Sierra Sands
327 Plaza Dr,
Santa Maria, CA 93454
$981 - $2,742
1-3 Beds
Rental Market Trends in Santa Maria, CA
What is the average rent in Santa Maria, CA?
$1,939/month
Average Rent
637 Sq Ft
Average Apartment Size
-1.2%
Decrease in the Last Year
As of September 2025, the average rent in Santa Maria, CA is $1,939 per month. This is 18% higher than the national average rent price of $1,640/month, making Santa Maria one of the most expensive cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Santa Maria, you can expect to pay about $1,637 per month for a studio, $1,939 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $2,270 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $3,202 or more.
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Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
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How much has average rent changed in Santa Maria, CA?
In the past year, rent has decreased by 1.2%, which averages out to $22 less per month.
Market Trends Over Time
The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated September 2025
Legend
2024
2025
Rent by Neighborhood
Last Updated Today
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Maria?
Based on current rent prices, Westgate Ranch, La Vigna and Rose Garden Village are the most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Maria.
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Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Santa Maria?
Based on current rent prices, Rose Garden Village, Westgate Ranch and La Vigna are the most expensive neighborhoods in Santa Maria.
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Which Santa Maria neighborhoods have the most rentals available?
The neighborhoods in Santa Maria with the most apartments available are Westgate Ranch, La Vigna and Rose Garden Village .
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Average Rent
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What salary do I need to live comfortably in Santa Maria, CA?
Because the average rent in Santa Maria is $1,939, you’ll want to make about $6,463 per month or $77,556 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.
How does Santa Maria, CA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?
Use the tool below to compare Santa Maria, 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.
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Nearby City Rent Trends
Apartment communities in Santa Maria we think you'll love
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Afton Properties
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CONAM Management Corporation
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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 September 2025.
* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.