A view of an apartment with vaulted ceilings, pendant lights, wood floors, and stainless steel appliances.

A luxury apartment provides comfort, style, and convenience, setting itself apart from traditional rentals. Imagine stepping into a space where high-end finishes meet exclusive amenities and concierge services that cater to your every need.

It's not just about living; it's about living well.

In this article:

What Does “Luxury” Mean for Apartments?

A dining area at The Juniper in Atlanta overlooks the city.
Apartments.com/The Juniper in Atlanta, GA

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.

These are the touches that make life more comfortable, like a resort-style swimming pool, an on-site fitness center, valet trash service, or a concierge service. Luxury apartments also typically have high-end appliances and finishes throughout, and the spaces are often larger than in traditional apartments.

What to expect from a luxury apartment

The community fitness center in Miami World Tower has a row of treadmills overlooking the city.
Apartments.com/Miami World Tower in Miami, FL

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

Luxury Apartments vs. Regular Apartments

The kitchen at Pinnacle Broadway in San Diego, CA, has modern gray tile backsplash.
Apartments.com/Pinnacle Broadway in San Diego, CA

Some of the differences between luxury and regular apartments are obvious, while others are more subtle. Where luxury apartments might have hardwood floors, a regular apartment might have laminate flooring. A luxury apartment might have stainless steel appliances, while a regular apartment might not.

The more pronounced differences between a luxury apartment community and a regular apartment community are often found in the community features and amenities. Luxury communities might have resort-style or rooftop 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 smaller, less opulent versions.

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.

Why Choose a Luxury Apartment?

The community courtyard at Presidential Towers in Chicago, IL, has a life-size checkers board.
Apartments.com/Presidential Towers in Chicago, IL

From the lobby to the individual units, these upscale communities pay attention to detail. Perks range from valet trash service and balconies with beautiful views to small niceties like complimentary coffee in the clubhouse. Luxury apartments are usually equipped with newer, better-quality appliances, so you likely won’t have to call maintenance to fix your dishwasher or refrigerator.

Most luxury apartment communities also value security. High-end apartment communities often have security cameras, well-lit parking areas, and gated access to the community, elevating residents’ safety. 

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.

How to Find a Luxury Apartment

If you’re looking for luxury living, Apartments.com’s revamped “luxury” filter makes it even easier to find just the right rental.

A new look on luxury

When you search for a luxury rental on other listing sites, you’ll see a page of listings sorted from the highest to the lowest price, and you’ll have to dig to find a rental in your price range with all the features you expect from a luxury apartment.

Apartments.com is changing the game. We’re using the CoStar Building Rating System to evaluate properties based on their amenities and features and rate them on a 5-star scale, with 4- and 5-star buildings considered “luxury.”

This means that when you look for a luxury rental on Apartments.com, you’ll see a page of listings specifically tailored to renters’ needs and expectations.

Find a luxury apartment with Apartments.com

A screenshot of the Atlanta search page on Apartments.com shows the "Find Specialty Housing" quick links at the bottom of the page.

After searching your location, scroll down to the “Find Specialty Housing” section and select the luxury apartments link. Then, narrow your search using our customizable filters to find a place in your price range that has everything you need.

This article was originally published on October 3, 2022, by Alecia Pirulis.

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Chloe Savan

Hi! I'm Chloe, a content writer for Apartments.com. I've lived in three apartments in the past four years, so I know the ropes of renting. When I'm not at my desk writing, I can be found curled up on my couch with a craft in my hands or catching up with my friends over tacos!

Chloe Savan smiling in graduation pictures.
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