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Santa Barbara is one of the most expensive student housing markets in California, made even tighter by UCSB's location in Isla Vista — a densely packed student neighborhood technically a separate census-designated place. Most UCSB students live in Isla Vista for freshman and sophomore years, then migrate to Santa Barbara proper or Goleta for the space and slightly lower rents as upperclassmen. The overall market is competitive year-round because Santa Barbara is genuinely one of the most desirable places in California to live, and non-students drive up prices alongside students. Start your search early; I.V. leases often turn over in March for the following fall.
UCSB's de facto off-campus neighborhood — densely packed, walking distance to campus, and built almost entirely around student life. Very affordable per square foot given what you get, but the crowded, party-heavy atmosphere is not for everyone. Most leases turn in June.
More expensive than Isla Vista but with genuine city character, quieter streets, and proximity to beaches and the business district. Requires biking or driving to UCSB. Popular with upperclassmen and grad students.
Adjacent to UCSB on the north side, more suburban and affordable than Santa Barbara. A short bike ride to campus. Popular with students who want more space without downtown Santa Barbara prices.
Here's what you need to know about getting around Santa Barbara.
MTD buses cover the Santa Barbara area, with routes connecting Isla Vista to UCSB, downtown Santa Barbara, and Goleta. The 24X and related routes are most used by students. Transit is functional but Isla Vista and UCSB are close enough to campus that most students bike rather than bus.
Isla Vista is extraordinarily bikeable — the campus to I.V. corridor is one of the most bike-dense areas in California. Santa Barbara's downtown and beachfront are also excellent for biking. The terrain is mostly flat along the coast and in I.V. Biking is the primary student transportation mode here, not transit or cars.
UCSB parking is permit-required and limited. Isla Vista street parking is scarce. Most UCSB students do not bother with cars for campus life — biking is faster and parking costs more than it's worth.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
Santa Barbara is expensive. Isla Vista, despite its density, runs $900-$1,300/mo per person for shared units. Downtown Santa Barbara pushes to $1,400-$1,900/mo. Goleta is the most affordable option at $900-$1,200/mo. All of it costs more than you expect.
Browse student housing near each Santa Barbara-area university.