Apartments in Santa Barbara

1 - 30 of 61 Results
21
3D Tour
$2,485 - 2,805
3999 Via Lucero Santa Barbara, CA
1 BR | Available Now
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Dog Friendly
Cat Friendly
Virtual Tour
Pool
14
$3,595
Santa Barbara, CA
2 BR | Available Now
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Dog Friendly
Cat Friendly
Surface Parking
Storage
Disability Access
12
$3,595
Santa Barbara, CA
2 BR | Available Now
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Dog Friendly
Cat Friendly
Surface Parking
Storage
Disability Access
37
$2,819
4870 Calle Real Santa Barbara, CA
Studio | Available Now
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Dog Friendly
Cat Friendly
Short-term
Air Conditioning
Covered Parking
27
$7,750
Santa Barbara, CA
2 BR | Apr. 10, 2024
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House
Storage
Disability Access
21
$5,000
Santa Barbara, CA
2 BR | May. 1, 2024
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House
Balcony/Deck/Patio
Storage
Disability Access
Dishwasher
38
$6,500
752 Casiano Dr Unit A Santa Barbara, CA
3 BR | Apr. 15, 2024
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House
Storage
Disability Access
18
$4,500
Santa Barbara, CA
2 BR | Apr. 15, 2024
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House
Storage
Dishwasher
19
$5,500
Santa Barbara, CA
2 BR | May. 1, 2024
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House
Storage
Disability Access
25
$4,600
Santa Barbara, CA
2 BR | Apr. 15, 2024
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Dog Friendly
Disability Access
44
$10,000
Montecito, CA
4 BR | May. 1, 2024
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House
Storage
Dishwasher
45
$15,000
Montecito, CA
4 BR | May. 1, 2024
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House
Dishwasher
17
$7,500
Santa Barbara, CA
3 BR | Available Now
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Dog Friendly
Cat Friendly
House
Storage
20
$12,000
Santa Barbara, CA
3 BR | Available Now
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House
Storage
Disability Access
17
$3,600
Santa Barbara, CA
2 BR | Available Now
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Dog Friendly
House
Storage
Dishwasher
14
$3,495
Santa Barbara, CA
2 BR | Available Now
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Dog Friendly
Cat Friendly
Surface Parking
Storage
Disability Access
5
$2,450
Santa Barbara, CA
Studio | Available Now
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Disability Access
11
$2,095
Santa Barbara, CA
1 BR | Available Now
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Surface Parking
Storage
Disability Access
20
$5,450
Santa Barbara, CA
3 BR | Available Now
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House
Storage
Disability Access
18
$5,950
Santa Barbara, CA
2 BR | Apr. 20, 2024
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House
Air Conditioning
Storage
25
$5,500
Santa Barbara, CA
2 BR | May. 1, 2024
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Furnished
House
Balcony/Deck/Patio
Storage
Dishwasher
29
$5,500
Santa Barbara, CA
2 BR | Apr. 15, 2024
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House
Storage
Disability Access
45
$25,000
Santa Barbara, CA
5 BR | Available Now
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Dog Friendly
Cat Friendly
House
Surface Parking
20
$5,250
Santa Barbara, CA
3 BR | Available Now
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House
18
$5,950
Santa Barbara, CA
2 BR | Sep. 2, 2024
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House
Disability Access
26
$9,750
Santa Barbara, CA
3 BR | Available Now
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House
4
$2,695 - 3,095
Santa Barbara, CA
1 BR | Available Now
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Dog Friendly
Cat Friendly
Storage
Disability Access
63
$8,500
Montecito, CA
4 BR | Apr. 15, 2024
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House
Disability Access
25
$6,500
Santa Barbara, CA
3 BR | May. 1, 2024
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House
Balcony/Deck/Patio
Dishwasher
22
$4,700
Santa Barbara, CA
1 BR | May. 1, 2024
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Furnished
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Dishwasher
1 - 30 of 61 Results
  1. Home
  2. Santa Barbara

How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Santa Barbara?

Santa Barbara Apartments
Bed Type Average Rent Range
Studio $2,810 $2,450 - $2,900
1BR $2,700 $2,080 - $4,150
2BR $4,500 $1,350 - $6,420
3BR $6,980 $4,730 - $17,250
4+BR $10,000 $8,500 - $15,000

Find a Santa Barbara Apartment

Santa Barbara is a beautiful coastal city in southern California. What is unique about the city is that it sits on the longest stretch of south facing coast on the west half of the country. The 88,000 residents enjoy weather so good that the city has earned the nickname of the "American Riviera."

The wonderful weather also makes Santa Barbara a bustling tourist destination. There are a lot educational options in the city given its size as well. The University of California, Santa Barbara, and Santa Barbara City College are two of the larger ones. SBCC has enrolment of over 19,000, and UC Santa Barbara more than 22,000.

When to Search

The summer is the best time to look for an apartment in Santa Barbara. By the time May rolls around you should see more apartments starting to open up in the local market. In fall, the market might start to restrict a little again, so it is a good idea to try and get an apartment before then.

Staying in the Know

Applying for an apartment is not a complicated process, but attention to detail is important. Make sure that you give landlords exactly what they ask for when they give you an application. Also, make sure you provide them with the number of references that they ask for. If you provide less, they may wonder if there is a reason for your doing so.

Life in Santa Barbara

Transportation

Getting around Santa Barbara isn't too difficult, as the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District has a great network of busses over Santa Barbara and other nearby cities. Shuttles along the waterfront are inexpensive, and an easy way to see more of the city. The beautiful year-round weather also makes a bike a practical, healthy and inexpensive vehicle.

Where to play

If you don't already know how to surf, moving to Santa Barbara provides you with the ideal opportunity to learn. In addition, other typical California activities like hanging out at the beach or golfing are readily available in the city. There are also many wineries that are accessible right from the downtown core. For some of the best shopping in town, go for a walk down State Street. The bars on lower State Street are a popular Thursday night college hangout.

Attractions

Lotusland is an extremely beautiful landscaped garden in the Santa Barbara area. 3200 different species are on exhibit in the gardens, including many very rare plants that many people would never otherwise get a chance to see in person. Those with an interest in history should stop by the Mission Santa Barbara, as it is a beautiful example of the missions from the 19th century that has been immaculately preserved. It is also home to historic artefacts and artwork from the time of it's early history. Stearns Wharf is an iconic destination within the city that has some of the best water views, shopping, and dining in the entire city.

Dining

Barbareno is a totally unique experience, and offers dining unlike what you can find anywhere else in Santa Barbara. Just make sure to make a reservation if you want to get in for dinner. The restaurant is relaxed and simple, but the food inventive, fresh, and in demand. Mexican food is very popular in this part of the world, and there are lots of great places to get it in Santa Barbara, but Los Agaves is certainly among the best. If you're looking for something a little more exotic, the Sama Sama Kitchen is a very popular Indonesian restaurant.

Bars

The Neighbourhood Bar and Grill is the definition of the word “casual”. It is a great place to just hang out with friends and enjoy a beer while playing ping pong, pool, or Big Buck Hunter. Zodo’s Bowling & Beyond is a concept bar that offers a bowling twist on the traditional nightclub. If live music and a high-energy crowd is to your taste, then Velvet Jones is worth exploring. Milk & Honey is a sexy cocktail bar downtown that is perfect for a late-night date. Bourbon Drinkers all know that the Bourbon Room is the best place to get their favourite bourbon-based cocktail.

Culture

Live theatre is alive and well, and Santa Barbara features everything from huge Broadway hits to innovative and experimental shows. The Lobero Theatre is the oldest theatre in the state, which has never stopped operating. Center Stage is a great place to go for smaller, more intimate performances. The Granada is a beautiful old restored heritage theatre, from the golden age of the stage. There are two truly world-class museums in Santa Barbara, and both are worth visiting. If you find science fascinating, then you should check out the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. On the other hand, if the fine arts are what you're passionate about, then the Santa Barbara Museum of Arts should be your first destination.

Events

The Spanish culture is alive and well in Santa Barbara, and at no time is it on prouder display than during the Old Spanish Days Fiesta. This is a Mardis Gras-like celebration that takes place every August. Santa Barbara’s beautiful beaches are celebrated during the annual Sandcastle Festival. One of the biggest parades in the city happens each year on the Saturday closest to the Summer Solstice, and the entire community always looks forward to the Summer Solstice Parade. There are also various cultures who celebrate their food, heritage and music with festivals in the city. These include the French Festival and the Greek Festival.

Shopping

Downtown Santa Barbara is a fantastic shopping destination because of all the disparate elements it pulls together. On one block, you can find a major, name brand retailer, and on the next, a locally owned truly independent shop. This blend means that there is something for everyone in the neighbourhood. Stearns Wharf is a great place to go shopping on the weekend, as there are enough interesting places to visit that you can keep occupied all day long. Finally, if you're looking for the best food and ingredients in the city, you need to visit the Santa Barbara Public Market.

Sports

Without a major professional sports team in the city, the local sports fans tend to come out in droves to support the NCAA instead. The University of California Santa Barbara Gauchos are the local team, and they have been successful in a number of different sports over the years. Definitely the most popular teams are the men’s and women’s basketball programs, although the men’s soccer program also receives a significant amount of support. The baseball team has the most significant history out of any of the teams, with a program that stretches back to an inaugural season in 1923.

Outdoors

Just to the west of Santa Barbara is Gaviota State Park. This is a great place to fish, swim, and camp, and hikers often head all the way to the top of Gaviota Peak for some of the best views in the region. Surfing and windsurfing are among the most popular recreational activities with the locals, and there are several great locations throughout and nearby the city for catching some waves. Shoreline Park is a beautiful place in the city to go for a walk or a bike ride while enjoying stunning views of the ocean.

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Santa Barbara:
March Rent Report

Welcome to the March 2024 Santa Barbara Apartment Report. In this assessment of the local rental market, Rentable data scientists and rental experts break down the March 2024 key findings and figures for the Santa Barbara rental landscape.

Our experts analyze the pricing trends — one-bedroom, two-bedroom, year-over-year and month-over-month — in Santa Barbara and surrounding areas and provide comparisons to the entire metro area, nearby cities and some of the most desirable and expensive cities in the United States. Take a look at the last 12 months of Santa Barbara average rent prices in the chart below.

Monthly Rent Report

$4,600
$3,450
$2,300
$1,150
$0
Apr. 2023
May. 2023
Jun. 2023
Jul. 2023
Aug. 2023
Sep. 2023
Oct. 2023
Nov. 2023
Dec. 2023
Jan. 2024
Feb. 2024
Mar. 2024
1 BR       2 BR

Santa Barbara Rent Prices Decrease From February to March

Santa Barbara rent prices decreased over the last month. From February to March, the city experienced a -1.44% decrease for the price of a one-bedroom apartment. The rent price for a Santa Barbara one-bedroom apartments currently stands at $2,732.0.

When we take a look at the two-bedroom comparison from February to March, Santa Barbara experienced a -1.0% decrease for the price of a two-bedroom apartment. The rent price for a Santa Barbara two-bedroom apartments currently stands at $4,260.0.

March Prices: Santa Barbara vs. Surrounding Areas

Rent Prices in Santa Barbara and Surrounding Areas

Rent prices have decreased in Santa Barbara over the last month. But how have the surrounding areas fared when it comes to the recent volatility in apartment prices? Rent prices in 0 of the Santa Barbara suburbs increased last month. On the other hand, 0 local areas experienced a decrease in the price of a one-bedroom apartment.

More key findings include:

  • Rents did not increase in any of the Santa Barbara suburbs

  • Rents did not decrease in any of the Santa Barbara suburbs.

March 2024 Pricing Trends: Santa Barbara vs. National Comparisons

New York, NY
San Francisco, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Washington, DC
Chicago, IL
Minneapolis, MN
Columbus, OH
Pittsburgh, PA
$3,976
$3,029
$2,358
$2,336
$1,866
$1,310
$1,235
$1,124
$0
$1,300
$2,600
$3,900
$5,200
Median Rent

Santa Barbara Rent Prices More Affordable Than Major Cities

Rent growth in Santa Barbara over the past year has been declining. When compared to major cities nearby, along with some of the most expensive cities in the country, Santa Barbara average rent prices appear to be relatively affordable for local residents.

The price for a Santa Barbara one-bedroom apartment remains vastly more affordable than four of the largest cities in the United States — New York City, Washington, D.C. San Francisco and Los Angeles. And pricing compares quite similarly to nearby Midwest cities.

For more information about Santa Barbara and surrounding area rent prices, take a look at the complete data set below.

Data set for Santa Barbara and suburbs

1 BR March 1 BR M/M % Change 2 BR March 2 BR M/M % Change

Methodology

Each month, using over 1 million Rentable listings across the United States, we calculate the median 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom rent prices by city, state, and nation, and track the month-over-month percent change. To avoid small sample sizes, we restrict the analysis for our reports to cities meeting minimum population and property count thresholds.