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Rental Market Trends in Santa Barbara, CA

What is the average rent in Santa Barbara, CA?

$2,308/month

Average Rent

524 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+0.9%

Increase in the Last Year

As of April 2026, the average rent in Santa Barbara, CA is $2,308 per month. This is 41% higher than the national average rent price of $1,641/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 $2,158 per month for a studio, $2,308 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $3,474 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $4,383 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$2,158/month
384 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$2,308/month
524 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$3,474/month
812 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$4,383/month
1,168 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$3,523/month
408 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$6,269/month
700 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$8,170/month
1,373 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$35,707/month
3,802 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average 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 0.9%, which averages out to $20 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 April 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Santa Barbara, CA
Last Updated April 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
8% $1,001 - $1,500/month
21% $1,501 - $2,000/month
70% Above $2,000/month

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

Because the average rent in Santa Barbara is $2,308, you’ll want to make about $7,693 per month or $92,316 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

665 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
  • Goleta Average Rent
  • Carpinteria Average Rent

Apartment communities in Santa Barbara we think you'll love

825 De la Vina St

825 De la Vina St

825 De la Vina St,
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

$5,500 - $12,000

1-3 Beds

1317 Punta Gorda Street

1317 Punta Gorda Street

1317 Punta Gorda St,
Santa Barbara, CA 93103

$4,500 - $5,000

2 Beds

The Cove

The Cove

568 Ocean Meadows Ln,
Goleta, CA 93117

$1,575 - $3,628 Total Monthly Price

5-6 Beds | 12 Month Lease

Breakpointe Coronado

Breakpointe Coronado

6672 Abrego Rd,
Isla Vista, CA 93117

$1,100 - $3,482 Total Monthly Price

Studio - 4 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
  • 3,486

    Communities

  • 959,072

    Units

  • 891

    Cities

2 Communities in Santa Barbara
Red Tail Residential
Red Tail Residential
  • 43

    Communities

  • 6,009

    Units

  • 34

    Cities

2 Communities in Santa Barbara
Cardinal Group Management and Advisory, LLC
Cardinal Group Management and Advisory, LLC
  • 158

    Communities

  • 31,922

    Units

  • 84

    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 February 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