Apartments for Rent in Santa Barbara, CA

Prices and availability in Santa Barbara, CA were last updated on 23 May 2026.

The best apartments in Santa Barbara, CA are: The Marc, 608-612 Santa Barbara St., 21 W. Arrellaga Street, 4065 Foothill Road and Arlington Village.

The average rent in Santa Barbara, CA is $2,899.

The price range for a studio apartment in Santa Barbara, CA is between $50 and $4,695.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara, CA is between $50 and $4,395.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara, CA is between $2,200 and $5,800.

The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara, CA is between $2,895 and $8,500.

In Santa Barbara 60% of the housing is rented out compared to 40% of homes are owned, according to the most recent Census Bureau estimates. 6% of Santa Barbara's apartments are found in large buildings of 50 units or more, 70% are located in smaller apartment complexes with less than 50 units, and 23% are single-family rentals.

The average age of rental buildings in Santa Barbara is 48 years old, with 20% being newer apartment buildings completed since 2000. The average height of apartment buildings in the city is 3 stories, of which all are garden-style apartment communities, none are mid-sized buildings, and none are high-rises. These characteristics describe large-scale apartment communities of 50 apartments or more.

Studio apartments in Santa Barbara are around 17% of rentals, while 1-bedroom floor plans represent 53% of the total stock. For those in search of larger rentals, 2-bedroom floorplans make up 29% of all rentals. More generous apartments with 3 bedrooms or more are also available in this city for those in search of more space.