Santa Maria, CA at a glance
Median household income
$84,746$7,062 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Santa Maria, 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 Maria, 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 | 34.8% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $2,746 | $32,952 | $109,840 | 38.9% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $3,124 | $37,488 | $124,960 | 44.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $4,075 | $48,900 | $163,000 | 57.7% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $4,647 | $55,764 | $185,880 | 65.8% |
What a typical income covers in Santa Maria, CA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $84,746 a year ($7,062 a month before tax).
What $84,746 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 Maria, CA: common questions
What is the median household income in Santa Maria, CA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Santa Maria, CA is $84,746 per year (approximately $7,062 per month).
What is the average rent in Santa Maria, 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 Maria, 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 Maria, 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 147% of what the typical household in Santa Maria, CA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Santa Maria, CA?
On the local median income of $84,746 ($7,062 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,531 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,119 for everything else and $1,412 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $3,124 takes 88% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Santa Maria, 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.