How to Choose Between Two (or More) Apartments
The short answer
Choosing between apartments is harder than finding them. Here is a structured framework for making the decision you will not regret.
How to Choose Between Two (or More) Apartments
You have toured several places and narrowed it down to two or three finalists. Now the paralysis sets in. Here is a structured approach to making the decision confidently.
Step 1: List Your Actual Priorities
Before comparing anything, write down your priorities — not what you think you should value, but what actually matters to your daily life.
Common priorities, ranked by life impact:
- Commute time — affects you every single workday
- Total monthly cost — rent + utilities + parking + fees
- Safety of neighborhood
- Space and layout — can you live comfortably here?
- In-unit laundry (or lack thereof)
- Natural light
- Noise level
- Pet-friendliness (if applicable)
- Walkability / transit access
- Building amenities (gym, rooftop, storage)
Be honest about which of these affect your quality of life most. A rooftop deck matters less than a 40-minute commute reduction.
Step 2: Build a Comparison Table
Create a simple table. List each apartment as a column. List your priorities as rows. Score each apartment on each factor (1-5) and weight by priority.
Example:
| Factor | Weight | Apt A | Apt B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commute | 5 | 4 (20 min) | 2 (45 min) |
| Monthly cost | 4 | 3 ($1,800) | 5 ($1,500) |
| Neighborhood | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| In-unit laundry | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Natural light | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Weighted total | 57 | 47 |
The apartment with the higher weighted score is the rational choice.
Step 3: Do the True Cost Comparison
Monthly rent is only part of the cost. Calculate total monthly cost for each unit:
- Rent
- Utilities (electricity, gas, water — ask for 12-month history)
- Parking (if not included)
- Laundry (if coin-op, estimate monthly cost)
- Internet (if not included)
- Renter's insurance difference
A $200/month rent difference can evaporate when utilities and parking are counted.
Step 4: Imagine a Typical Tuesday
Close your eyes and walk through a typical Tuesday in each apartment:
- What is your morning routine like in this space?
- What is the commute?
- Do you cook? How is the kitchen?
- What do you do in the evening? Does the space work for that?
- How do you feel about coming home to this space?
This imagined daily life test often surfaces factors the spreadsheet misses.
Step 5: Check the Intangibles
A few things that are hard to score but matter:
The landlord vibe: Did they respond promptly to questions? Were they respectful during the tour? A bad landlord makes any apartment worse.
The building community: Did you meet any neighbors? Was the hallway clean and quiet? What does the common area tell you about residents?
Your gut reaction: After honest analysis, which one would you be more excited to tell a friend about? Feelings are data.
Step 6: Make the Decision and Commit
Once you have analyzed the options, pick one — and stop second-guessing. Analysis paralysis costs you time and potentially the unit.
If the two options are genuinely close, flip a coin. If you feel relieved with the outcome, that is your answer. If you feel disappointed, you know what you actually wanted.
Whatever you choose, arrive as a competitive applicant with a Settl Verified Passport — verified income and identity ready to share with any landlord the moment you decide.
Settl Team
Settl Editorial
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