Santa Monica College Apartments Near Public Transportation

Compare Santa Monica College apartments near public transportation, with commute tips, neighborhood context, rents, and student-friendly features.

Eric Vo
Eric VoAug 27, 2026 · 9 min read
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Finding Santa Monica College apartments near public transportation can make a busy class schedule much easier to manage. A transit-accessible home gives you another way to reach Main Campus when you do not want to drive, pay for parking, or depend on a roommate for a ride. It can also help with everyday trips to groceries, work, restaurants, and the rest of Santa Monica.

The four properties below all list easy access to public transportation as an amenity. They cover different parts of Santa Monica, layouts, price points, and community features. Use this guide as a shortlist rather than a substitute for checking the trip yourself: transit frequency, walking distance to a stop, transfers, and late-evening service can matter as much as the apartment’s straight-line distance from campus.

How to choose a transit-accessible apartment near SMC

Start by testing the commute at the times you will actually travel. A route that looks convenient in the middle of the day may involve a longer wait before an early class or after an evening lab. Put Santa Monica College Main Campus into your preferred trip planner, choose a typical weekday arrival time, and compare the complete door-to-door journey. Include the walk from the apartment, the expected wait, any transfer, and the walk from your final stop to the building where most of your classes meet.

Next, decide how much flexibility you need. An apartment with transit access plus a practical bike trip gives you two car-free options. That is useful when service is delayed or your schedule changes unexpectedly. The current listings below show estimated bike trips of eight to ten minutes to Main Campus, but those estimates are only a starting point. Check the route, hills, lighting, traffic comfort, bike storage, and where you can securely lock up on campus.

Budget for the whole housing arrangement, not just advertised rent. Ask which utilities are included, whether parking costs extra, how deposits and application fees work, and whether a quoted rate applies to a whole unit or an individual bedroom. If you plan to share, verify occupancy rules and compare the per-person total after utilities. Current availability and pricing can change, so confirm details directly on each listing before applying.

Finally, weigh the features you will use every week. On-site laundry can reduce errands. A fitness center may replace a separate membership. Secure entry, a courtyard, or parking may matter more than extra square footage depending on your routine. Students who still expect to drive occasionally can also compare parking-friendly apartments near Santa Monica College, while anyone who wants a broader starting point can browse the full Santa Monica College apartments directory.

Each featured property below appeared in the themed inventory for easy access to public transportation. The commute descriptions and rents are based on the current listing payload, so verify exact availability, rates, stops, and schedules before making a decision.

Bungalow in Santa Monica: a one-bedroom close to campus

Bungalow in Santa Monica is at 2434 Oak Street in Santa Monica. Its listing describes a one-bedroom, one-bath home about one mile from Santa Monica College, with abundant natural light, classic architecture, and modern conveniences. The property specifically lists easy access to public transportation, making it worth considering for a student who wants an independent layout rather than a large apartment community.

The current listing shows rent of $2,995 and an estimated eight-minute bike trip to Main Campus. That combination may appeal to someone who wants both transit and cycling as alternatives to driving. A one-bedroom can also simplify roommate decisions, but one person bears the full monthly cost. Before touring, confirm the lease term, utility responsibilities, laundry setup, bicycle storage, and the walking path to the transit stop you expect to use.

The location also puts everyday Santa Monica destinations within the broader neighborhood described by the listing, including dining, shopping, and coastal recreation. Think about whether those conveniences reduce other trips during your week. A home that lets you combine a grocery stop or errand with the journey from campus may save more time than a slightly shorter ride that requires separate outings.

1550 Lincoln: modern layouts near downtown activity

1550 Lincoln is at 1550 Lincoln Boulevard. The listing highlights loft and two-bedroom options, contemporary interiors, stainless steel appliances, natural light, a courtyard, a fitness center, and secure entry. It also identifies easy access to public transportation and bike paths, which gives students multiple ways to connect with SMC and other destinations.

Current listed rents range from $3,600 to $6,120, and the property shows an estimated ten-minute bike trip to Main Campus. Because the available layouts and price range vary, compare the total for a specific unit rather than assuming the lowest advertised figure applies to the floor plan you want. For a two-bedroom, ask whether both occupants must apply, how income qualification works, and how the deposit is handled among roommates.

This location may suit students who value access to the dining, shopping, and entertainment around central Santa Monica as well as the campus commute. Those advantages can also mean a busier setting, so visit during both daytime and evening hours. Listen for traffic from Lincoln Boulevard, check the walk from the nearest useful stop, and make sure the return trip still works after your latest regular class. If the on-site gym is a major part of the value, compare it with other SMC apartments with fitness centers.

Anara Santa Monica: one- and two-bedroom flexibility

Anara Santa Monica is located at 2200 Colorado Avenue. Its listing describes one-bedroom, one-bath and two-bedroom, two-bath options, along with contemporary finishes, open layouts, a fitness center, a courtyard, and parking. Easy access to public transportation is part of the listed amenity set, helping it fit a commute-focused SMC search.

The current rent range is $3,002 to $4,890, with an estimated nine-minute bike trip to Main Campus. The mix of layouts creates two different budgeting paths: live alone in a smaller unit or explore sharing a two-bedroom. If you are comparing with a roommate, look beyond simply dividing rent in half. Ask about bedroom dimensions, bathroom access, parking allocation, utility billing, guest rules, and whether both names appear on one lease.

Anara may be especially useful for a household in which one person uses transit while another sometimes drives, because the listing also identifies parking. Confirm whether a space is included, assigned, or separately priced. Then test the transit trip in both directions. The right comparison is not only how quickly you can reach class in the morning, but also whether the route home is comfortable and frequent enough at the end of your longest day.

Bixby: laundry and parking near Broadway

Bixby is at 1502 Broadway in Santa Monica. The listing describes modern one-bedroom, one-bath homes with natural light, on-site laundry facilities, parking options, easy public transportation access, and nearby bike paths. For students trying to reduce weekly errands, having laundry at the property can be a practical complement to a transit-friendly location.

Current listed rents run from $3,495 to $3,565, and the estimated bike trip to Main Campus is eight minutes. Since that range is relatively narrow in the current inventory, focus your questions on what changes between available units: floor, exposure, exact size, parking, and move-in date. Confirm whether laundry machines are shared, what payment method they use, and whether access hours fit your schedule.

Broadway places the property within Santa Monica’s mix of shops, cafes, and entertainment described in the listing. Walk the immediate blocks before signing, noting grocery choices and the stops that serve your likely destinations. If you can handle routine errands on foot and reach campus by transit or bike, you may drive far less often. Still, do not count on parking until the property confirms the availability, price, and terms for the exact unit under consideration.

Neighborhood and commute planning around Santa Monica College

A useful SMC commute plan starts with the Main Campus destination but accounts for your full semester. Save the locations of any classes, work shifts, internships, or recurring appointments and test each trip from the apartment. If most of your week centers on Main Campus, prioritize a simple campus route. If you travel across Santa Monica or into Los Angeles often, a location that offers more connections may be worth a slightly longer campus trip.

Build a backup plan before move-in. The featured listings show short estimated bike trips, so review the bike-friendly Santa Monica College apartment guide if cycling could supplement transit. You might also walk part of the way, carpool on an exam day, or use parking occasionally. Confirm where bicycles can be stored at home and on campus, and calculate how much time you need to arrive without rushing.

Touring is the best time to verify claims that a listing page cannot fully answer. Walk from the property entrance to the stop. Check crossings, lighting, sidewalks, and whether the wait area feels practical. Open a live trip planner and compare weekday morning, afternoon, and evening service. Ask the leasing contact about move-in timing and current pricing, but use the transit operator or trip-planning source for schedule details. Service can change, and a property manager’s general estimate may not reflect your exact class time.

For neighborhood fit, look at daily needs within a manageable walk: groceries, a pharmacy, food, and a quiet place to study. Downtown-oriented living can put more activity close by, while a smaller residential setting may feel calmer. There is no universally best choice. The strongest option is the one that balances a repeatable commute, a realistic monthly budget, and the home features you will consistently use.

FAQ

Do these apartments guarantee a direct transit ride to Santa Monica College?

No. All four listings identify easy access to public transportation, but the payload does not establish a direct route or guarantee a particular travel time. Check your exact origin, Main Campus destination, class arrival time, walking segments, and transfers in a current trip planner before applying.

How early should I test the commute before signing a lease?

Test it as soon as you have a serious shortlist, ideally at the same time of day as a typical class. Compare at least a morning arrival and an evening return. If possible, make the trip in person so you can evaluate the walk, stop environment, wait, transfer, and final campus approach.

Should I choose the apartment with the shortest estimated bike time?

Not automatically. The displayed estimates range from eight to ten minutes, but route comfort, bike storage, rent, layout, and transit convenience may be more important than a two-minute difference. Treat the estimate as one comparison point and inspect the route yourself.

Are the listed rents per apartment or per bedroom?

The featured payload provides current rent ranges but does not define every pricing arrangement in this guide. Ask the leasing contact whether the quoted amount covers the whole unit or an individual space, which floor plan it applies to, and what fees or utilities are additional. Availability and rates may change.

Is a car unnecessary if an apartment has public transportation access?

That depends on your schedule and destinations. A student whose week centers on SMC and nearby errands may be able to rely heavily on transit, walking, and biking. Work, late classes, or trips outside the area can change the calculation. Map a normal week and a backup trip before deciding whether to keep a car.

Find the commute that fits your semester

Start with two properties that match your budget and layout needs, then compare their door-to-door trips at real class times. Verify current rent and availability, walk the transit connection, and check your backup option. A little commute testing now can help you choose a Santa Monica College apartment that remains practical well beyond move-in day.

Apartments mentioned

Live listings featured in this guide near smc.

Eric Vo

About the author

Eric Vo

Eric Vo is UniShack’s Product Lead and a transfer student who knows how messy housing search can feel in a new city. He covers the real-world side of finding off-campus apartments: leases, roommates, timing, and avoiding costly surprises.