Rent in Santa Barbara, CA at a glance
2-bedroom rent (HUD)
$3,124$37,488 a year · HUD fiscal year 2026From October 1, 2026: $3,106 (−0.6%)How much rent can you afford in Santa Barbara, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
Rent in Santa Barbara, CA by bedroom, and the pay it takes
Income needed keeps rent at 30% of gross pay; the hourly figure assumes one full-time job, 2,080 hours a year.
| Size | A month | A year | Income needed | Hourly wage needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,459 | $29,508 | $98,360 | $47.29/hr |
| 1 bedroom | $2,746 | $32,952 | $109,840 | $52.81/hr |
| 2 bedroomsMost searched | $3,124 | $37,488 | $124,960 | $60.08/hr |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,075 | $48,900 | $163,000 | $78.37/hr |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,647 | $55,764 | $185,880 | $89.37/hr |
Cost of living in Santa Barbara, CA: income, prices and a budget →
Living and working in Santa Barbara, CA
Rent in Santa Barbara, CA: common questions
How much is rent going down in Santa Barbara, CA in 2027?
HUD's Fair Market Rent for fiscal 2027, which takes effect October 1, 2026, is $3,106 for a two-bedroom, down 0.6% from $3,124. A one-bedroom goes from $2,746 to $2,711, a studio from $2,459 to $2,479.
These are HUD's estimates of what a typical recently rented unit costs, used for housing vouchers. A landlord's increase on your lease follows your lease and your state's rules, not this figure.
What is the average rent in Santa Barbara, CA?
HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026 is $2,746 for a one-bedroom and $3,124 for a two-bedroom, utilities included. That is $37,488 a year for the two-bedroom.
It is not an average of current listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so asking rents on newer places usually run higher.
How much do you need to make to afford rent in Santa Barbara, CA?
To keep a $3,124 two-bedroom at 30% of gross pay, one full-time worker needs $60.08 an hour, or $124,960 a year. A one-bedroom at $2,746 takes $52.81 an hour.
How much is a 1, 2 or 3-bedroom apartment in Santa Barbara, CA?
At HUD's 2026 Fair Market Rent: studio $2,459, one bedroom $2,746, two $3,124, three $4,075 and four $4,647 a month.
Is rent affordable in Santa Barbara, CA?
For the typical household, earning $106,182 a year ($8,849 a month, Census ACS), a two-bedroom at $3,124 takes 35.3% of income. Under 30% is the usual line for affordable; this is over it.
How is the income needed for rent worked out?
Rent for a year divided by 0.30, the share of gross income HUD treats as affordable: ($3,124 × 12) ÷ 0.30 = $124,960. Divided by 2,080 working hours, that is $60.08 an hour.