Cost of Living in Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara has a population of about 87,779. The median household income is $106,182, median gross rent is $2,413/month, and the median home value is $1,570,800. These figures come from 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates, the latest full-coverage Census baseline for U.S. cities.
How current is this? Census city data is released with a lag because it is survey-based and designed for consistent coverage across small and large places. Use it as an official affordability baseline; current apartment listings and mortgage rates may differ.
Is Santa Barbara expensive to live in?
Compared with the national median in this dataset, rent in Santa Barbara is 46% above the national median and home values are 319% above the national median. Household income here is 26% above the national median. Monthly rent represents roughly 27% of the median annual household income, a rough affordability signal for renters.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Santa Barbara?
The median gross rent in Santa Barbara, California is $2,413 per month in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
What is the median home price in Santa Barbara?
The median owner-occupied home value in Santa Barbara is $1,570,800 in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
How much do people earn in Santa Barbara?
The median household income in Santa Barbara is $106,182 per year in the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year estimates.
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. Local database last refreshed 2026-07-11.