A luxury apartment provides superior comfort, convenience, and style to traditional rentals. Put on your slippers, grab some champagne and caviar, and let’s talk luxury!
In this article:
- Why Choose a Luxury Apartment?
- Pros and Cons of Selecting a Luxury Apartment
- Luxury Apartments vs. Regular Apartments
- Advantages of Luxury Apartment Living
- What You Can Expect Living in a Luxury Apartment
- What Exactly Does “Luxury Apartment” Mean?
- How to Find a Luxury Apartment
Merriam-Webster defines luxury as something that adds pleasure or comfort but isn’t absolutely necessary. A luxury apartment provides high-end features and amenities that are designed to make a renter feel pampered. These are the touches that make life more pleasurable, such as a resort-style swimming pool, an on-site spa or fitness center, valet trash, and even laundry service. Luxury apartments usually have high-end appliances and finishes throughout, and the spaces are often larger than in traditional apartments.
Swimming pool at the Zen Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA
Why Choose a Luxury Apartment?
There are a variety of reasons to choose a luxury apartment, but two important factors are location and safety. These high-end apartments tend to be built in areas with growing economies and strong infrastructure. Whether downtown or in an upscale suburban community, these areas are often where the action is, from restaurants and shops to attractions and nightlife.
Most luxury apartment communities put an emphasis on safety. You might find communities with security cameras, well-lit parking areas with assigned parking, on-site security, and alarm systems. Many are gated, as well. This level of safety is often worth the cost, especially for those who live alone and want the extra security.
Another reason people choose luxury apartments is the overall look of the community. From the lobby to the outdoor amenities to the apartment itself, these upscale communities pay attention to detail. The perks range from gourmet kitchens and balconies with beautiful views to small niceties, such as complimentary coffee in the clubhouse and valet trash service.
Fire pits in the lounge area of Jasper apartments in San Francisco, CA
Pros and Cons of Selecting a Luxury Apartment
The pros of choosing a luxury apartment over other types of rentals are obvious: great location, high level of security, upscale amenities, and pampering perks. But what are the cons?
The biggest con to choosing a luxury apartment is price. All those features, from the opulent fitness center to your spa-like bathroom, come at a high cost. Overall, luxury apartments can cost up to 40 percent more than a traditional apartment. That translates from a few thousand dollars a month to tens of thousands, depending on where you rent and what features are included. For example, a luxury apartment in Atlanta ranges from around $2,000 per month to over $30,000 per month. In Los Angeles, a luxury apartment starts at around $3,000 per month and climbs to over $30,000 per month. In some cities, high-end apartments are a bit more affordable. For example, a luxury apartment in Raleigh, NC starts at around $1,500 per month and climbs to around $14,000 per month.
It's possible to save some money when renting a luxury apartment. For example, if you pay for a gym membership, you can cut that expense out and take advantage of the apartment community’s fitness center. If you typically buy coffee on your way to work every morning, you could save that cost and grab coffee from the complimentary service in the clubhouse. A chef’s kitchen, complete with high-end appliances, might entice you to cook at home rather than ordering in or dining out.
All in all, if the rent fits into your budget without straining it and your goal is to remain in your apartment for the long term, then a luxury apartment might be worth the extra cost. However, if the higher rent will put too much stress on your budget, or your goal is to save money for a house or other major purchase later on, you might be better off finding a more affordable apartment and adding your own touches of luxury. After all, in the words of Oscar de la Renta, “luxury isn’t about buying expensive things; it’s about living in a way where you appreciate things.” If you love your apartment, then it’s luxurious to you.
City skyline view from the balcony of the Huntley apartments in Atlanta, GA.
Luxury Apartments vs. Regular Apartments
Some of the differences between luxury and regular apartments are obvious, while others are more subtle. For example, a luxury apartment might have hardwood floors while a regular apartment might have laminate flooring. The space in a high-end apartment tends to be larger than in a standard apartment, and it might provide spaces like a balcony or patio. A typical apartment could have standard appliances while a luxury apartment has stainless steel appliances. The grounds of a high-end apartment may be tended to a little more carefully than in a standard apartment community.
Luxury communities might have resort-style swimming pools and large fitness centers with the latest equipment. A standard apartment community might not have a pool or fitness center, or they might provide less opulent versions. The clubhouse of an upscale apartment community might be equipped with an elegant kitchen or even an outdoor patio with a high-end grill station. A standard apartment complex might also provide a clubhouse, but it may not be as fancy or contain all the perks offered in the luxury community.
While some standard apartment communities are gated, luxury apartment communities might be gated with security guards, cameras, extra lighting, or other features to enhance the overall safety of the complex. You’re more likely to find a security system in your high-end apartment, as well.
View from the rooftop lounge at the Hanover Soma West in San Francisco, CA
Advantages of Luxury Apartment Living
Extra security and peace of mind are the main advantages of choosing a luxury apartment. Convenience also can’t be overlooked. One of the main goals of many luxury apartment communities is to make life as convenient as possible for residents, such as providing laundry service so residents don’t have to worry about washing and drying clothes. You might feel less stress living in a high-end apartment community since you’ll have a stronger sense of safety and security than you might have in a traditional apartment. You might find your opulent surroundings are relaxing, especially if you have amenities like a Jacuzzi tub or a quiet balcony with an incredible view.
An often-overlooked perk of luxury apartment communities is less need for maintenance. Since high-end apartments are often built with better materials and kitchens are equipped with top-of-the-line appliances, you likely won’t have to call maintenance very often.
An elegant apartment with gourmet kitchen at ParkLine Miami in Miami, FL
What You Can Expect Living in a Luxury Apartment
While everyone defines luxury differently and the features and amenities that are considered luxury will vary between communities, here are some of the things to look for:
High-end interior features
- Countertops made from high-quality materials like marble, quartz, or granite
- Large windows that allow for maximum natural light
- High ceilings and high-end flooring like hardwoods
- A neutral and stylish color scheme throughout the apartment
- Elegant light fixtures
- A fireplace
- In-unit washer and dryer included
- Smart home features
- Apartment security system
On-site amenities
- Resort-style swimming pool
- Outdoor grilling stations with high-end grills/picnic areas
- Clubhouse with full kitchen
- Fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment
- If the apartment is pet-friendly, look for an on-site dog park or pet spa
- Property-wide high-speed Wi-Fi
- Laundry service
- Valet garbage service
- Co-working spaces with perks like a coffee bar
- Landscaped green space like a courtyard or rooftop deck
- A game room or lounge
- Car-charging stations
Room size
- Carefully planned out floor plans that provide easy flow from room to room
- Walk-in closets
- Large bathrooms with walk-in showers and jetted tub
- Outdoor space like a patio or balcony
High levels of security
- Gated entrance
- On-site security
- Well-lit parking areas
- Security cameras
Great views
- Floor-to-ceiling windows
- Balconies and patios
- Great views, such as mountains, a park, the city skyline, or a waterfront view
Expensive to rent
- Rents around 40 percent higher than average
- Cost depends on location and amenities
Pet-washing station at the Alexan Waterloo in Austin, TX
What Exactly Does “Luxury Apartment” Mean?
To sum it up, a luxury apartment is one that provides a high level of comfort, security, and elegance. While they cost more, the peace of mind that comes with renting a highly secure, well-appointed apartment might make it worth the extra expense. Luxury apartments go above and beyond to make all their residents feel pampered, even the four-legged ones (if the community is pet-friendly).
As you visit these properties, look for one that provides all the features you consider to be luxurious. Remember: the definition of luxury is something that provides pleasure and comfort. That could mean different things to different people, so find the features and amenities that make you feel indulged.
Rooftop swimming pool and outdoor kitchen at the Avalon 555 President in Baltimore, MD
How to Find a Luxury Apartment
If you’re ready to find a luxury apartment, you can use the filters on Apartments.com to find just the right one. After typing in your search area on desktop, navigate to “More” at the top of the screen. Scroll down to the “Affordability” section and select “Luxury.” Select “Done” to return to your search page.
On mobile, type in your search area. At the top of your screen, swipe through the pills at the top until you come to “Affordability.” Click on it and select “Luxury,” then click “Done.”
Now you should see a list of luxury apartments available in your area. View the photos, check out the features and amenities, and view floor plans. You’re on your way to living the life of luxury!
