Santa Barbara has 33 state-licensed assisted living communities: 13 larger communities and 20 small residential homes (16 or fewer residents). The median cost of assisted living in California is $7,000 a month (CareScout 2025), against $6,200 nationally.
Most communities don't publish prices. Tell us who you're looking for and a local advisor will send current rates and availability for the assisted living options that fit.
Both are licensed by California as assisted living. Larger communities suit people who want social life and on-site services; small homes suit people who do better with quiet, familiar routines, including many people with dementia. California words these licenses as “Residential Care Elderly” (29), “Rcfe-Continuing Care Retirement Community” (4).
Every assisted living community California licenses in Santa Barbara, from state records. Being listed is not a rating: Lilisity scores only communities with verified interviews (the Top Communities). Communities with verified reviews are listed first, then by size.
33 shown
| Community | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Valle Verde900 Calle de Los Amigos | Large547 residents | Get pricing |
| Covenant Living at the Samarkand2550 Treasure Drive | Large379 residents | Get pricing |
| Casa Dorinda300 Hot Springs Rd. | Large360 residents | Get pricing |
| Vista Del Monte3775 Modoc Road | Large266 residents | Get pricing |
| Maravilla5486 Calle Real | Large131 residents | Get pricing |
| Villa Santa Barbara227 E. Anapamu Street | Large126 residents | Get pricing |
| Cliff View Terrace1020 Cliff Drive | Large72 residents | Get pricing |
| Wood Glen Hall, INC.3010 Foothill Road | Large72 residents | Get pricing |
| Heritage House-an Assisted Living Community5200 Hollister Ave. | Large68 residents | Get pricing |
| Oak Cottage of Santa Barbara Memory Care1820 de la Vina Street | Large50 residents | Get pricing |
| Villa Alamar45 E Alamar Ave | Mid-size43 residents | Get pricing |
| Alexander Gardens2120 Santa Barbara St | Mid-size36 residents | Get pricing |
| Santa Barbara Memory Care325 W Islay Street | Mid-size36 residents | Get pricing |
| Mission Villa321 West Mission Street | Small home15 residents | Get pricing |
| Above All Care, LLC4532 Nueces Drive | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Abundant Care5506 Somerset Drive | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Abundant Care II698 Zink Avenue | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Abundant Care III4589 Auhay Drive | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Abundant Care IV5421 Berkeley Road | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Casa Cambria Way803 Cambria Way | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Casa Naomi855 N. Patterson Ave. | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Casa San Miguel1403 San Miguel Ave. | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Casa Santecito717 Santecito Dr. | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Casa St. James2215 St. James Drive | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Comforts of Home Senior Care, INC.16 San Dimas Avenue | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Country Garden's Home Care for the Elderly778 Ribera Drive | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Divine Care for the Elderly4866 Frances Street | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Edelweiss Home294 Pebble Hill Drive | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Homecare Casa Linda, INC.4744 Avalon Avenue | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Lotus Villa924 Via Los Padres | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Mesa Care2424 Calle Soria | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Tree of Life Retirement Homes, INC.5364 Berkeley Road | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
| Your Home, RCFE128 San Rafael Avenue | Small home6 residents | Get pricing |
The median cost of assisted living in California is $7,000 a month ($84,000 a year), above the national median of $6,200. That’s CareScout’s 2025 survey, collected July to November 2025. Small residential homes often cost less than larger communities, though care needs, room type and services move the price more than the building does.
Medicare does not pay for assisted living. People pay from savings and income, long-term care insurance, or VA Aid and Attendance (up to $29,093 a year for a veteran in 2026), and some qualify for Medicaid help with care costs at communities that accept it. Who actually pays for long-term care.
Free tools: how long will the money last? · home care or assisted living? · VA Aid and Attendance estimator
From 22,911 concerns residents and families raised in Senior Living Alliance phone interviews, the most common are about dining, housekeeping and hearing back from management.
All 8 tour questions, with a free printable tour card (PDF).
California publishes licensing records, and in most cases inspection or complaint reports, for every community on this page. Look up any community on the state’s site: ccld.dss.ca.gov. Ask the community for its most recent inspection report too; they have to keep it.
California licenses 33 assisted living communities in Santa Barbara as of September 2026: 13 larger communities and 20 small residential homes of 16 or fewer residents, with about 2,315 licensed spots in all.
The median cost of assisted living in California is $7,000 a month (CareScout 2025), compared with $6,200 nationally. Prices vary with the room, the level of care and the community, so ask each one for its current rate sheet, or ask a Lilisity advisor for current prices.
Medicaid doesn't pay rent or meals in assisted living. Most states offer a Medicaid waiver or program that can pay for care services at participating communities for people who qualify; not every community takes it, so ask each one. California's Medicaid agency or your local Area Agency on Aging can tell you what's available.
California publishes its licensing records at ccld.dss.ca.gov. You can also ask any community for its most recent state inspection report.
One call covers which communities have openings, what they cost and which fit your parent's needs and budget.
