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Located along the Pacific Coast in central California, Santa Barbara is a vibrant city that’s the seat of Santa Barbara County. Known for its Mediterranean-style architecture complete with red-tile roofs and white stucco buildings, the city is often referred to as the American Riviera. While Santa Barbara is a popular tourist destination, it’s also home to about 446,499 full-time residents, and just over 15% are aged 65 and older. Seniors here enjoy idyllic year-round weather with mild winters and relatively dry, warm summers that are perfect for those seeking relief from snow, rain and humidity. The downtown area is filled with quaint shops and cafes, and there’s dozens of nearby wineries, farms and natural areas.
Santa Barbara meets the needs of older residents who need daily assistance by offering numerous local assisted living facilities. These communities charge approximately $5,300 per month and provide housing along with daily meals, personal care, housekeeping and social and recreational programs. Some facilities have on-site amenities such as beauty salons and swimming pools, and many accommodate small pets.
Through this guide, you can get information on how assisted living rates in Santa Barbara compare to care costs in other cities as well as tips on how you may pay for care and who you can contact for one-on-one help.
Hundreds of thousands of American seniors utilize assisted living, a figure that is only growing. For these seniors, assisted living combines residential housing,assistance in daily activities, and some healthcare. These communities also strive to provide an atmosphere that is comfortable and engaging for their residents… Read More >
COVID-19 restrictions and rules for Assisted Living Facilities are typically set by the state – to see the rules in your state, you can read our guide to Assisted Living in California. Keep in mind that there may be other policies that communities put in place to protect their residents, so you should contact your local community for more information. Additionally, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more – find contact information here.
According to Genworth’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey, on average, assisted living rates in Santa Barbara come in at $5,300 per month.
In Santa Barbara, assisted living facilities charge $5,300 for housing and services. This exceeds the national norm of $4,500 by $800 but is consistent with the California average of $5,250.
Assisted living communities in Santa Barbara charge $5,300 for monthly care, which is moderate compared to other surveyed cities. In Santa Rosa, rates are over $1,700 higher than in Santa Barbara at $7,048, and in San Francisco, rates are $1,000 higher than in Santa Barbara at $6,319. In San Diego, rates are a little higher than in Santa Barbara at $5,475, and in Sacramento, they’re slightly more affordable at $5,225. In Riverside, care costs are $1,300 lower than in Santa Barbara at $4,000.
Note: Data for Santa Barbara was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Santa Maria, was used instead.
Since not everyone can afford to pay for assisted living out-of-pocket, it’s important to find alternative methods to help make assisted living more affordable. Some of these options include:
For more information about your options for making assisted living more affordable, visit our guide to Assisted Living in California.
| Contact | Description | |
| Area Agency on Aging/Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens | (805) 925-9554 | As part of California’s network of Area Agencies on Aging, the Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens is responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing programs and services that promote the health and well-being of seniors in Santa Barbara. Programs administered by the Commission include health insurance counselling, the family caregiver information program and the publication of various resource guides for older adults. |
| Santa Barbara County Veterans Services | (805) 681-4500 | The Santa Barbara County Veterans Services office helps veterans and their families access the county, state and federal benefits they are entitled to. Veteran service officers provide up-to-date information on programs and services for vets, assist with VA benefit claims and help veterans obtain their service records. |
| City of Santa Barbara Active Adults and Seniors Programs | (805) 897-2519 | The City of Santa Barbara’s Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of recreational and social programs geared towards seniors. Programs are largely based at the Louise Lowry Davis Center and the Carrillo Recreation Center, two community centers located in downtown Santa Barbara. |
| Santa Barbara MTD | (805) 963-3366 | The Santa Barbara MTD is the regional public transit service. Seniors aged 62 and older qualify for reduced fares on all routes, and the entire MTD fleet is ADA-compliant and wheelchair accessible. |
| Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County | (805) 964-8857 | The Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County operates a number of programs to support low-income seniors, including the CAC Healthy Senior Lunch Program. This program serves hot, low-cost lunches at 13 locations throughout Santa Barbara county and also provides home-delivered meals for housebound elders. |
Assisted Living Facilities in the Santa Barbara area are required to follow a set of rules and regulations that are determined at the state level. For an overview of those rules and regulations, see the information below. For more specific information, talk with your local community or Area Agency on Aging.
