FY2026 Fair Market Rents — Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA
The HUD-published Fair Market Rents for FY2026 in this area are:
Studio
$2,459
1BR
$2,746
2BR
$3,124
3BR
$4,075
4BR
$4,647
Hours/week at min wage
146 hrs
to afford the 2BR FMR @ $16.50/hr (CA)
National rank
#6
of 661 U.S. metros (top 2% most expensive)
YoY change (2BR)
+3.2%
+$96 vs FY2025 · 5-yr +31.6%
Voucher payment standard
$2,812–$3,436
PHAs set HCV payment at 90–110% of the 2BR FMR
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA
Metropolitan area · CA · View full history · Income limits · LIHTC rents
FY2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedroom Size | Monthly FMR | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (Studio) | $2,459 | $29,508 |
| 1-Bedroom | $2,746 | $32,952 |
| 2-Bedroom | $3,124 | $37,488 |
| 3-Bedroom | $4,075 | $48,900 |
| 4-Bedroom | $4,647 | $55,764 |
Recent 2-Bedroom FMR Trend
FY2020 $2,324 → FY2026 $3,124
| Fiscal Year | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | $2,459 | $2,746 | $3,124 | $4,075 | $4,647 |
| FY2025 | $2,381 | $2,688 | $3,028 | $4,011 | $4,468 |
| FY2024 | $2,330 | $2,651 | $2,994 | $3,996 | $4,528 |
| FY2023 | $2,040 | $2,350 | $2,667 | $3,520 | $4,001 |
| FY2022 | $1,875 | $2,157 | $2,516 | $3,316 | $3,790 |
| FY2021 | $1,728 | $2,015 | $2,374 | $3,137 | $3,589 |
| FY2020 | $1,684 | $1,964 | $2,324 | $3,101 | $3,572 |
View full FMR history back to FY2000 →
FY2026 Income Limits
Area Median Income (AMI): $118,600
| AMI Level | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% AMI (Extremely Low) | $38,300 | $43,750 | $49,200 | $54,650 | $59,050 | $63,400 |
| 50% AMI (Very Low) | $63,750 | $72,850 | $81,950 | $91,050 | $98,350 | $105,650 |
| 80% AMI (Low) | $102,000 | $116,600 | $131,150 | $145,700 | $157,400 | $169,050 |
Full income limits table (all 8 household sizes) →
Affordability Snapshot
2BR Annual FMR
$37,488/yr
FMR as % of Area Median Income
31.6% of AMI
Above 30% — cost-burdened at median income
Income Needed (30% rule, 2BR)
$124,960/yr
$10,413/mo gross income
FY2026 LIHTC Maximum Rents
Maximum gross rents for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit units, by income band. Full LIHTC details →
| AMI Band | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50% AMI Maximum | $1,037 | $1,186 | $1,334 | $1,601 | $1,719 |
| 60% AMI Maximum | $1,245 | $1,423 | $1,601 | $1,921 | $2,063 |
FY2026 HOME Program Rent Limits
Maximum rents for HOME Investment Partnerships–funded units. High HOME rents apply to most assisted units; Low HOME rents apply to the lowest-income set-aside units. Full HOME rent details →
| Limit Type | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High HOME Rent | $1,927 | $1,927 | $1,927 | $1,927 | $1,927 |
| Low HOME Rent | $1,593 | $1,821 | $2,048 | $2,276 | $2,458 |
Compare Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA MSA With Other CA Metros
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