salaryRent is higher than in 68% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 5.8 years of household income.
How much money do I need?
To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $79,480 a year. That is $38 an hour at a full-time job.
Is rent cheaper than other California cities?
Yes. Rent here is cheaper than in most of California. It is number 220 of 653 cities from cheapest to most expensive.
How much do households earn in Santa Maria?
Share of households by yearly income. 28.8% of households earn $100,000 or more.
Rent by apartment size in Santa Maria
| Size | Santa Maria | U.S. average |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,612 | $1,338 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,719 | $1,324 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,968 | $1,509 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,415 | $1,698 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,490 | $2,098 |
Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.
How expensive is Santa Maria overall?
Everyday prices in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area are 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8, U.S. = 100).
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024.
Taxes and bills in Santa Maria
Life in Santa Maria
What jobs pay in Santa Maria
| Job | Median pay | Rent / pay |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $170,970 | 13.9% |
| Nurse Practitioner | $165,580 | 14.4% |
| Pharmacist | $162,520 | 14.7% |
| Physician Assistant | $158,360 | 15.1% |
| Software Developer | $158,290 | 15.1% |
| Registered Nurse | $137,360 | 17.4% |
| Dental Hygienist | $135,990 | 17.5% |
| Police Officer | $120,900 | 19.7% |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $120,680 | 19.8% |
| Civil Engineer | $119,980 | 19.9% |
| Operations Manager | $111,390 | 21.4% |
| Elementary School Teacher | $101,030 | 23.6% |
| Accountant | $91,610 | 26.0% |
| Firefighter | $82,250 | 29.0% |
| Market Research Analyst | $79,710 | 29.9% |
| Licensed Practical Nurse | $79,010 | 30.2% |
| HVAC Technician | $78,640 | 30.3% |
| Electrician | $75,290 | 31.7% |
| Carpenter | $75,140 | 31.7% |
| Plumber | $61,000 | 39.1% |
| Truck Driver | $55,910 | 42.6% |
| Medical Assistant | $49,500 | 48.2% |
| Customer Service Representative | $49,080 | 48.6% |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,130 | 50.6% |
| Restaurant Cook | $43,340 | 55.0% |
| Warehouse Worker | $42,560 | 56.0% |
| Retail Salesperson | $37,200 | 64.1% |
| Cashier | $36,600 | 65.1% |
| Server (Waiter/Waitress) | $35,260 | 67.6% |
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Santa Maria?
Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,702 a month less.
Owning assumes a typical $531,700 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $53,170 for the down payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Santa Maria, CA?
Renting in Santa Maria costs a median of about $1,987 a month in 2026, including utilities. The California median is $2,357.
How much do I need to make to live in Santa Maria?
To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $79,480 a year, or $38 an hour at a full-time job.
Is Santa Maria cheap or expensive?
Santa Maria is rated OK: rent takes 26.1% of the typical household income of $91,399. It ranks 220th cheapest of 653 California cities we track.
How much are property taxes in Santa Maria?
The median homeowner in Santa Maria pays $3,435 a year in property taxes, about 0.65% of the median home value.
Is Santa Maria more expensive than the national average?
Overall prices in the metro area are 9% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
How much does a house cost in Santa Maria?
The median home value in Santa Maria is $531,700, about 5.8 times the typical yearly household income.
110,462 people live in Santa Maria. Numbers are typical (middle) values.