With an average cost of $5,083 in Santa Barbara, it’s often difficult to find assisted living communities that provide high-quality care at an affordable price. At Caring.com, our mission is to make this process as smooth and painless as possible, and we’ve helped many families along the way.
This guide provides everything you need to quickly compare communities and narrow your search, including 62 unique reviews from residents and our comprehensive database that gives pricing, amenity information, photos and more on the 26 facilities in Santa Barbara.
227 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101
4.4
(14 reviews)
"Overall, Villa Santa Barbara was a very nice and very comfortable place. It's well located. The chef was caring about the different dietary requirements of the residents, and then the activities that they have were well rounded. They would meet a ..."
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3010 Foothill Road, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
4.9
(8 reviews)
"The new manger at Wood Glen has made amazing improvements from trips to go shopping, outstanding food, and fun activities for residents. I have eaten there several times and the changes in the dining room have resulted in tablecloths morning and ..."
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3775 Modoc Road, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
4.3
(13 reviews)
"My mom and stepdad began living in Fernbrook, the assisted living section of Vista del Monte in 2020 right before the lockdown. My stepdad had had a stroke in August 2019 so he needed extra care, and my mom was incredibly sharp in her mid-nineties..."
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2120 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
3.7
(7 reviews)
"Alexander Gardens is great. It's like a bed and breakfast. He stayed there for a few months after he broke his hip. The staff was wonderful and professional. The place was clean and affordable. It literally was like a bed and breakfast. They have ..."
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341 Santa Rosalia Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA, 93111
"Casa Rhoda is a family owned residential assisted care provider located in Santa Barbara California. The Demonteverde family and the dedicated caregivers at each Casa Rhoda home provide what they call “Forever Care.” The RCFE (Residential Care Facili..."
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165 Santa Ana Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA, 93111
"Casa Rhoda is a family owned residential assisted care provider located in Santa Barbara California. The Demonteverde family and the dedicated caregivers at each Casa Rhoda home provide what they call “Forever Care.” The RCFE (Residential Care Facili..."
READ MORECaring's Family Advisors are here to help you with questions about senior living and care options.
126 Santa Ana Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA, 93111
"Casa Rhoda is a family owned residential assisted care provider located in Santa Barbara California. The Demonteverde family and the dedicated caregivers at each Casa Rhoda home provide what they call “Forever Care.” The RCFE (Residential Care Facili..."
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112 Santa Ana Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA, 93111
"Casa Rhoda is a family owned residential assisted care provider located in Santa Barbara California. The Demonteverde family and the dedicated caregivers at each Casa Rhoda home provide what they call “Forever Care.” The RCFE (Residential Care Facili..."
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900 Calle De Los Amigos, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
4.9
(20 reviews)
"When I visited my folks at Valle Verde, the first thing I noticed was the beautiful landscaping and the fragrance of flowers. As I walked to their duplex I was struck by the peaceful ambience. I knew within those first minutes that this was a perf..."
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5486 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA, 93111
4.4
(16 reviews)
"Maravilla looked very nice. There's a lot of activity going on. The staff looked OK, and the person that took me around was very friendly. They explained everything and answered all the questions I had, which is what I was interested in. It's an e..."
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5200 HOLLISTER AVE., Santa Barbara, CA, 93111
5.0
(4 reviews)
"My mother lives in the Heritage House. It is a very high end facility, and the price is pretty expensive. It is small. They had like 60 residents in total. There is a high ratio of health care workers to residents. It is a very nice and quiet plac..."
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2550 Treasure Drive, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
4.8
(5 reviews)
"We went to Samarkand. The staff, the food, and the care for the residents were good. The rooms were real nice. They had all kinds of activities. They had swimming, golf, and tennis, and they take people to concerts. They've got a pretty good progr..."
READ MORE1621 Grand Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA, 93103
5.0
(2 reviews)
"Villa Riviera is more affordable than any other place I had seen. They didn't want an application fee, which was great, so my dad would have saved money just paying a monthly fee. The place looked clean, and some rooms have a beautiful view of the..."
READ MORE698 Zink Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA, 93111
5.0
(1 reviews)
"We’ve been pleased at Abundant Care, but there’s not much to do as there are only 6 residents. They have a musician come in and play piano. They’re very nice people; they very good care of the residents. My husband has not had any negative comment..."
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2045 Elise Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109
5.0
(1 reviews)
"I was impressed with the staff. Highly recommend. ❤️"
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5364 Berkeley Road, Santa Barbara, CA, 93111
5.0
(1 reviews)
"My mother stayed at The Tree Of Life Retirement Homes. It's probably the best option for a board-and-care place. It's for people who have mid- to late-stage dementia. They also have people that are cognitively there, but physically they're not. Th..."
READ MORE1020 CLIFF DRIVE, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109
2.5
(2 reviews)
"My mother spent almost a year here before she passed. The staff was great and very nice. The only thing that bothered me was after her passing are family did not get any kind of condolence from them. A simple card would have been a nice. I receiv..."
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2042 Modoc Road, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101
"Located near Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara California, Abiding Care ia an Assisted Living Home for 6 seniors. Designed to be complete yet affordable, Abiding Care offers a beautiful turn of the Century Craftsman home with 24/7 high quality att..."
READ MORESanta Barbara is considered "The American Rivera" because of its Mediterranean climate and location between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Seniors may enjoy the scenic views of Sterns Wharf, zoological gardens, the Solvang and the Chumash Reservation, and Santa Barbara's lush vineyards.
Seniors will find 25 assisted living facilities, called residential care facilities, in Santa Barbara, with six located in nearby areas like Montecito and Goleta.
Assisted Living costs in Santa Barbara start around $4,958 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of assisted living is $4,000 per month, according to the latest figures from Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey.
It’s important to note that assisted living rates in Santa Barbara and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.
Ojai
$5,829
Carpinteria
$5,600
Camarillo
$5,298
Goleta
$4,995
Santa Barbara
$4,958
US
$4,000
Ventura
$3,906
Oxnard
$3,695
In Santa Barbara and other parts of California, seniors who meet eligibility requirements may qualify for an Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) to make assisted living costs more affordable. Seniors who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may also qualify for an Optional State Supplement (OSS), which further reduces the total monthly costs.
Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Assisted Living in California page.
While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:
For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in California page.
Santa Barbara and the surrounding area are home to numerous government agencies and non-profit organizations offering help for seniors searching for or currently residing in an assisted living community. These organizations can also provide assistance in a number of other eldercare services such as geriatric care management, elder law advice, estate planning, finding home care and health and wellness programs.
To see a list of free assisted living resources in Santa Barbara, please visit our Assisted Living in California page.
Santa Barbara-area assisted living communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all assisted living communities in California are required to follow. Visit our Assisted Living in California page for more information about these laws.
