Santa Barbara County, CA at a glance
Median household income
$98,161$8,180 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Santa Barbara County, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Santa Barbara County, CA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $2,459 | $29,508 | $98,360 | 30.1% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,746 | $32,952 | $109,840 | 33.6% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $3,124 | $37,488 | $124,960 | 38.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $4,075 | $48,900 | $163,000 | 49.8% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $4,647 | $55,764 | $185,880 | 56.8% |
Rent in Santa Barbara County, CA, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Santa Barbara County, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $98,161 a year ($8,180 a month before tax).
What $98,161 leaves after California taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and California tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in California
Living in Santa Barbara County, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in Santa Barbara County, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Santa Barbara County, CA is $98,161 per year (approximately $8,180 per month).
What is the average rent in Santa Barbara County, CA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $2,459 for a studio, $2,746 for one bedroom, $3,124 for two, $4,075 for three and $4,647 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Santa Barbara County, CA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 8.8% above the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 108.8, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Santa Barbara County, CA?
To keep a $3,124 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $124,960 a year, or $10,413 a month. That is 127% of what the typical household in Santa Barbara County, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Santa Barbara County, CA?
On the local median income of $98,161 ($8,180 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $4,090 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,454 for everything else and $1,636 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $3,124 takes 76% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Santa Barbara County, CA?
Homes in California paid 34.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $313. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.