aleab

One bedrooms in Santa Barbara can be pretty expensive, especially in Isla Vista. I haven't heard of a one-bedroom in IV for less than $900 a month, and most places rent would be over $1,000/mo. It is much cheaper to share a place with others. I lived in IV for 2 years, both years in different 3 bedroom tiny apartments with 5 other girls. There are some places that are cheaper, but the more people you live with, the lower rent you'll pay. If you really want to live alone, I would recommend renting a room in Goleta, which is a short busride or bike ride from UCSB. Then you could be paying as low as $600/month. Carpinteria is cheaper and a really, really nice little town, but it's a good 20, 30 mins from UCSB, and even longer in traffic. The lower rent might not be worth the extra you'll be paying for gas?

Santa Barbara doesn't have the greatest public transportation. If you're at UCSB there is a bus loop on campus that can take you downtown or into Goleta, but it can take a long time and can be kind of a pain. I wouldn't say it's absolutely necessary to have a car (the campus is extremely bike friendly and if you live in Isla Vista, campus and little markets are within biking distance), but if you plan on going shopping a lot or wanting to go to bigger grocery stores like Albertson's or Trader Joe's, I would recommend having a car.