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
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

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
Alta Mesa rent is 8% higher than Santa Barbara average
Average Rent | $3,051 |
---|
Bel Air rent is 13% lower than Santa Barbara average
Average Rent | $2,455 |
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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.