Cost of Living in Santa Barbara County, California
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Santa Barbara County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Santa Barbara County ranks #3,100 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
Santa Barbara County Official GRAPI Reaches 34.7 Percent
In Santa Barbara County, the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 34.7%. This figure is 3.0 percentage points higher than the California unweighted county mean of 31.7%. The median gross rent was estimated at $2,131 per month, which is $440 above the state unweighted county mean of $1,691. Renter households in the county have a median income of $70,675. The median home value is $790,700, while the state unweighted county mean is $604,112. Additionally, median selected monthly owner costs are $2,198, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,881. These figures represent a snapshot from the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Santa Barbara County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 34.7% of renter household income in Santa Barbara County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $2,131 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,198. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $85,240 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The California unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,691 per month. Santa Barbara County's $2,131 median is 26.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Santa Barbara County
Rent Burden
26.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,290
per month
Owner Cost Burden
26.9%
of gross income
The median home in Santa Barbara County may be a stretch
Median home value is $790,700. Estimated monthly cost: $6,312 vs. your max of $2,290.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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