What Is a Luxury Apartment?

A luxury apartment is a rental that provides comfort, style, and convenience. Luxury apartments usually have enhanced apartment features, like high-end finishes, upscale amenities, and extra services, such as a concierge service or valet trash. Luxury apartments are often larger than traditional apartments and have higher monthly rents.  

In this article we’ll cover a range of topics concerning luxury apartments, such as:

• What makes an apartment luxury?
• What is the difference between luxury and regular apartments?
• How much does a luxury apartment cost?
• Why should you choose a luxury apartment?
• How to find a luxury apartment in your area

What Makes an Apartment Luxury?

A luxury apartment is one that provides a high level of comfort, security, and elegance. Luxury apartment communities go above and beyond to deliver high-quality amenities, services, and design. Luxury apartments also typically have high-end appliances and finishes throughout, and the spaces are often larger than traditional apartments.

While everyone defines luxury differently and the features and amenities that are considered luxury will vary between communities, here are some common characteristics of luxury apartments.

High-end in-unit features

• Open floor plan
• Hardwood floors
• High ceilings
• Large windows that allow for maximum natural lighting
• Elegant light fixtures
• Smart home features
• Countertops made from marble, quartz, or granite
• Stainless steel kitchen appliances
• A fireplace
• In-unit washer and dryer
• Walk-in closets
• Patio or balcony

Community features

• Resort-style swimming pool
• Outdoor grilling stations with high-end grills and picnic areas
• Clubhouse with a game room or lounge
• Fitness center with good quality equipment
• On-site dog park or pet spa (if the community is pet-friendly)
• Property-wide high-speed Wi-Fi
• Valet trash service
• Co-working spaces
• Landscaped green spaces
• EV charging stations
• Gated entrances

What is the Difference Between Luxury and Regular Apartments?

Some of the differences between luxury and regular apartments are obvious, while others are more subtle. Below are some of the key differences between a luxury apartment and a regular apartment.

Luxury apartment communities are also more likely to feature Matterport 3D tours in their listings on Apartments.com. According to CoStar Group data, about 76% of luxury listings on Apartments.com have Matterport 3D tours, while only about 47% of standard listings have Matterport 3D tours. Matterport 3D tours give you a closer look at luxury communities, making it easier to compare your options before you even schedule an in-person tour.

How Much Does a Luxury Apartment Cost?

Living in a luxury apartment with high-end finishes and amenities can come at an extra expense, but some renters believe paying a little more for a comfortable living experience is worth it. An Apartments.com renter tradeoff report found that 22 percent of Gen Z renters and 19 percent of Millennial renters would spend over 60 percent of their income on rent and utilities combined to live where they want.

While luxury apartments typically cost more than other rentals, the peace of mind that comes with renting an apartment in a secure, well-maintained community can make it worth the extra expense. Here are some examples of the difference between average rents and average luxury apartment rents in major cities across the United States.

Source: Apartments.com & CoStar Group

If you want to live in a luxury apartment but the available rentals in your area are out of your budget, there are still cities where you can find luxury apartments for less.

Why Choose a Luxury Apartment?

Luxury apartment communities pay more attention to detail, meaning they have unique perks that regular apartments don’t have. Some of those perks can include:

• Valet trash service
• Balcony with a view
• Complimentary coffee in the clubhouse
• High-end appliances
• Security cameras
• Well-lit parking lots/garages
• Gated access

These appliances can help you have a more comfortable and safe apartment living experience, making the higher monthly rent payment well worth the cost in certain situations.

How to Find a Luxury Apartment on Apartments.com

If you’re looking for luxury living, Apartments.com’s advanced search filters make it easy to find a luxury apartment that works for you.

After searching your location, scroll down to the “Find Specialty Housing” section at the bottom of the search results page. Then, select the “Luxury Apartments in (blank)” link. For this example, we’re using Atlanta. After selecting this, only the luxury apartments in the area that chose to search in will appear, making it easy to find a luxury apartment that works for you and your budget.

This article was originally published on October 3, 2022, by Alecia Pirulis and has been updated.