Ok the three roomates rent was $300 a month when the show took place right? So if the show took place today how mutch do you think the rent would be today in 2008?

I think at least $800/month, maybe more. Although it wasn't a huge amount of square footage, it was a two bedroom and it had a full kitchen, plus it was California. Sometimes privately owned buildings like that run cheaper, so maybe a tiny bit cheaper, but no less than $700/month, and I think that would be a deal nowadays.

$700-$800 a month sounds about right for todays standards. One thing I always wondered and it was probably unmentioned, did the rent ever increase after seven years? I know Roper always threatened to raise the rent if he evict the roomates, but I wonder.

As I recall from an urban economics course I once took, Santa Monica is (was?) an example of a municipality with rent controls, so it's possible the rent did not increase so long as Janet (the original roomie?) did not move out. That also explains Roper always going on about how much extra the place could fetch if the trio were gone.

I would say 800 a month

Wrong. A two bedroom apartment near the beach in Santa Monica would easily run AT LEAST $1000 a month today. I own an apartment building and the rent for one bedroom is $750 a month.

Wrong. A two bedroom apartment near the beach in Santa Monica would easily run AT LEAST $1000 a month today. I own an apartment building and the rent for one bedroom is $750 a month.

That's alot of money I was thinking it was around $800 dollars, but since you own an apartment building, I think you are right.

As I recall from an urban economics course I once took, Santa Monica is (was?) an example of a municipality with rent controls, so it's possible the rent did not increase so long as Janet (the original roomie?) did not move out. That also explains Roper always going on about how much extra the place could fetch if the trio were gone.
Furley did raise their rent. I believe it went up to $500 at one time.

Furley did raise their rent. I believe it went up to $500 at one time.

Oh, as regards real life, I was just speculating. Irene is the expert on all that here...:)

And as for the show, in the unaired Gelbart pilot the boy's share of the rent was 55 a month.

I do wonder if that $165 was a realistic figure in 1976, as well as 300 around 77-80 or so, and 500 in 1982 or thereabouts....

Wrong. A two bedroom apartment near the beach in Santa Monica would easily run AT LEAST $1000 a month today. I own an apartment building and the rent for one bedroom is $750 a month.
Was it near the beach? I couldn't remember exactly how close to the beach it was so I went lower, but yeah, if it was near the beach you're right then. You can add another $200-$400 just for that. Here in Florida there's a street that runs next to a beach and the apartments on the same side as the beach are $200 more per month than the ones 50 feet away on the other side of the street facing the beach. And they start around $1500/month just for a one bedroom. :crazy:

I use to live in New England and the rent for apartments was very high. In the city of Newburyport Mass rents for apartments there where well over a $1000 a month.Even studio apartments where not very cheap.
Now I live in The Midwest and theres some apartments near I live that only want $350 a month for a 1 bedroom apartment.Dont understand why the rents where I live now are so cheap?

I grew up in the midwest (Missouri too :)) and there are a lot of older buildings that will run cheap, particularly inside the city limits. I'd stay away from anything below about $450 though because those are usually either really really small or just crappy apartments. :lol: But you can get a solid older apartment with no frills (like no pool or clubhouse, no patio or balcony) for around $450-$500/month. I had a great two bedroom walk-up apartment, 1100 sq ft with a garage in a nice neighborhood with regular streets and trees for $495/month when I lived in the midwest. It was an older building, maybe built in the 50's and the apartment was plain but it was really solid and it was really all I needed. I had less problems with that apartment than any other I ever lived in. The garage, which was below the apartment-- so you could get to the car without going outside-- was a huge bonus with the midwest rain and snow, too.

The trio were always mentioning the beach or going to the beach. I got the impression their apartment was not that far.

Remember that episode where Mrs. Roper and Janet went to the beach and were nude when they returned to the building and they hid in the bushes? So, the beach had to be real close.

The beach will always add a good chunk of money in rent. Especially around Santa Monica. I just checked the ads for apartments in that area and a ONE BEDROOM apartment that is TEN BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE BEACH runs for $800 a month. So, I imagine a TWO BEDROOM will be at least $1000...throw in another $200 if it is closer to the beach.

The trio were always mentioning the beach or going to the beach. I got the impression their apartment was not that far.

Remember that episode where Mrs. Roper and Janet went to the beach and were nude when they returned to the building and they hid in the bushes? So, the beach had to be real close.

The beach will always add a good chunk of money in rent. Especially around Santa Monica. I just checked the ads for apartments in that area and a ONE BEDROOM apartment that is TEN BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE BEACH runs for $800 a month. So, I imagine a TWO BEDROOM will be at least $1000...throw in another $200 if it is closer to the beach.
That's about right. I checked out Rent.com, and got the same figures, give or take. A luxury apartment with two baths in that area, near the beach, can go as high as $2,500. :eek: