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$86+ Cheap flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego (SBA - SAN)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 1/7. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SBA — SAN
Jan 8 — Jan 151
Thu 1/8
Thu 1/15
1 adult, Economy
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Cheap flight deals from Santa Barbara to San Diego

Cheapest flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego
Explore the most affordable flight options available from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on December 9, 2025.

This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 12/247:30 amSBA - SAN
1 stop3h 00mUnited Airlines
Sun 12/2811:12 amSAN - SBA
1 stop5h 13mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/9$287
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/7. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/255:06 pmSBA - SAN
1 stop2h 51mUnited Airlines
Thu 1/111:12 amSAN - SBA
1 stop5h 13mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/7$292
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 12/235:06 pmSBA - SAN
1 stop2h 51mUnited Airlines
Fri 12/266:15 amSAN - SBA
1 stop3h 50mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/9$305
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/7. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 12/237:30 amSBA - SAN
1 stop3h 00mUnited Airlines
Sat 12/276:15 amSAN - SBA
1 stop5h 44mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/7$319
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/9. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 12/232:20 pmSBA - SAN
1 stop5h 40mSouthwest
Fri 12/262:55 pmSAN - SBA
2 stops9h 20mSouthwest
Deal found 12/9$338
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/6. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 12/285:00 pmSBA - SAN
1 stop6h 00mSouthwest
Sat 1/311:00 amSAN - SBA
1 stop4h 30mSouthwest
Deal found 12/6$339
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/7. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 12/195:06 pmSBA - SAN
1 stop2h 51mUnited Airlines
Sun 12/216:15 amSAN - SBA
1 stop3h 50mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/7$342
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/6. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 12/227:30 amSBA - SAN
1 stop3h 00mUnited Airlines
Fri 12/2611:12 amSAN - SBA
1 stop5h 13mUnited Airlines
Deal found 12/6$347
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/7. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 12/195:00 pmSBA - SAN
2 stops6h 10mSouthwest
Sun 12/218:00 amSAN - SBA
1 stop5h 45mSouthwest
Deal found 12/7$367
This Southwest deal was found by Cheapflights users on 12/8. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Southwest is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 12/811:05 amSBA - SAN
1 stop5h 50mSouthwest
Wed 12/314:50 pmSAN - SBA
1 stop4h 15mSouthwest
Deal found 12/8$382

Find flight deals from Santa Barbara to San Diego

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from Santa Barbara (SBA) to San Diego (SAN). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated December 9, 2025.

Most accurate provider

eDreams
3 stars

Most trusted provider

eDreams
3 stars

Round-trip from

$171
(United Airlines)

One-way from

$86
(United Airlines)

Popular in

July

Cheapest in

September

Average price

$312
Provider with most accurate pricing for Santa Barbara-San Diego flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for Santa Barbara-San Diego flights.
Search Deals
From Santa Barbara to San Diego
Search Deals
One-way flight from Santa Barbara to San Diego
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 7% potential increase in price ($32 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($15 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in December 2025
Search Deals

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated December 9, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego that are best for you.

Fly from

Santa Barbara

Fly to

San Diego

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Santa BarbaraSan Diego

SBA - SAN

SBASAN

Santa Barbara

Thu 1/8

6:00 am-10:35 am

1 stop4h 35m

San Diego

Mon 1/12

9:40 am-2:20 pm

1 stop4h 40m

$171

Santa BarbaraSan Diego

SBA - SAN

SBASAN

Santa Barbara

Sat 1/17

2:17 pm-6:44 pm

1 stop4h 27m

San Diego

Mon 1/19

8:37 pm-11:44 pm

1 stop3h 07m

$171

Santa BarbaraSan Diego

SBA - SAN

SBASAN

Santa Barbara

Tue 1/6

6:00 am-12:49 pm

1 stop6h 49m

San Diego

Tue 1/13

6:15 am-11:55 am

1 stop5h 40m

$171

Santa BarbaraSan Diego

SBA - SAN

SBASAN

Santa Barbara

Wed 2/18

6:23 am-10:24 am

1 stop4h 01m

San Diego

Sun 2/22

11:05 am-5:07 pm

1 stop6h 02m

$174

Santa BarbaraSan Diego

SBA - SAN

SBASAN

Santa Barbara

Mon 3/2

5:48 pm-11:40 pm

1 stop5h 52m

San Diego

Fri 3/6

8:50 pm-12:39 am

1 stop3h 49m

$174

Santa BarbaraSan Diego

SBA - SAN

SBASAN

Santa Barbara

Tue 1/6

6:00 am-2:45 pm

2 stops8h 45m

San Diego

Tue 1/13

3:40 pm-9:10 pm

1 stop5h 30m

$176

Santa BarbaraSan Diego

SBA - SAN

SBASAN

Santa Barbara

Fri 1/16

6:20 am-10:27 am

1 stop4h 07m

San Diego

Sun 1/18

4:00 pm-10:30 pm

1 stop6h 30m

$177

Santa BarbaraSan Diego

SBA - SAN

SBASAN

Santa Barbara

Wed 2/18

6:00 am-12:25 pm

2 stops6h 25m

San Diego

Sun 2/22

8:10 pm-11:30 pm

1 stop3h 20m

$221

Santa BarbaraSan Diego

SBA - SAN

SBASAN

Santa Barbara

Sat 1/17

6:51 pm-11:05 pm

1 stop4h 14m

San Diego

Tue 1/20

4:00 pm-10:30 pm

1 stop6h 30m

$231

Santa BarbaraSan Diego

SBA - SAN

SBASAN

Santa Barbara

Thu 1/8

6:20 am-10:27 am

1 stop4h 07m

$86

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 12/9

Showing 1-10 of 19 results
1
2

Compare providers for flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from Santa Barbara to San Diego in December.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*1 star
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on Santa Barbara-San Diego flights, users find the pricing of eDreams to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. eDreams Users can find the same prices on Santa Barbara-San Diego flight deals on Cheapflights vs. eDreams >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from Santa Barbara-San Diego flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on Santa Barbara-San Diego flights, Cheapflights users trust eDreams the most. eDreams has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for Santa Barbara-San Diego flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

Best time to book a flight from Santa Barbara to San Diego

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to San Diego from Santa Barbara with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from Santa Barbara to San Diego

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Santa Barbara to San Diego (average of $63). Flying from Santa Barbara to San Diego in November is currently the most expensive (average of $158). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SBA to SAN?

Find hourly flight availability from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated December 9, 2025.

Unlike in the evening, when flights are generally more expensive, you can save up to 68% on flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego by exploring options for tickets in the afternoon.

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

Reviews of airlines servicing San Diego

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to San Diego. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to San Diego. Reviews last updated December 9, 2025.
Read through reviews of airlines operating flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego, such as Southwest and United Airlines. Reviews also offer insight into each airline's entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,252 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

7.9

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,252 reviews
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,252 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

7.9

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
9,089 reviews
Southwest
7.9
Good
4,252 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Entertainment

7.5

Crew

8.6

Food

7.0

Comfort

8.0

Overall

7.9

Reviews

1 / 20
8.0
Excellent

Walter,Aug 2025

OAK - SAN

Dozens of flights and I've never seen a row's beverages forgotten. I even went back and asked the attendant to check on them and nothing. I really hope it didn't have something to do with the Black mother with her kid in the row. Otherwise it was a typical Southwest flight, rapid boarding, tolerable leg room.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • How long is the flight from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

    Airlines like Southwest and United Airlines fly from Santa Barbara to San Diego in about 4h 35m. The time it takes to get you to your destination can typically vary by up to 2h 14m. The distance between Santa Barbara and San Diego is about 192 mi. When browsing for deals, the options you’ll see will be for both nonstop flights and flights with stops.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from Santa Barbara to San Diego round-trip?

    Currently priced at $216, Southwest will fly you from Santa Barbara to San Diego and back. In addition to Southwest, many other airlines offer competitively priced options for your trip. Check Cheapflights for deals on United Airlines for as low as $228. Southwest is currently priced 44% below the average price you’ll pay for this route.

  • Can I find deals for flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on Santa Barbara to San Diego flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from Santa Barbara to San Diego by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

  • What is the cheapest month to book a flight from Santa Barbara to San Diego?

    Currently, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from Santa Barbara to San Diego (average of $63). Flying from Santa Barbara to San Diego in November is currently the most expensive (average of $158). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

Traveling to a place near San Diego?

Book flights to San Diego if you plan to visit one of these locations
El Cajon
Chula Vista
Coronado
La Mesa
Poway
Lemon Grove
Julian
National City

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Top 2 airlines flying from Santa Barbara to San Diego

Discover the top 2 airlines that operate flights from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated December 9, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
SouthwestCheapest$216Average$448FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time63%
United AirlinesCheapest$228Average$406FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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