Where did you find a 2BR for 1250? We pay more than that for a 1BR in center city.

I should have been more clear in my previous post. The 2BR apartment I mentioned before was also in West Philly, near 45th st. Apologies for any confusion.

and I thought I was doing well on $25k/year Been living on $21k-$25k in CC for 5 years now.

I can show you apartments in my building that go for about that much a month. They're smaller than the one I live in and awkwardly laid out, but they exist.

A friend of mine was rattling off listings of several from Philadelphia Weekly yesterday.

If you think you are, you are.

The median household income in Wash West is ~$38,000/year, not that far above the citywide median. It may be students bringing down the figure, but the point is that this neighborhood is not as fabulously affluent as many (maybe even including most of its non-student residents) think.

__________________
Sandy Smith, Exile on Market Street, Philadelphia
“Basically I figure guns are like gays: They seem a lot more sinister and threatening until you get to know a few; and once you have one in the house, you can get downright defensive about them.” --Theresa Neilson Hayden

It's just like anything else. There's nothing I can do about it, so I might as well change my thinking to be happy about it. It makes life easier

Wow, 2BRs? Which building is that?

This one.

The site lists 2BRs as "From $1650," and most of the decent-sized ones, including my own and all the units in the newer building, rent for that amount and up, but there are some smaller units in the old building with awkward layouts that rent for less than that. The guard at the front desk knows what units are available.

Pets are welcome -- it's one of the few large Center City apartment buildings that's pet-friendly.

Everything's electric. The kitchens are spacious for mid-range apartment kitchens, well built and well laid out; appliances are base level.

The maintenance staff is attentive and prompt. Management has a tendency to pinch pennies on equipment and appliances, and at times, this has cost them.

The building has a garage and storage rooms -- tenants pay extra to rent either.

No common rooms or spaces, though, which I would expect in a building that bills itself as a luxury rental, but then again, in today's Center City market, they're not charging luxury rents: I'd say the Cosmo is in the middle of the Center City rental range.

You can't beat the location.

__________________
Sandy Smith, Exile on Market Street, Philadelphia
“Basically I figure guns are like gays: They seem a lot more sinister and threatening until you get to know a few; and once you have one in the house, you can get downright defensive about them.” --Theresa Neilson Hayden