Cheap Apartments for Rent in the UC Santa Barbara Neighborhood of Santa Barbara, CA from $800 (14 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the UC Santa Barbara area of Santa Barbara.

What Does “Rent Burdened” Mean? How Much Rent Is Too Much

Learn the official definition (spending 30% or more of your gross income on housing) and how to calculate your exact rent-to-income ratio. This guide offers expert tips on factoring in total housing costs (including utilities and fees) and budgeting accurately to avoid unnecessary financial strain.

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Embarcadero Apartments
1 Bedroom Apartments

Embarcadero Apartments

833 Embarcadero Del MarIsla Vista, CA 93117
Student Housing
  • Utilities Included
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La Loma Apartments
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments

La Loma Apartments

851 Camino PescaderoGoleta, CA 93117
Student Housing
  • Utilities Included
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Berkshire Terrace
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Berkshire Terrace

6661 Berkshire TerGoleta, CA 93117
Student Housing
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Carriage House - Park Place
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Carriage House - Park Place

796 Embarcadero del NorteGoleta, CA 93117
Student Housing
  • Utilities Included

Your Guide to Co-Signers: The Risks, Rewards, and Everything in Between

Thinking about getting a co-signer for your rental application? We break down what a co-signer is, the potential benefits, and the serious risks for both parties. Find out if it's the right choice for you.

UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA Local Guide

Cheapest Available UC Santa Barbara Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the UC Santa Barbara area of Santa Barbara, CA is a 3 Beds unit found at Breakpointe Coronado priced from $1,250. The Loop has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 2 Beds apartment currently listed from $1,659. Here are the most affordable UC Santa Barbara apartments for rent in Santa Barbara, CA:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Breakpointe CoronadoBreakpointe 3x23BR,2BA$1,250
The Loop2BR/2BA - Quad Deluxe2BR,2BA$1,659
Sumida Gardens ApartmentsThe Palm1BR,1BA$3,293
6587 Cervantes1BR/1.0BA1BR,1BA$3,450
Cortona PointOne Bedroom A1BR,1BA$3,700

Best Value Apartments for Rent in UC Santa Barbara, CA

As of June 08, 2026 the best value apartment in the UC Santa Barbara area is the $0.56 price per square foot 5BR/5.5BA - Sunrise 10 Model at The Cove in the in the Cabrillo Business Park neighborhood starting from $1,495. The second greatest value UC Santa Barbara apartment is the Two Bedroom Two Bath Model at Arrive Los Carneros II starting at $4,990 with a $4.11 price per square foot in the Downtown Goleta neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for UC Santa Barbara apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
The Cove5BR/5.5BA - Sunrise 105BR,5.5BA$0.56
Arrive Los Carneros IITwo Bedroom Two Bath2BR,2BA$4.11
Willow SpringsTopatopa3BR,2BA$4.31
The Loop2BR/2BA - Quad2BR,2BA$1.92
Tropicana Student HousingTropicana Gardens3BR,2BA$2.01
Pacific OaksMagnolia2BR,1BA$4.57
Sumida Gardens ApartmentsThe Palm1BR,1BA$4.88
Tahitian ApartmentsTahitian 1x11BR,1BA$1.77
Breakpointe CoronadoCoronado 1x1B1BR,1BA$2.69
The Wave1 bed + 1 bath Upstaris1BR,1BA$2.05

Don't Settle: How to Negotiate Your Apartment Lease and Save Money

Discover the insider tips from an attorney and real estate agent on how to negotiate your next apartment lease. Find out what's on the table and what's not, so you can save money and get the best terms possible.

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Real Estate and Rental Term Glossary | ApartmentHomeLiving.com Renter University

From the letter A all the way to the letter Z, the Real Estate and Rental Term Glossary from the content team at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provides our visitors and shoppers with a little clarity and helpful guidance in navigating the real estate world through definitions and explainers for the top subjects and terms that someone may come across during the leasing, buying, or selling process.

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Quick Rent Budget Calculator

How much rent can you afford?

The common "Rule of Thumb" is that rent should be no more than 30% of your income. How much is that? Enter your monthly income and click "Calculate My Budget" to find out.

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Pet Friendly Lifestyle
Uc Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA

Ranked #1

Among cities in California for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities.

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

4.0
Pet Friendly

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Lifestyle Ratings

ApartmentHomeLiving.com compares millions of points of data to bring you comprehensive Lifestyle Ratings of neighborhoods, cities, and rental properties across California and customized analysis for Central Santa Barbara, CA. LifeStyle Ratings are a useful tool for comparing and sorting apartments and neighborhoods when choosing your rental home. This takes in many factors including rankings of the best places for easy access to the parks, luxury amenities, kid and pet-friendly communities, availability of transit options, and how walkable or bikeable each community and area is. These search options are in the site filters at the top of this page.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap UC Santa Barbara Apartments

What is the price of a cheap apartment in UC Santa Barbara?

The cheapest apartment in UC Santa Barbara is Sumida Gardens Apartments which is listed at $3,293, while the average apartment in UC Santa Barbara costs $4,909.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in UC Santa Barbara?

Student, low-income, and by-the-bed apartments are typically the cheapest rentals in most cities, though they require qualifying criteria to rent. There are 34 regular apartments in UC Santa Barbara that we think qualify as ‘cheap apartments’ that do not have special requirements to apply to rent.

How do the prices of cheap apartments compare to the average apartment in UC Santa Barbara?

Cheap apartments in UC Santa Barbara have an average cost of $1,539 which is $3,370 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in UC Santa Barbara.

Expert Rental Resources

The rental experts at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provide you with top advice, tools, and tips for understanding the leasing process and finding the perfect rental. Here are a few helpful rental and leasing articles from our experts to guide you on your search.

Articles, How-To's, and Tips

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Pet-Friendly Renting: Everything You Need to Know Before You Move

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

For so many of us, pets are the best companions and a big part of our lives. For this reason, a pet-friendly house or apartment is often a very important - and nonnegotiable - part of a move.

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Creative Ways Developers Reimagine Retail Spaces as Residential Units

Written by: Robin Stewart

Adaptive reuse is when a commercial property is converted and repurposed. The real estate industry has embraced a growing number of these projects.

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Neighborhood and Market Insights: How to Choose the Right Area to Rent

Written by: Robin Stewart

Apartment-hunting can be a gargantuan task. Renters have a wish list of items—some luxuries, some necessities—but finding what you seek in the right place is perhaps the most important part of the journey.

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A Seasoned Property Manager's Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your Deposit Back

Written by: Lauren Harrington

I’m going to talk with you as a seasoned property manager and friend. So, let’s start with your security deposit. I want you to think about this guide as insider information. You deserve your deposit back.