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Apartments for Rent in Santa Barbara, CA
54 Rentals Available

  • Today

    608-612 Santa Barbara St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    1 BED $2,395
  • Today

    221 Hitchcock Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
    1 BED Ask for Pricing
    2 BEDS Ask for Pricing
  • Today

    3885 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
    1 BED Ask for Pricing
    2 BEDS $3,975+
    3 BEDS Ask for Pricing
  • Today

    620 W. Gutierrez St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    2 BEDS $2,950
  • Today

    555 Coronel Place, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    1 BED Ask for Pricing
    2 BEDS Ask for Pricing
    3 BEDS Ask for Pricing
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  • Today

    520 W. Carrillo St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    1 BED $2,750
    2 BEDS $3,395
    3+ BEDS $4,200
  • Today

    4053 Foothill Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
    2 BEDS $3,900
    3 BEDS $4,700
  • Today

    430 Por La Mar Circle, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
    1 BED $3,100
  • Today

    920 Lowena Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
    STUDIO $50+
    1 BED $3,800
    2 BEDS $3,900
  • Today

    General & Roommate Application, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    STUDIO Ask for Pricing
  • Today

    414 Chapala Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    STUDIO $1,800
    1 BED $3,200
    2 BEDS $6,000
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  • Today

    California Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
    STUDIO $176
  • Today

    1330 Chapala St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    STUDIO $2,400+
    1 BED $3,795
    2+ BEDS $3,895+
  • Today

    602-612 Anacapa Street - Residential, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    2 BEDS $4,800
  • Today

    ICC, 421 E. Cota Street, CA 93101
    STUDIO Ask for Pricing
  • Today

    714 Arrellaga, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    1 BED $2,900
    3 BEDS Ask for Pricing
  • Today

    21 W. Arrellaga Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    STUDIO $3,950
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  • Today

    915 Olive Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    STUDIO $2,500+
  • Today

    112 East Ortega Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    STUDIO $3,600
    1 BED $4,200
    2 BEDS $4,700
  • Today

    2727 Miradero Dr #109, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
    2 BEDS $3,950
  • Today

    742 Cieneguitas Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
    2 BEDS $2,968+
    3 BEDS $4,500
  • Today

    1322 Euclid Ave., Santa Barbara, CA 93101
    1 BED $2,395
  • Today

    249, 301, 311 Verano Dr, Santa Barbara, CA 93110
    STUDIO Ask for Pricing
    1 BED $2,695
    2 BEDS $3,150+
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  • Today

    958 Miramonte #1, Santa Barbara, CA 93109
    2 BEDS $3,950
  • Today

    441 Old Coast Hwy #1, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
    STUDIO $2,200
    1 BED $2,200
    2 BEDS $2,200
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Popular searches Average rent Renters guide Demographics

Average rent in Santa Barbara, CA

$2,916/mo Santa Barbara, CA average rental price, March 2025
Image Average Rent

The average monthly rent of apartments in Santa Barbara, CA is $2,916.

    Santa Barbara, CA apartment rent ranges

    Santa Barbara, CA rent trends

    Check out the average rent prices in Santa Barbara by neighborhood.

    Compared to the national average rent of $1,755, the average rent in Santa Barbara, CA is $2,916.

    Getting around in Santa Barbara, CA

    88 /100
    Very Walkable
    47 /100
    Some Transit
    83 /100
    Very Bikeable
    Walk Score®: 88, Transit Score®: 47, Bike Score®: 83

    Frequently asked questions

    When were prices and availability in Santa Barbara, CA last updated?

    Prices and availability in Santa Barbara, CA were last updated on 18 Apr 2025.

    What are the best apartments in Santa Barbara, CA?

    The best apartments in Santa Barbara, CA are: Coronel Place Apartments, The Marc, Rancho Franciscan Senior Apartments, 608-612 Santa Barbara St. and La Brezza.

    What is the average rent in Santa Barbara, CA?

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

    What is the price range for a studio apartment in Santa Barbara, CA?

    The price range for a studio apartment in Santa Barbara, CA is between $50 and $6,000.

    What is the price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara, CA?

    The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara, CA is between $50 and $6,000.

    What is the price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara, CA?

    The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara, CA is between $2,200 and $6,000.

    What is the price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara, CA?

    The price range for a 3-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara, CA is between $2,900 and $4,900.

    What type of rental buildings are in Santa Barbara, CA?

    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. 7% 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.

    What do typical apartment communities look like in Santa Barbara, CA?

    The age and size of multifamily buildings are among the most visible characteristics of the rental market in a city.  In this case, the apartment buildings in Santa Barbara are about 48 years old, on average. Of these, 17% have been built since 2000, representing the newer options on the market and typically offering more amenities. Rental buildings in the city have an average height of 3 stories. About all of the rental communities here are low-rise, garden-style communities, none are mid-rises, and none are high-rise buildings. These are true especially for large-scale multifamily buildings with over 50 apartments.

    What apartment floorplans are common in Santa Barbara, CA?

    Rental apartments in Santa Barbara come in a range of sizes and floorplans. Studio apartments represent 15% of units for rent, ideal for singles, renters on a budget and people who value central locations more than space. Rentals with 1-bedroom floorplans make up 54% of the total apartments in the city, while 2-bedroom floorplans represent around 29% of all rentals in Santa Barbara. The rest are larger floorplans with 3 bedrooms or more, typically preferred by families, larger households or roommates sharing space.

    Living in Santa Barbara, CA

    Santa Barbara is a beautiful beach town on the central coast of California. Although Santa Barbara is just 100 miles away from Los Angeles, it feels like a completely different world. It is a very popular tourist destination due to its pristine beaches, historic Spanish Revival buildings, and vibrant restaurant scene. Santa Barbara is home to many universities, most notably the University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara), and there is a very large student population here. Santa Barbara also has an excellent public school system, making it a very attractive renting spot for families with children. This small-sized city is also very popular among outdoor enthusiasts. There are several excellent surf spots in Santa Barbara, as well as a large network of hiking trails in the nearby Santa Ynez Mountains. The weather in Santa Barbara is consistently beautiful, with average temperatures ranging between 50°F and 70°F year-round.

    Renting in Santa Barbara, CA

    There are plenty of rental communities to choose from in Santa Barbara, ranging from student housing and mid-rise apartment buildings to single-family houses. Many of the rental properties in Santa Barbara were built in the Spanish Revival architecture style that’s famous in this area. Downtown Santa Barbara contains more compact apartments, while most homes in neighborhoods near the beach such as East Mesa are more spacious and also have yards. If you’re looking to rent a place in Santa Barbara, it’s important to know that rents here are significantly higher than in nearby cities, including Los Angeles. Because the cost of living in Santa Barbara is very high, most residents opt to rent their homes rather than buy them. In order to secure a rental apartment or home, you’ll most likely need to prove that you have a monthly income of at least three times the rent.

    Things for renting

    Shopping in Santa Barbara, CA

    Most of the shopping in Santa Barbara is concentrated in the downtown area along State Street, which is the city’s main commercial hub. The Paseo Nuevo is an open-air mall with chain stores, local boutiques, movie theaters and restaurants. Outside of downtown, La Cumbre Plaza is home to many upscale retailers as well as a Target and several restaurants. Various grocery stores conveniently located throughout Santa Barbara. The most popular grocery among Santa Barbara renters include Ralph’s, Vons, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Sprouts and Gelson’s.

    Transportation in Santa Barbara, CA

    Downtown Santa Barbara is very walkable, but many of the quieter residential neighborhoods nearby are much more spread out. As a result, most renters opt to have a car in Santa Barbara. The city also has a very extensive network of bike trails, so it’s a great place to live for active people. For renters who prefer public transit, Santa Barbara is served by the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District that runs a network of buses throughout the city. This includes frequent shuttles along State Street that cater to tourists. There are also many regional bus companies that offer service to nearby towns and to Los Angeles International Airport, which is located some 97 miles away. Additionally, Amtrak has a station in Santa Barbara. The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner train connects Santa Barbara with San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, San Diego and many other neighboring areas. For renters who prefer more convenient transportation methods, ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft are also available in Santa Barbara.

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    Whether you're looking for a studio, an apartment with one or more bedrooms, or maybe you're upgrading to a luxury apartment or need to acommodate a pet, RentCafe allows you to easily search for a rental near you based on your criteria, anywhere in the U.S. So, let's find your new home today!

    RentCafe is your one-stop shop for finding a great new apartment in Santa Barbara, CA. Easily search through a wide selection of apartments for rent in Santa Barbara, CA, and view detailed information about available rentals including floor plans, pricing, photos, amenities, interactive maps, and thorough property descriptions. Property owners and managers are one click away, so feel free to contact them and find out all you need to know about the apartment you’re interested in. Browse Santa Barbara, CA apartments with rents starting from $176 and submit your rental application today!

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