We combed through September 2018 rental data on Apartment Guide and rent.com to find the most expensive unit available – a 2-bed/2.5-bath penthouse at 3033 Wilshire in Koreatown that was going for a cool $36,593 a month!
Location, location, location
Image courtesy of https://www.rent.com/california/los-angeles-apartments/3033-wilshire-4-100060537
As they say, location is everything so let’s start off there. If you walk in any random direction from the building, you’ll eventually find the Original Farmer’s Market, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Dodgers Stadium, Staples Center or L.A. Live within a few blocks.
You may spend a small fortune on rent every month, but your central position in Koreatown means you’re never further than 15 minutes by bike anywhere on the east side.
Upgrades galore
While the 3033’s 1-bed/1-bath 794 square-foot unit is cute (and priced to move at just $6,825 a month!), it doesn’t have some of the amenities of the penthouse.
Each penthouse comes turnkey with a built-in wine cooler, Bosch appliances, stainless steel Kohler fixtures, custom lighting effects and Nest climate control hardware. They’ll even furnish the place if you want them to.
Besides the sleek, post-modern design, a penthouse resident has a 24-hour concierge, a full fitness center, a spa, dry cleaning service, a golf simulator range and priority access to the Sky Lounge – a rooftop pool area designed with dim lighting and fire pits surrounded by minimalist furniture.
Image courtesy of https://www.rent.com/california/los-angeles-apartments/3033-wilshire-4-100060537
Breaking down the finances
So, you’re probably asking yourself who can afford such an extravagant apartment. Experts recommend you spend no more than a third of your pre-tax income on housing. That means you’ll need to bank about $1.3 million each year to comfortably afford living here.
More affordable(?) options
We get it, unless you’re a movie star or big-time executive, you’re probably not making more than a million – even in La La Land.
And even if you are feeling like an impulse buy, before you clear out your bank account, at the time of publication, the $36k penthouse was off the market.
But if you’re set on that ultra lux Southern California lifestyle, you have plenty of other much more maybe affordable options.
- Ten Thousand – $28,300/month
- 3033 Wilshire – $25,176/month
- Circa LA – $23,515/month
- HillCreste Apartments – $23,233/month
- Palazzo East – $23,047/month