What is the average apartment size in Santa Barbara?

The average size for a Santa Barbara, CA apartment is 708 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.

What is the average rent in Santa Barbara?

As of Jan / 2026, the average rent in Santa Barbara is $2,997 per month, a 2.97% increase from last years average of $2,911.

How much does rent cost by apartment size in Santa Barbara?

In Santa Barbara, studios rent for $2,538 per month, one-bedroom units average $2,469 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $3,678 per month, and three-bedroom apartments rent for about $5,048 per month

What is the average apartment size in Santa Barbara?

The typical apartment in Santa Barbara offers about 708 sq. ft. square feet of living space, though actual sizes vary depending on layout and amenities.

How large are apartments by bedroom count in Santa Barbara?

Studio apartments in Santa Barbara average 445 sq. ft., one-bedrooms offer 570 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 887 sq. ft., and three-bedroom apartments average 1,517 sq. ft.

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Santa Barbara?

The most expensive neighborhoods in Santa Barbara are Hope ($3,434/month), North State ($3,458/month), and West Beach ($4,281/month), often due to premium locations and high-end amenities.

Santa Barbara, CA Rental Market Trends

Q: What's the typical rent budget in Santa Barbara?

The typical rent budget in Santa Barbara ranges from $2,501 to $3,000 per month, with 42% of rentals in this range.

Q: Do most people rent or own in Santa Barbara?

In Santa Barbara, 60% of households rent while 40% own their homes, based on the latest U.S. Census data.

Q: What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Barbara?

The most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Barbara include Oak Park ($1,856/month), Eastside Santa Barbara ($2,531/month), and Laguna ($2,556/month), all below the citywide average of $2,997.

Last updated: February 18, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Santa Barbara is $2,997, a 2.97% increase compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $2,911.

Studio Apartments at $2,538 offer the most budget-friendly option with 445 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 570 square feet for $2,469, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-beedroom units at $3,678 offer 887 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,517 sq ft) for $5,048, suitable for larger households.

Average rent in Santa Barbara, CA

Last updated: February 18, 2026

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$2,997	708 sq. ft.
Studio	$2,538	445 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$2,469	570 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$3,678	887 sq. ft.
3 Beds	$5,048	1,517 sq. ft.

Santa Barbara, CA rent trends

Rental prices in Santa Barbara, CA have increased by 2.97% over the past year. The average rent moved from $2,911 to $2,997.

What's the typical rent budget in Santa Barbara, CA?

The largest share of rentals in Santa Barbara, CA (42%) fall between $2,501-$3,000 per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.

Do most people rent or own in Santa Barbara, CA?

22,052 or 60% of the households in Santa Barbara, CA are renter-occupied while 14,566 or 40% are owner-occupied.

Most affordable neighborhoods in Santa Barbara?

Oak Park $1,856/month

Eastside Santa Barbara $2,531/month

Laguna $2,556/month

All of these neighborhoods fall below the city wide average of $2,997/month.

Most expensive neighborhoods in Santa Barbara?

Hope $3,434/month

North State $3,458/month

West Beach $4,281/month

These neighborhoods typically command higher rents due to location, amenities, and demand.

Average Rent in Santa Barbara, CA By Neighborhood

Neighborhood	Average Rent
West Beach	$4,281
North State	$3,458
Hope	$3,434
West Side Santa Barbara	$3,104
Hitchcock	$2,949
Laguna	$2,556
Eastside Santa Barbara	$2,531
Oak Park	$1,856

Santa Barbara | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Eastside Santa Barbara is 14% lower than in Hitchcock

$2,531

Eastside Santa Barbara rent is 16% lower than Santa Barbara average

Average Rent $2,531

$2,949

Hitchcock rent is 2% lower than Santa Barbara average

Average Rent $2,949

How Santa Barbara Compares to Other Cities

City	Average Rent
Santa Barbara	$2,997
Los Angeles	$2,740
San Francisco	$3,580
East Bay	$2,643
San Diego	$2,958
Long Beach	$2,645
Sacramento	$1,894
San Jose	$3,118
Oakland	$2,578
Tulare	$1,674
Santa Monica	$3,626
Oxnard, CA	$2,622
Simi Valley, CA	$2,628
Camarillo, CA	$2,760
Thousand Oaks, CA	$2,843
Ventura, CA	$2,794
Santa Maria, CA	$2,293
Goleta, CA	$3,499
Calabasas, CA	$3,080
Lompoc, CA	$2,115
Newbury Park, CA	$2,566

Where this data comes from

The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.

Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all Santa Barbara apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.

Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.