Santa Barbara, CA Rental Market Trends

What is the average rent in Santa Barbara?

The average rent for an apartment in Santa Barbara is $2,836. The cost of rent varies depending on several factors, including location, size, and quality.

Average rent in Santa Barbara, CA

Last updated July 2023

Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
$2,836	718 sq. ft.

What is the average apartment size in Santa Barbara?

The average size for a Santa Barbara, CA apartment is 718 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable, 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average, while 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer a more generous square footage.

Santa Barbara, CA apartment rent ranges

Santa Barbara, CA Occupied Housing Units

21,767 or 59% of the households in Santa Barbara, CA are renter-occupied while 15,165 or 41% are owner-occupied.

Santa Barbara, CA rent trends

Access comprehensive real estate data and information on Yardi Matrix

Average Rent in Santa Barbara, CA By Neighborhood

Neighborhood	Average Rent
Campanil - Yankee Farm	$4,179
East Mesa	$4,179
West Mesa	$4,179
Alta Mesa	$3,051
Elings Park	$3,051
West Beach	$3,051
Hidden Valley	$2,920
Hope	$2,879
North State	$2,675
East San Roque	$2,518
Foothill	$2,518
Hitchcock	$2,518
Samarkand	$2,518
San Roque	$2,518
Cielito	$2,456
Bel Air	$2,455
Oak Park	$2,455
Upper East Santa Barbara	$2,455
West Side Santa Barbara	$2,455
Downtown Santa Barbara	$2,328
Lower State	$2,328
Lower West Santa Barbara	$2,328
West Downtown Santa Barbara	$2,328
East Beach	$2,315
Laguna	$2,315
Lower East Santa Barbara	$2,315
Eastside Santa Barbara	$2,298
Eucalyptus Hill	$2,298
Lower Riviera	$2,298
Milpas	$2,298
Riviera	$2,298

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Barbara?

The most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Barbara are Eastside Santa Barbara, where the average rent goes for $2,298/month, Eucalyptus Hill, where renters pay $2,298/mo on average, and Lower Riviera, where the average rent goes for $2,298/mo. If you’re looking for other great deals, check out the listings from Milpas ($2,298), Riviera ($2,298), and East Beach ($2,315), where the asking prices are below the average Santa Barbara rent of $2,836/mo.

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Santa Barbara?

The most expensive neighborhoods in Santa Barbara are Campanil - Yankee Farm ($4,179), East Mesa ($4,179) and West Mesa ($4,179).

What are the most popular neighborhoods in Santa Barbara?

The most popular neighborhood in Santa Barbara is Downtown Santa Barbara, where there are 5 listings with an average rent of $2,328. Next up is Eastside Santa Barbara, where apartments go for $2,298/month, followed by Lower State with $2,328 If you’re looking to rent in Santa Barbara’s most popular neighborhoods, make sure to also check out Lower West Santa Barbara, where renters pay $2,328 on average, and North State, where the average monthly rent is $2,675.

Santa Barbara | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Alta Mesa is 24% higher than in Bel Air

$3,051

Alta Mesa rent is 8% higher than Santa Barbara average

Average Rent	$3,051

$2,455

Bel Air rent is 13% lower than Santa Barbara average

Average Rent	$2,455

How Santa Barbara Compares to Other Cities

City	Average Rent
Los Angeles	$2,742
San Francisco	$3,336
East Bay	$2,570
San Diego	$3,016
Long Beach	$2,579
Sacramento	$1,856
San Jose	$3,021
Oakland	$2,790
Fresno	$1,547
Inglewood	$2,570
Santa Monica	$3,940
Bakersfield	$1,477
Santa Barbara	$2,836
Thousand Oaks	$2,814
Santa Clarita	$2,540
Ventura	$2,743
Oxnard	$2,586
Simi Valley	$2,603
Camarillo	$2,703
Santa Maria	$2,345
Goleta	$3,155

What is the average price for a storage unit in Santa Barbara?

The average rent for a non-climate-controlled 10'x10' storage unit in Santa Barbara is $419. Rental costs vary depending on several factors, including unit size and the storage facility's location and amenities.