Last updated
Average Rent in Santa Maria, CA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 7 apartment communities in Santa Maria, CA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$2,486/mo
Lowest Available
$1,340/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
7
tracked daily
Units Listed
50
available now
Rent Watch: cuts and increases
Open Rent Watch →9 cuts and 0 increases among 10 comparable listings this week. Filter by bedrooms and budget, then inspect each building’s history.
- Montiavo
↓ $15/mo
Cut of 0.5% · Unit 1015I
Rent by Neighborhood in Santa Maria, CA
Compare average rent across Santa Maria, CA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent | 30d Change | From | Properties | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria 93455 | $3,023 | ▼ $180 | $2,706 | 1 | 15 |
| Santa Maria 93458 | $2,283 | ▲ $51 | $1,608 | 5 | 34 |
| Santa Maria 93454 | $1,340 | - | $1,340 | 1 | 1 |
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Santa Maria, CA?
As of October 2026, the average rent in Santa Maria, CA is $2,486 per month across 7 apartment communities and 50 available units.
The most affordable option is Vandenberg Senior Residence starting at $1,340/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $1,599/mo, a 1-bedroom averages $2,001/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $2,519/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $3,145/mo, a 4-bedroom averages $3,239/mo.
Prices range from $1,340 to $3,610 per month. The most common price point is the $2,200 range, where 9 units are currently listed.
Santa Maria, CA Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 2026 | $2,407 | - | 9 |
| July 2026 | $2,461 | +$54 | 9 |
| August 2026 | $2,508 | +$47 | 9 |
| September 2026 | $2,506 | -$2 | 10 |
| October 2026 | $2,348 | -$158 | 9 |
The trend line and monthly averages track each building's average listed price, recorded daily with outliers trimmed. The current month is a month-to-date figure, so it can sit above or below today's live market average shown at the top of this page.
Average Rent by Bedroom
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Santa Maria, CA
Rent Prices by Apartment in Santa Maria, CA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vandenberg Senior Residence | $1,340/mo | $1,340/mo | 1 | 3.2 |
| La Vista | $1,608/mo | $1,920/mo | 15 | 4.3 |
| Vizcaya Apartments | $1,862/mo | $2,340/mo | 4 | 3.8 |
| Siena Apartments | $2,137/mo | $2,238/mo | 6 | 4.3 |
| Westgate Courtyards | $2,296/mo | $2,296/mo | 1 | 4 |
| Centennial Gardens | $2,392/mo | $2,966/mo | 8 | 4.6 |
| Montiavo | $2,706/mo | $3,023/mo | 15 | 4 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Santa Maria, CA
What is the average rent in Santa Maria, CA?
Is rent going up or down in Santa Maria, CA?
What is the cheapest apartment in Santa Maria, CA?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Santa Maria, CA?
How many apartments are available in Santa Maria, CA?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Santa Maria, CA?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$99,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $2,486/mo.
Comfortable income
$119,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($1,340/mo), you need to earn at least $54,000/year.
Median household income in Santa Maria, CA is $84,617 , about 29% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Santa Maria, CA
Overall prices in Santa Maria, CA runs above the national average by about 14% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 113.7, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Santa Maria, CA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $2,486 |
| Utilities | $754 |
| Groceries | $567 |
| Transportation | $1,798 |
| Healthcare | $877 |
| Other goods and services | $1,403 |
| Estimated total | $7,885/mo |
Population
109,880
Median household income
$84,617
Census median rent
$1,842/mo
Census rent burden
33.6%
Median age
29.3
Mean commute
22 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Google Search Trends for Santa Maria, CA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore Santa Maria, CA Apartments
Browse all 7 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.