Apartments near Santa Monica College with Laundry

Finding SMC apartments with laundry is one of the highest-leverage filters in a Santa Monica College housing search. Rent and commute minutes matter, but laundry access decides whether weeknights stay manageable after studio classes, lab blocks, and work shifts. Shared building machines, washer-dryer pairs onsite, and true in-unit laundry each change your weekly calendar in different ways—and Santa Monica’s coastal dampness makes dryer quality more than a luxury detail.

This refreshed guide explains how to compare laundry setups on UniShack listings, then features six live off-campus homes that already advertise laundry amenities. The mix spans in-unit co-living on Barrington, bikeable Sunset Park and downtown Santa Monica buildings, ocean-adjacent washer/dryer access, and a Mar Vista value option with shared facilities. Use the comparison table as a planning snapshot, then verify live rents and availability on each apartment page before you tour.

If you are still browsing the full market, start on the Santa Monica College apartments hub and filter for laundry early so you do not fall in love with a unit that forces weekly laundromat runs.

How to choose laundry-friendly apartments near SMC

Clarify the laundry type you actually need. Shared laundry facilities work well when the room is secure, well lit, and sized for the building’s peak Sunday night demand. Washer/dryer onsite often means dedicated machines in a common laundry room that residents treat as part of the lease package. In-unit laundry is worth prioritizing for roommate households, irregular schedules, or anyone who wants to avoid hallway trips after dark.

Confirm cost and control. Ask whether machines are included in rent, whether you pay per load, and whether apps or cards add fees. For shared rooms, ask about hours, out-of-order response times, and guest rules. For in-unit setups, confirm the appliances stay with the apartment and listen for vibration through floors during a tour.

Stack laundry against commute and budget. Main Campus sits near Pico Boulevard, so walkable Pico and nearby corridors win on total time when laundry never leaves the building. Bikeable Broadway, Lincoln, Centinela, and downtown Fifth Street options trade a few minutes of pedaling for different rent bands. Drive-oriented West LA addresses can still work if parking is reliable and you avoid peak congestion. When rent is the tight constraint, weigh near-campus versus affordable Santa Monica College apartments before you pay a premium solely for machines.

Tour with laundry on your checklist. Check machine condition, dryer heat, detergent storage, and whether the laundry area feels safe after dark. In coastal Santa Monica, strong dryers matter—damp towels and gym clothes take longer to air-dry in marine layer weather.

Finally, match floor plan to laundry habits. Solo renters who wash less often can thrive with well-maintained shared facilities. Roommate groups running multiple loads per week usually recover the cost of in-unit laundry through time saved. If you are comparing a full lease against a private bedroom in a furnished shared home, the full apartment vs private room tradeoff often includes laundry access as a quiet deal-breaker.

Featured apartments with laundry near Santa Monica College

These six listings all advertise laundry (facilities, washer/dryer onsite, or in-unit) and sit within a short bike or drive of Main Campus. Rents change, so treat ranges as planning anchors and confirm live details on each UniShack page.

Comma Barrington

Comma Barrington at 1503 S Barrington Ave is about a 12-minute drive to Main Campus and stands out for true in-unit laundry inside furnished shared homes. Listed room rates start around $1,350–$1,650 per bedroom across four- to five-bedroom layouts—useful if you want laundry convenience without leasing an entire two-bed alone.

The listing emphasizes flexible move-ins, shared common areas, gated entry, high-speed internet, parking, and community extras like a clubhouse and rooftop. For SMC students who prioritize machines inside the home and a co-living budget, Comma Barrington is the in-unit contrast to larger buildings with only shared laundry rooms. Verify which bedroom rate applies to your move-in month and confirm parking rules if you keep a car on Barrington.

2643 Centinela

2643 Centinela at 2643 S Centinela Ave sits in Sunset Park—about an 11-minute bike to Main Campus—with listed rents roughly $2,299–$2,650. Laundry facilities and the laundry amenity tag sit alongside garage parking, a pool, and controlled access, so chores and weekend downtime share the same property.

The building’s bikeable distance makes it a strong pick when you want laundry without a daily drive, and the mid-band rent can work for roommate pairs or solo renters comparing one-beds. Tour the laundry room for machine count and dryer heat, then ride the Centinela corridor once at class-change time so the 11-minute estimate matches your route.

123 California Ave

123 California Ave is a Santa Monica address about an 8-minute drive from Main Campus, with listed rents spanning roughly $2,298–$3,698. On-site laundry facilities plus secure entry keep weekly washing inside a smaller complex rather than a high-rise amenity stack.

The featured one-bedroom layout suits students who want a quieter footprint near cafes and shops, with beach access a short outbound trip when you need a weekend reset. Choose 123 California Ave if you prefer driveable Santa Monica living, shared laundry that is still on the property, and a rent band that can undercut downtown luxury towers while keeping laundry local.

Santamon

Santamon at 1930 Ocean Ave #116 is about an 8-minute drive to Main Campus and lists a one-bedroom around $3,300 with washer/dryer onsite, parking, and bike storage. Water and trash are noted as included in the listing copy, and the building sits one block from the ocean walkway and boardwalk.

This is the coastal laundry pick in the set: you gain onsite machines and beach proximity without needing a full luxury amenity campus. Confirm how washer/dryer access works for your unit—dedicated room versus shared schedule—and whether bike storage is enough if you plan to pedal some days instead of driving Ocean Avenue traffic.

Porter Mar Vista

Porter Mar Vista at 12767 Mitchell Ave is about a 12-minute drive to Main Campus, with listed rents roughly $1,924–$2,252. Laundry facilities and the laundry amenity tag pair with a pool, giving a value-leaning option when you want machines on-site without downtown Santa Monica pricing.

Mar Vista works well for students who already drive or carpool across the westside and want to keep monthly housing costs lower while still filtering for laundry. Compare this band against premium bikeable buildings using the budget vs luxury Santa Monica College apartments lens, and verify parking availability before you assume a car is frictionless.

Riva

Riva at 1410 5th St is about a 12-minute bike to Main Campus in downtown Santa Monica, with listed rents roughly $3,995–$4,250. Laundry facilities keep washing on property while Fifth Street puts you near dining, errands, and transit options that reduce car dependence.

Riva fits students who want a bikeable downtown base, on-site laundry, and a premium location for studying and weekend plans. If walkability and bike time are your primary filters after laundry, cross-check walkable and bikeable apartments near Santa Monica College and the walkable vs bikeable comparison so your laundry shortlist still matches how you actually commute.

Quick comparison: laundry type, commute, and rent band

Apartment
Laundry setup
Commute to Main Campus
Listed rent (approx.)
Best for




Comma Barrington
In-unit
12 min drive
$1,350–$1,650 / bedroom
Co-living + machines in-home


2643 Centinela
Facilities
11 min bike
$2,299–$2,650
Bikeable Sunset Park mid-band


123 California Ave
Facilities
8 min drive
$2,298–$3,698
Quieter Santa Monica one-bed


Santamon
Washer/dryer onsite
8 min drive
~$3,300
Ocean-adjacent onsite laundry


Porter Mar Vista
Facilities
12 min drive
$1,924–$2,252
Value Mar Vista + pool


Riva
Facilities
12 min bike
$3,995–$4,250
Downtown bikeable premium

Use the table to shortlist two or three tours, not to lock a lease. Always re-check amenity tags and rent ranges on the live listing pages the week you apply.

Neighborhood and commute tips for laundry-focused SMC housing

Map laundry day onto your real schedule. A home that looks close on a map can feel far if every wash requires a car or a long walk with heavy bags. Conversely, dependable building machines can free an entire evening even if your bike commute is eleven or twelve minutes.

Build a weekly plan that includes class blocks, work shifts, grocery runs, and two laundry sessions. Students who bike Centinela or Fifth Street should test the marine layer mornings and evening cool-downs; covered laundry rooms and indoor corridors matter more on the coast than in hotter inland neighborhoods.

Budget beyond base rent. Per-load cards, app fees, and detergent add up across a semester. When you compare a lower rent without laundry to a higher rent with in-unit or onsite machines, price a full term of outside laundry before calling the cheaper option a win. If your stay is shorter than a standard lease, review Santa Monica College sublets and confirm laundry access in the sublet agreement the same way you would for a year-long lease.

If you also care about gyms or move-in speed, keep laundry as the primary filter first, then layer lifestyle extras. Amenity stacking is easier once machines are already locked in.

Frequently asked questions

Do most apartments near Santa Monica College include laundry?

Many SMC-area buildings advertise laundry or laundry facilities, but the setup varies. Some offer shared rooms only; others list washer/dryer onsite or true in-unit pairs. Always confirm on the listing and during a tour rather than assuming “laundry” means machines inside your apartment.

Is in-unit laundry worth the higher rent near SMC?

Often yes for roommate households and packed schedules. In-unit laundry saves repeated trips, late-night waits, and laundromat cash. If you live alone, wash less frequently, and find a building with well-maintained shared machines, communal laundry can still be a smart value—especially at mid-band rents like Centinela or California Avenue options.

How should I compare laundry listings on UniShack?

Filter for the laundry amenity, then open each apartment page and read the amenity list carefully. Note whether you see laundry, laundry facilities, washer/dryer onsite, or in-unit laundry. Compare distance text to Main Campus, rent range, parking or bike storage, and roommate fit. Save two or three finalists and ask the same clarifying questions on every tour.

What if I only need a short lease with laundry?

A full academic-year lease is not always required. Browse Santa Monica College sublets and confirm laundry access in writing. Ask whether machines are shared with the primary leaseholder’s household and whether access continues through finals week.

Can I rely on nearby laundromats instead?

You can, and some students do. The tradeoff is time, transport, and per-load cost in a city where evenings cool quickly and evenings fill with homework. If your preferred building lacks laundry but sits within a short walk of campus, price a semester of laundromat use and decide whether the rent savings still hold.

Should I prioritize bikeable laundry buildings or cheaper driveable ones?

It depends on parking cost, car access, and your class timetable. Bikeable laundry homes reduce friction on wash days; driveable value options can free budget for tuition and food. Use the walkable-vs-bikeable and near-campus-vs-affordable comparisons above once your laundry shortlist is set.

Related guides and next steps

Once laundry is locked in, pair this guide with Apartments near Santa Monica College with Fitness Centers if you want gym access in the same building, or Furnished Apartments Near Santa Monica College if you need a faster move-in with less furniture shopping.

When you are ready to tour, shortlist from the six homes above—or refresh the laundry filter on UniShack—and visit with a simple checklist: laundry type, cost per load, commute minutes, parking or bike storage, and total monthly spend. The right SMC apartments with laundry match should feel easy on wash day and still get you to Main Campus without drama.