Apartments for Rent in Isla Vista, CA

Prices and availability in Isla Vista, CA were last updated on 16 Jul 2026.

The best apartments in Isla Vista, CA are: The Wave, The Tahitian Apartments, The Tahitian Apartments, SILVERWOOD TOWNHOMES and One Mosaic.

The average rent in Isla Vista, CA is $3,299.

The price range for a 1-bedroom apartment in Isla Vista, CA is between $999 and $3,595.

The price range for a 2-bedroom apartment in Isla Vista, CA is between $2,950 and $10,500.

In Isla Vista, 99% of the residents are renting compared to 1% owning a home, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Large-scale apartment buildings with more than 50 units represent 17% of Isla Vista's rentals, 77% are small-scale complexes with under 50 units, and 6% are single-family rentals.

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 Isla Vista are about 42 years old, on average. Of these, 36% 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 2 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.

Rental apartments in Isla Vista come in a range of sizes and floorplans. Studio apartments represent 11% 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 42% of the total apartments in the city, while 2-bedroom floorplans represent around 38% of all rentals in Isla Vista. The rest are larger floorplans with 3 bedrooms or more, typically preferred by families, larger households or roommates sharing space.