Santa Barbara vs San Luis Obispo: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 116 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 3,525 vs 3,588 hours a year. Santa Barbara has the higher Sunshine Score in 6 of 12 months; the other 6 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
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At a glance
| Santa Barbara | San Luis Obispo | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,525 | 3,588 |
| Sunniest month | July (100/100) | June (99/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 73/100 | 65/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 100/100 | 99/100 |
| Rain / year | 404 mm | 401 mm |
| Warmest sea | 21°C / 70°F | 17°C / 63°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
Santa Barbara vs San Luis Obispo month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara | San Luis Obispo | Santa Barbara | San Luis Obispo | Santa Barbara | San Luis Obispo | Santa Barbara | San Luis Obispo | |
| January | 70 | 57 | 18° | 16° | 90 | 79 | 15° | 15° |
| February | 64 | 58 | 17° | 16° | 78 | 69 | 15° | 15° |
| March | 81 | 66 | 19° | 17° | 63 | 62 | 15° | 15° |
| April | 95 | 79 | 20° | 18° | 27 | 29 | 15° | 14° |
| May | 98 | 97 | 23° | 20° | 11 | 14 | 16° | 15° |
| June | 99 | 99 | 26° | 23° | 3 | 6 | 18° | 15° |
| July | 100 | 99 | 28° | 24° | 2 | 4 | 20° | 17° |
| August | 100 | 99 | 28° | 25° | 1 | 3 | 21° | 16° |
| September | 99 | 99 | 28° | 25° | 3 | 6 | 21° | 16° |
| October | 96 | 96 | 25° | 22° | 22 | 22 | 19° | 17° |
| November | 94 | 86 | 21° | 19° | 32 | 34 | 15° | 13° |
| December | 65 | 58 | 17° | 16° | 72 | 73 | 14° | 13° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Santa Barbara · Feb Santa Barbara · Mar Santa Barbara · Apr Santa Barbara · May even · Jun even · Jul even · Aug even · Sep even · Oct even · Nov Santa Barbara · Dec Santa Barbara.
When to pick which
- November–February: Santa Barbara (average score 73/100 vs 65). Daytime highs are similar (18°C vs 17°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Santa Barbara (average score 91/100 vs 81). Santa Barbara is the warmer, around 21°C daytime highs vs 18°C.
- June–August: too close to call — Santa Barbara averages 100/100, San Luis Obispo 99/100. Santa Barbara is the warmer, around 27°C daytime highs vs 24°C.
- September–October: too close to call — Santa Barbara averages 98/100, San Luis Obispo 98/100. Santa Barbara is the warmer, around 27°C daytime highs vs 24°C.
Sea temperature
Santa Barbara's sea gets warmer: 21°C / 70°F at its peak vs 17°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Santa Barbara about 2 months a year, San Luis Obispo never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Santa Barbara weather by month · San Luis Obispo weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Santa Barbara vs Los Angeles · Santa Barbara vs Ontario · San Luis Obispo vs Fresno · San Luis Obispo vs Monterey · all head-to-heads