Welcome to Curbed Comparisons, where we explore what you can rent or buy for a certain dollar amount in various LA ’hoods. We’ve found five rentals within $150 of today’s price, $4,000. Vote for your favorite below!
Palms
This brand new two-bedroom, two-bath on Venice Boulevard is centrally located near the restaurants and bars in downtown Culver City. The unit has a washer and dryer, a balcony, and a handsome kitchen with a subway tile wall and dark gray cabinets. Just above Mediterranean restaurant Jaffa Palms, the unit is renting for $4,150.
Arts District
There’s plenty of space to spread out in this cavernous loft at Santa Fe and Second. In its 1,169 square feet, the dwelling holds polished concrete floors, large windows, and exposed air ducts. The building has a pool and allows cats and small dogs but only off-street parking. Stumbling distance to Angel City Brewery, Wurstkuche, and Cafe Gratitude, the studio unit is renting for $3,900.
Fairfax
Newly remodeled but holding onto vintage flair, this generously-sized two-bedroom, one-bathroom boasts a fireplace, arched entryways, wall nooks, refinished hardwood floors, in-unit laundry, and new kitchen appliances. The 1,900-square-foot apartment is walkable to The Grove and Melrose Avenue. It’s available for $3,995.
Hancock Park
The grandest apartment building in Los Angeles, El Royale opened in 1929 and has been home the rich and famous ever since. It’s unclear from the listing photos which unit is available, but you can’t go wrong—the building is as glamorous as ever. Per the listing, all of the apartments contain period details, such as ornate moldings, parquet oak wood floors, and tiled bathrooms. Cats and small dogs are allowed, and parking is available in a detached garage. A one-bedroom, one-bathroom is available for $3,950.
Santa Monica
A unit in the San Vicente Tower is available, just a walk away from Ocean Avenue to the scenic Palisades Park-bike path. The one-bedroom, one-bath features a balcony, hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and an in-unit washer and dryer. Its building has a rooftop lounge with stunning views of the beach. It’s renting for $4,150.
Comments
That Arts District Loft looks terrible. I actually enjoy lofts a lot, but more so when they have an inviting feel to them. That just looks like a room with a fridge and stove slapped in the middle. It looks so cold and depressing. Imagine waking up to cold concrete floors everyday. I enjoy timber lofts that look livable lol.
By ewilliams1911 on 10.17.19 11:12am
I think it’s possible to add warmth to a raw space through furnishings, but the real problem with that loft is that most of the windows look directly out on a brick wall. Ain’t nothin’ you can do about that!
By SaimaS on 10.17.19 12:32pm
$3900 for one bathroom with a nasty, old tub…and NO PARKING! I used to live in the Art’s District, and good fucking luck with that. Y’all here can toot the pipe dream of, "But it’s close to transit and soooo walkable" as much as you want… no one paying that much wants to take our dirty public transit, and walking around the corner will lead you right into Skid Row.
By EmilyRugburn on 10.17.19 2:05pm
So I thought for sure that the El Royale would be right up my alley, but after looking at the unit shots, not so much. It’s more a study in how much you DON’T get for your money. Seems like most of that $4000 is going towards those gilded public spaces. So then I kind of fell for the Santa Monica unit with it’s floor to ceiling windows, views, great kitchen and kick-ass shower. Of course my commute to West Hollywood would become a daily nightmare. So it looks like Fairfax is the one – centrally located, TWO bedrooms, in-unit laundry, etc. However parking spaces are listed as "available" which no doubt means "for an additional cost", and storage available "upon request" which also sounds like there’s an upcharge lurking there somewhere…..and then there’s that fireplace (can we talk?).! Oh well, just like "House Hunters" on TV, there never seems to be a perfect one.
By Magneto II on 10.17.19 2:30pm
I loved them all but Palms. I see that the bitching has commenced.
I lived in a loft space very similar to Arts in another city, and I filled it with Mid-Century (20 years ago), and people were always hanging out, because it felt "so welcoming." I like having an empty canvas, sometimes.
Fairfax would likely be a top choice, due to location. Farmers Market – ahhhhhhhh.
I know for many it’s only commuting and parking, which is life. I became a master at backroads circumventing there, years ago. I realize how much the population has grown since then. SO, you pick the one that suits your own needs best, not everyone’s.
By Necco on 10.17.19 2:38pm
That Arts District post is a joke. I live in the AD, and know plenty of other units that are less for just as much square footage—if not a little under. But I guess who wouldn’ t want a kitchen and bathroom that looks like a used doctor’s office with views of the adjacent building’s brick wall. Fluorescent lighting that looks like a doctor’s office is a nice touch too.
By mthierry on 10.17.19 3:01pm
These places are jokes… $4K goes farther in the Marina…
By WestsideCoastal on 10.17.19 3:48pm
No love for the Arts District as usual. There are still a lot of misconceptions about it and they are mentioned here. it is immensely walkable between 3rd street – one side of the action – and 7th Street on the other end. And it is expanding beyond that (See Soho House). It has one of the best restaurant scenes in town.
Loft living is not for everyone. I own one, lived in it for 6 years and now also rent it out. The concept of a loft is industrial, open space, bare. So you can use it as a canvas (Literally). This one does not look bad to me as it has a lot of desirable elements: Windows/ corner unit, concrete floor and ceiling. I understand that this space in particular can cause a bit of concrete overload and there are certainly other units with lots of red bricks and wood floors. So the choice is yours. However, I think it is time stop bashing the Arts District. It is getting more popular, quite expensive and the real estate development projects are off the charts (Including a few of the most significant projects such as 6th Street bridge and park or developments by Bjarke Ingels and Herzog & de Meuron). Cool if it is not your thing, but it is a pretty unique spot in LA.
By Mike Baum on 10.17.19 6:17pm
I too have lived in a loft and it had much more of an inviting feel. I don’t want to wake up and put my bare feet on concrete. That bathroom is terrible and so it that kitchen. There many lofts that are much better than that.
By ewilliams1911 on 10.18.19 9:22am
These are basically NYC rents… totally bananas!
By corner soul on 10.17.19 7:59pm
Now, am I mistaken here or is that a very small kitchen for a $4,000 a month there in the El Royale?
By RobertFiore1 on 10.18.19 12:37am
"Forced air: Other"
lol yikes
By greybear9 on 10.18.19 10:10am
I would like to take a poll and see how many people would admit they want to rid Los Angeles of the low and moderate income people? See "Killing Hi Point" https://wp.me/P57D2C-Ib
By GJJ3000 on 10.19.19 6:07pm
Time to move to another city. You cant give away that much of your income.
By ByeByeLA on 10.20.19 7:42pm