1-Bedroom Apartment Rent in Santa Barbara, CA
Median asking rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara, California as of July 2026. That's +15% lower than the citywide median of $3,967 and +142% above the national 1-bedroom median of $1,400.
Income needed for a 1-bedroom in Santa Barbara
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a 1-bedroom at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Santa Barbara
Compare Santa Barbara's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a 1-bedroom in California
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taft | $880 |
| 2 | Ridgecrest | $887 |
| 3 | Lakeport | $900 |
| 4 | California City | $950 |
| 5 | Clearlake | $950 |
| 6 | Barstow | $974 |
| 7 | Oroville | $1,005 |
| 8 | El Centro | $1,020 |
| 9 | Paradise | $1,020 |
| 10 | Red Bluff | $1,030 |
| 11 | Eureka | $1,040 |
| 12 | Porterville | $1,060 |
| 13 | Shafter | $1,060 |
| 14 | Tehachapi | $1,110 |
| 15 | Hanford | $1,120 |
Most expensive cities for a 1-bedroom in California
| # | City | 1-Bedroom rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cupertino | $3,880 |
| 2 | Foster City | $3,820 |
| 3 | Santa Cruz | $3,710 |
| 4 | Scotts Valley | $3,600 |
| 5 | Aptos | $3,600 |
| 6 | Tiburon | $3,530 |
| 7 | Los Altos | $3,530 |
| 8 | Coronado | $3,460 |
| 9 | Sunnyvale | $3,438 |
| 10 | Millbrae | $3,410 |
| 11 | Corte Madera | $3,390 |
| 12 | Santa Barbara (this page) | $3,382 |
| 13 | Palo Alto | $3,305 |
| 14 | Mountain View | $3,303 |
| 15 | Ladera Ranch | $3,280 |
Nearby cities — 1-bedroom rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper 1-bedroom rents than Santa Barbara.
| City | Distance | 1-Bedroom rent | vs Santa Barbara |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isla Vista, CA | 8.3 mi | $1,843 | $-1,539 (-46%) |
| Montecito, CA | 8.6 mi | $4,030 | +$648 (+19%) |
| Carpinteria, CA | 15.8 mi | $3,070 | $-312 (-9%) |
| Goleta, CA | 23.7 mi | $2,940 | $-442 (-13%) |
| Ventura, CA | 29.4 mi | $2,227 | $-1,155 (-34%) |
| Solvang, CA | 29.8 mi | $2,390 | $-992 (-29%) |
| Ojai, CA | 30.3 mi | $1,890 | $-1,492 (-44%) |
| Oxnard, CA | 42.7 mi | $1,980 | $-1,402 (-41%) |
| Lompoc, CA | 43.3 mi | $2,390 | $-992 (-29%) |
| Santa Paula, CA | 44.8 mi | $1,810 | $-1,572 (-46%) |
| Port Hueneme, CA | 50.3 mi | $2,010 | $-1,372 (-41%) |
| Camarillo, CA | 51.4 mi | $2,445 | $-937 (-28%) |
1-Bedroom rent in Santa Barbara — common questions
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara?
As of July 2026, the median 1-bedroom apartment rent in Santa Barbara, California is $3,382 per month. This is +15% below the citywide median of $3,967.
What income do you need to afford a 1-bedroom in Santa Barbara?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $135,280 ($11,273/month gross), which works out to roughly $65.04/hour at a full-time job.
Is Santa Barbara expensive for a 1-bedroom compared to the rest of the US?
Santa Barbara's 1-bedroom median of $3,382 is +142% above the national 1-bedroom median of $1,400. It ranks in the 100th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Santa Barbara rank for 1-bedroom rent in California?
Among the 385 cities in California with 1-bedroom data, Santa Barbara ranks #374 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper 1-bedroom options near Santa Barbara?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper 1-bedroom rents include Isla Vista ($1,843), Carpinteria ($3,070), Goleta ($2,940).