Apartments for Rent in Santa Maria, CA (186 Rentals)

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Las Brisas
Rent Specials
$2,499 - $3,530

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$2,499 - $3,530
Total Monthly PriceVaries
1 to 3 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Las Brisas

983 W Dan Blough DrSanta Maria, CA 93455
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Renters Insurance 101: What It Is, What It Covers, and Why You Need It

From theft to fire to water damage, the unexpected can happen to any renter. Discover why renters insurance is one of the smartest and most affordable investments you can make as a tenant.

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Montiavo
$3,001 - $3,494

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$3,001 - $3,494
Total Monthly PriceVaries
2 to 3 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Montiavo

2460 S Rubel WaySanta Maria, CA 93455
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St Claire
Rent Specials
$2,764 - $3,006

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$2,764 - $3,006
Total Monthly PriceVaries
2 to 3 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

St Claire

1735 Biscayne StSanta Maria, CA 93458
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La Vista
$1,590 - $5,692

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$1,590 - $5,692
Total Monthly PriceVaries
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

La Vista

740 S Western AveSanta Maria, CA 93458
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471 E Newlove Dr, Unit B
$3,195

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$3,195
Total Monthly Price$3,195
3 Bedroom Apartment Available Now

471 E Newlove Dr, Unit B

471 E Newlove DrSanta Maria, CA 93454
Cost Per Sq.Ft.
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property at 1608 Paraiso Dr
$750 - $900

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$750 - $900
Total Monthly Price$750 - $900
1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Home for Rent
Available Now
Furnished

1608 Paraiso Dr

Santa MariaCA93458
  • Smoke Free

How I Find the Perfect Rental for My Clients: A Real Estate Pro's Guide

Finding the right apartment starts with three things: location, cost, and amenities. Get the insider perspective from a real estate professional on how to nail all three.

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property at 321 Inger Dr
$2,500

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$2,500
Total Monthly Price$2,500
2 Bedroom, 1 Bath Condo for Rent
Available Now

321 Inger Dr, Unit D21

321 Inger Dr
Santa MariaCA93454
property at 443 E Park Ave
$2,625

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$2,625
Total Monthly Price$2,625
2 Bedroom, 1.5 Bath Townhome for Rent
Available Now

443 E Park Ave

Santa MariaCA93454
property at 610 Union Ave
$2,750

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$2,750
Total Monthly Price$2,750
3 Bedroom, 1 Bath Home for Rent
Available Now
Cost Per Sq.Ft.

610 Union Ave

Santa MariaCA93455
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property at 1127 E Donovan Rd
$3,000

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$3,000
Total Monthly Price$3,000
3 Bedroom, 1 Bath Home for Rent
Available Now
Cost Per Sq.Ft.

1127 E Donovan Rd

Santa MariaCA93454
property at 413 E Park Ave
$3,000

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$3,000
Total Monthly Price$3,000
2 Bedroom, 1.5 Bath Condo for Rent
Available Now

413 E Park Ave, Unit Park

413 E Park Ave
Santa MariaCA93454
property at 4184 Breezy Glen Dr
$3,400

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent$3,400
Total Monthly Price$3,400
3 Bedroom, 2 Bath Home for Rent
Available Now
Outdoors

4184 Breezy Glen Dr

Santa MariaCA93455
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Neighborhood & Market Insights: How to Choose the Right Area to Rent

Master your search for the perfect apartment. Location is everything. Discover how to leverage community insights, public data, and personal visits to make a fully informed decision about where to rent.

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The Art of the Rental Viewing: What to look for during a property tour

Touring a rental? This guide helps you know exactly what to look for, from safety features to hidden flaws, so you can confidently sign your lease or keep searching.

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property at 1025 W Boone St
$1,695 - $1,995
1 To 2 Bedroom Rentals
Available Sep 9
Affordability

1025 W Boone St

Santa MariaCA93458

Smart Renter's Guide: Calculating Affordable Rent & Housing Costs

Wondering how to determine your rental budget? This comprehensive guide covers everything from the 30% rule to hidden fees and effective budgeting strategies.

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Santa Maria, CA Local Guide

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

Learn the property manager's true secrets to a zero-deduction move-out. Use this step-by-step guide on documentation, cleaning, and lease-reading to reclaim your security deposit.

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18 Must-Ask Rental Tour Questions That Reveal the Truth about a Property

Tour smarter and choose with confidence. Get the essential 18 questions that reveal the truth about a rental property's maintenance, utilities, and safety.

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Navigating the Rental Market: Tips for First-Time Renters

Entering the rental market? Learn these simple tips and strategies to avoid common pitfalls and make confident choices. Rent with peace of mind.

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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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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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Santa Maria Overview

The California apartments in Santa Maria present unique opportunities for people who wish to enjoy their leisure time in a culturally diverse city with temperate seasonal weather and day-trip options. If you are thinking about relocating, Santa Maria apartments may deliver the quality of life experience you desire.

What is the history of Santa Maria?

Located in Santa Barbara County in Southern California, Santa Maria traces its rich history back to the Spanish colonial period. Initially occupied by the Chumash native tribe, conquistadors flooded the region during the 18th Century, establishing a mission in 1782 called Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. This pivotal religious and cultural institution played an essential role in the region. The township was surveyed in 1874 and became the County Seat a year later. People routinely gathered for festivals and oak ember barbecues. Santa Maria would emerge as a central location for cattle ranching and farming, before oil was discovered during the 20th Century. Today, it enjoys a thriving economy that blends modern occupations with ranchers and farmers who reside in the neighboring foothills.

How is the weather in Santa Maria?

Summers tend to be hot and long, prompting people in Santa Maria apartments to run air conditioning units during much of July and August. That’s when temperatures typically rise into the 80s and mid-90s. During the fall, temperatures generally drop off by 9 degrees and run in the mid-60s on average. Although usually pleasant, the area does experience occasional upticks into the 80s. Winter months are quite temperate, with the seasonal average hovering around 63 degrees and overnight temperatures rarely dipping below freezing. Spring continues to be pleasant weather, with average highs under 70 degrees and lows of around 50 degrees. The wet season mirrors the low temperatures, with dry, arid summers and the average snowfall is zero.

How do I get around town?

Although passenger vehicles remain the primary mode of transportation in the California community, people living in the Santa Maria apartments have plenty of alternatives. The city of 109,000 has ride-share options such as Uber, Lyft, and traditional yellow taxi cabs. Public transportation includes the Santa Maria Regional Transit, which offers discounted rates for students and seniors. The transit system crisscrosses the city and provides timely and convenient pickup and drop-off locations. Santa Maria is also considered a bicycle-friendly community, providing ample pedestrian sidewalks.

What is the Santa Maria commute like?

Average commute times for people living in Santa Maria apartments and single-family homes run approximately 20 minutes. The drive in Santa Maria is consistently shorter than in the Santa Barbara County metro area and the Golden State overall. It’s also about 5 minutes faster than the U.S. average.  Santa Maria is located inland of Route 1, and Highway 101 runs through the western area, where many big box retail outlets are located. Nearly a quarter of residents carpool to work to save money and reduce emissions. Only 2 percent walk or bike to work.

What are the local media outlets?

Residents who take advantage of reasonably priced apartments in Santa Maria have an opportunity to read print newspapers and magazines in their leisure time. Local newsstands and convenience stores carry titles such as Latino Today, Santa Maria Times, Santa Maria Sun, and various state and national publications. The city also enjoys locally based radio stations that include KGDP (Christian Contemporary), KTAP-AM (Mexican), KGZO (Spanish Christian), as well as classic hits from Santa Barbara’s KRUZ, among others.

Why live in Santa Maria, CA?

People gravitate to Santa Maria apartments based on the pleasant weather, cultural diversity, and leisure amenities. The city enjoys lower prices for groceries and consumer goods than the California average. These cost-of-living benefits add to the quality of life experience residents and visitors embrace in Santa Maria.

What Santa Maria landmarks should I see?

The conquistadors and the influx of Spaniards left an indelible mark on the Santa Maria landscape. Its historical landmarks are dominated by religious structures such as the Paroquia de Nossa Senhora das Dores church. However, more modern popular sites include the Santa Maria Pier, Ponta Do Sinó Lighthouse, and Funana Casa da Cultura restaurant, which showcases artifacts.  

What is there to do around Santa Maria?

Those who decide to rent apartments in Santa Maria enjoy a wealth of entertainment opportunities. These include live performances at the Pacific Conservatory Theatre and wine tours through Presqu'ile, Rancho Sisquoc, Foxen Vineyard, and the Riverbench Vineyard and Winery, among others. History buffs are fascinated by the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum and the Santa Maria Museum of Flight. Santa Maria apartment residents and visitors also have local live music performances available to them.

Any annual festivals or Santa Maria events to know?

The Santa Maria Fairpark has emerged as a hub for festivals that raise the seasonal pleasure of residents and visitors alike. Ongoing events such as the Day of Hope Car Parade, Foundation Hoedown, Santa Maria County Fair, and the Santa Maria Strawberry Festival are among the many family-friendly celebrations everyday people attend. The city also promotes free concerts in the park, where occupants of Santa Maria apartments can walk or ride their bicycles on weekends. Ranked among the most iconic events, the Annual Santa Maria Elks Rodeo has been held for over 80 years.

Where are the nearby vacation spots?

Those who decide to live in Santa Maria apartments place themselves in an enviable location. The commute to some of the nation’s finest beaches is worthwhile. Venice and Santa Monica beaches are less than a four-hour drive. Malibu Beach is just over two hours, depending on the traffic. Traveling to Laguna Beach for a day of surf, sun, sand, and art galleries is an easy day trip. National parks such as Yosemite, Death Valley, and Sequoia National Park are all reasonably distanced for weekend excursions. But California is renowned for its wine trails that are right in the backyard of the Santa Maria apartments.

Where is the best place to move in Santa Maria?

The apartments in Santa Maria tend to be more reasonably priced than many areas in California. That’s largely because the cost of living and housing prices are less expensive. The north end ranks among the prime places to live and rent Santa Maria apartments based on cost. The area trailing through central Santa Maria has a reputation for being hipster trendy.  Neighborhoods in the south of the city tend to be more expensive and upscale.

Santa Maria, CA
Population: 107,408

Ranked #284

in US Census Population by City

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Best Local Schools in
Santa Maria, CA

School data provided by Great Schools

Remember the 3 Rules of Real Estate:
Location, Location, Location!

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Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Maria

What is the current pricing and availability for apartments for rent in Santa Maria, CA?

As of today, September 07, 2026, there are currently 186 available Santa Maria apartments priced from $1,200 to $4,500, with an average monthly rent of $2,539.

What Santa Maria neighborhoods have the most available apartments?

There are 7 neighborhoods in the Santa Maria area with available listings as of today. The three neighborhoods with the most options are Arroyo Grande Nipomo with 494 listings, Outer Santa Maria with 215 listings, and Greater Lompoc with 146 listings.

How much are Studio apartments in Santa Maria?

There are currently 30 Studio Apartments in Santa Maria with rent ranges from $1,200 to $2,035 with an average price of $1,679.

What is the current price range for One Bedroom Santa Maria Apartments for rent?

Today's rental pricing for One Bedroom Apartments in Santa Maria ranges from $1,550 to $2,650 with an average monthly rent of $2,093.

What does renting a Two Bedroom Apartment in Santa Maria cost?

The monthly rent prices of Two Bedroom Apartments currently available in Santa Maria range from $2,000 to $3,503. Today's average rental price for Two Bedrooms here is $2,733.

How expensive are Santa Maria Three Bedroom Apartments?

There are currently 51 Three Bedroom Apartments listings available in Santa Maria on ApartmentHomeLiving.com. The pricing ranges from $2,296 to $3,950 - averaging $3,243 for the location.

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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Exploring Rental Options: Apartments, Townhomes, and Lofts - Oh My!

Written by: Robin Stewart

Where do you see yourself? When you think of home, sweet home, are you in a 3/2 apartment? Dreaming of a tall townhome? Maybe an industrial loft heavy on cool vibes is on your visioning board.

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Practical Tips for Renters: How to Identify a Great Rental and Avoid Red Flags

Written by: Robin Stewart

Renters want to find a great apartment, the right place for them, one that checks all the boxes of location, rental cost, amenities, safety, and more.

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First Apartment Regrets: Real Renters Share What They'd Do Differently

Written by: Robin Stewart

Hindsight is 20/20. Live and Learn. With age comes wisdom. We’re familiar with all those expressions, and all of them apply to lessons first-time renters learn.

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Renters Insurance 101: What It Is, What It Covers, and Why You Need It

Written by: Robin Stewart

Insurance seems to be a part of life. In some states, having insurance is the law, as is the case for automobile insurance. Renters are no exception.