Cardinal Group Management and Advisory, LLC
  • 160

    Communities

  • 32,262

    Units

  • 86

    Cities

1 Community in Santa Barbara

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United States California Santa Barbara Rental Trends

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 June 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

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Equal Housing Opportunity

© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity