How much does it cost to rent in Santa Barbara, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Santa Barbara, CA is $3,967. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Santa Barbara cheaper than other California cities?

Santa Barbara is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #46 out of 387 cities tracked at $3,967/mo.

When was Santa Barbara rent data last updated?

Santa Barbara rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Santa Barbara

Name: Average Rent Prices in Santa Barbara, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 87,779·46th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,967/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.6%

Month-over-Month

-1.1%

vs US Median

+$2,002

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Santa Barbara · $3,967

More expensive than 97% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

70/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% below what Santa Barbara's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$3,967/mo

Expected by trend

$4,408/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Santa Barbara's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$3,000

1 BR

$3,382

2 BR

$3,812

3 BR

$5,050

4 BR+

$5,624

Research median

$3,812/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$47,604/yr

At $3,967/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.6% YoY, -1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Santa Barbara, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 51.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

87,779

Median income

$106,182

Median age

39.7

Renters

60.1%

Age distribution

17.7%

26.7%

22.9%

12.1%

20.6%

Under 1817.7%

18–3426.7%

35–5422.9%

55–6412.1%

65+20.6%

Gender

49.3%

50.7%

Male49.3%

Female50.7%

Race & ethnicity

58.6%

36.4%

White58.6%

Black1.6%

Hispanic36.4%

Asian3.6%

Education (25+)

12.2%

25%

51.9%

No HS diploma10.8%

HS diploma12.2%

Some college25%

Bachelor's+51.9%

Housing tenure

39.9%

60.1%

Owner39.9%

Renter60.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Santa Barbara, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,900 → $3,967

up 36.8%

Income

$89,243 → $106,182

up 19.0%

Population

89,132 → 87,779

down 1.5%

Renter share

58.9% → 60.1%

+1.2 pts

Bachelor's+

50.5% → 51.9%

+1.4 pts

Median age

39.1 → 39.7

+0.6 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Santa Barbara, CA paid around $2,900 a month. That figure now sits near $3,967, up 36.8% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $89,243 in 2021 to $106,182 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Santa Barbara, CA losing about 1,353 residents over the five-year window, down 1.5% on net. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Santa Barbara, CA market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Santa Barbara

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View Santa Barbara rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Santa Barbara on your salary?

At $3,967/mo, how Santa Barbara rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 42.7% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 60.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 52.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 29.2% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 22.9% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 64.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 71.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 57.7% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Santa Barbara rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Santa Barbara. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Santa Barbara

About renting in Santa Barbara, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Santa Barbara is $3,967/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $3,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,812/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,382/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,050/mo.

At 45% of local median household income ($106,182/yr), Santa Barbara ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Santa Barbara an affordable city for renters?

Santa Barbara is considered stretched for renters. At $3,967/mo, rent takes approximately 45% of the local median household income ($106,182/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Santa Barbara significantly exceeds that threshold, making it challenging for many renters.

How much income do you need to rent in Santa Barbara?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $159,000/year (~$76/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,967/mo in Santa Barbara. The local median household income is $106,182/yr, meaning the typical Santa Barbara household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Santa Barbara?

Rent in Santa Barbara has increased 3.6% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Santa Barbara neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Santa Barbara are 93101 ($3,319/mo), 93111 ($3,658/mo), and 93105 ($4,229/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Santa Barbara is $3,967/mo.

How does Santa Barbara rent compare to other cities in California?

Santa Barbara is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #46 out of 387 tracked cities at $3,967/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Santa Barbara?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Santa Barbara ($3,967/mo): Ventura ($2,874/mo), Isla Vista ($3,417/mo), Carpinteria ($3,586/mo).

What percentage of Santa Barbara residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 60.1% of Santa Barbara households are renters, while 39.9% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Santa Barbara has a strong rental market.

How does Santa Barbara rent compare to the national average?

Santa Barbara's median rent of $3,967/mo is $2,002 (102%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #46 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

45%

STRETCHED

At $3,967/mo, rent takes ~45% of Santa Barbara's median household income ($106,182/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Santa Barbara 45%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Santa Barbara affordability calculator →

Nearby cities