Travel Nurse Housing in Santa Barbara, California: Complete Guide
Santa Barbara is a stunning coastal city on California’s Central Coast, known as the American Riviera for its Mediterranean climate, Spanish architecture, and beautiful beaches. Travel nurses find solid demand and one of the most beautiful settings in the country.
Cottage Health operates the primary hospitals in Santa Barbara.
Whether you are heading to Santa Barbara for your first travel nursing assignment or returning for another contract, this guide will help you navigate the housing market, understand what to expect from local costs, and find a neighborhood that fits your needs. Santa Barbara has a lot to offer travel nurses, and a little planning goes a long way toward making your assignment a success.
Major Hospitals and Health Systems
Santa Barbara is home to several major hospitals and health systems that consistently hire travel nurses across a wide range of specialties. Knowing which facilities are in the area helps you plan your housing search around commute times and gives you a sense of where demand is concentrated.
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital — A major hospital with Level I trauma designation, over 500 beds, and comprehensive services.
Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital — A community hospital in Goleta serving the western Santa Barbara area.
Travel nurse demand in Santa Barbara is generally strong, with ICU, ED, med-surg, and OR being among the most frequently requested specialties. Contract availability tends to be strong year-round, though demand typically peaks during year-round demand. If you are flexible on specialty or shift, you will have even more options to choose from in this market.
Best Neighborhoods for Travel Nurses
Choosing the right neighborhood is one of the most important decisions you will make during your Santa Barbara assignment. Where you live affects your commute, your safety, your access to amenities, and ultimately your quality of life for the duration of your contract. Here are the top neighborhoods that travel nurses should consider when searching for housing in Santa Barbara.
Downtown Santa Barbara
The walkable core with State Street, red-tile roofs, and beach proximity.
Pros: Walkable, beach access, dining, architecture, cultural events
Cons: Expensive, parking challenges, tourist crowds
Goleta
A more affordable community west of Santa Barbara near UCSB.
Pros: More affordable, close to Goleta Valley Hospital, practical, university area
Cons: Less charming, car-dependent, student area
Carpinteria
A small beach town southeast of Santa Barbara.
Pros: Beach lifestyle, quieter, community feel, affordable for the area
Cons: Commute to hospitals, small town, limited nightlife
When choosing where to live, prioritize keeping your commute under 30 minutes whenever possible. Car-dependent. Highway 101 is the main corridor. Traffic can be heavy during commute hours. If you are unfamiliar with the area, connect with other travel nurses who have worked in Santa Barbara through Facebook groups or online forums to get firsthand recommendations on neighborhoods.
Average Housing Costs
Housing costs in Santa Barbara are in line with the national average. Here is a general overview of what you can expect to pay for rental housing in the area. Keep in mind that prices vary by neighborhood, season, and the specific amenities included with the unit.
- Studio apartment: $1,400 to $2,200 per month
- One-bedroom apartment: $1,700 to $2,800 per month
- Furnished apartment (travel nurse friendly): $2,100 to $3,500 per month
Santa Barbara is expensive. Goleta and Carpinteria offer relative savings. The housing market is tight year-round.
Many travel nurses in Santa Barbara find their housing through Furnished Finder , which connects healthcare travelers with landlords who specifically offer furnished, short-term rentals designed for assignment-length stays. It is one of the most widely used housing platforms in the travel nursing industry and an excellent starting point for your search. You can also explore local Facebook groups, Craigslist, and extended-stay hotels to compare your options and find the best fit for your budget and preferences.
GSA Stipend Rate
The General Services Administration publishes per diem rates that many travel nursing agencies use as a baseline for calculating housing and meals and incidentals stipends. The GSA rate for the Santa Barbara, CA area varies by time of year, with higher rates typically applying during peak travel seasons and lower rates during off-peak months.
It is essential to check the current GSA per diem rate for your specific assignment dates and location, as rates are updated annually each October and can change significantly from year to year. You can look up the exact rate on the GSA website or ask your recruiter for the figures they are using to calculate your pay package. Keep in mind that your actual stipend may differ from the published GSA rate depending on your agency’s internal pay structure and policies.
Understanding how your stipend fits into your total compensation is key to evaluating any travel nursing contract. For help breaking down the numbers, use our pay calculator to compare packages side by side and see your estimated take-home pay after taxes, stipends, and deductions.
Housing Tips for Santa Barbara
Every city has its own quirks and considerations when it comes to finding and securing travel nurse housing. Here are tips specific to Santa Barbara that will help you avoid common pitfalls, stretch your housing stipend further, and settle in more quickly.
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California cost of living — High state income tax and housing costs. Stipend rates typically reflect this.
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Mediterranean climate — Year-round pleasant weather with average temperatures of 60-75°F.
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Wine country at your doorstep — Santa Ynez Valley wine country is 30 minutes over the San Marcos Pass.
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Spanish colonial architecture — Red-tile roofs and white stucco walls give Santa Barbara its distinctive Riviera character.
For a comprehensive overview of the housing search process from start to finish, including how to spot scams and negotiate lease terms, check out our complete travel nurse housing guide. It covers everything you need to know regardless of which city you are heading to.
Cost of Living Overview
Santa Barbara is one of the most expensive cities on the California coast. Housing costs are the primary driver.
When budgeting for your Santa Barbara assignment, factor in all of your regular expenses beyond rent. Trader Joe’s, Costco, and the Santa Barbara Farmers Market (the largest in California) offer options. Tracking your spending during the first two weeks of your assignment will give you a realistic picture of your monthly costs and help you adjust your budget accordingly.
Things to Do on Days Off
One of the greatest perks of travel nursing is the opportunity to explore a new city on your days off. Santa Barbara has plenty to offer whether you prefer outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or simply relaxing and recharging between shifts.
- Stearns Wharf and Beach — California’s oldest working wharf with shops, restaurants, and sweeping coast and mountain views.
- Santa Ynez Valley Wine Country — World-class wineries 30 minutes from town, made famous by the movie Sideways.
- State Street and Funk Zone — Shopping, dining, and wine tasting rooms along Santa Barbara’s main street and arts district.
- Channel Islands National Park — Take a boat from Ventura to explore pristine islands with hiking, kayaking, and wildlife.
Take full advantage of your time in Santa Barbara. Exploring the local culture, trying restaurants you have never heard of, and visiting nearby attractions are what make travel nursing more than just a paycheck. Many travel nurses find that their days off are when they truly fall in love with a new city.
Final Thoughts
Santa Barbara, California offers travel nurses the American Riviera with Mediterranean climate, stunning Spanish architecture, world-class wine country, Channel Islands access, and strong hospital demand at Cottage Health. With Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital and a well above average cost of living, it is a market well worth considering whether you are a first-time traveler or a seasoned veteran looking for your next destination.
Start your housing search as early as possible, ideally four to six weeks before your assignment start date. The best furnished rentals tend to go quickly, especially in popular neighborhoods near major hospitals. Furnished Finder is an excellent resource for finding travel nurse housing in Santa Barbara, and joining local travel nurse social media groups can give you insider tips and real-time availability updates.
For more resources on finding and securing great travel nurse housing anywhere in the country, explore our complete housing guide. And when you are comparing pay packages for Santa Barbara assignments, our pay calculator can help you break down the numbers and understand your true compensation.
We wish you the best on your Santa Barbara assignment. It is a great place to be a travel nurse.