When it came to pricey rental markets, the Los Angeles area was always near the top (as New York City and San Francisco battled for #1 and #2). But the times they are a’changin’: A new report from rental website Apartment Guide says the very highest prices in the nation can be found right here in sunny SoCal. Specifically, Santa Monica leads the country with median monthly prices of $4,799 for a 1BR unit. That’s significantly higher than Manhattan, where median rents run $4,562mo for 1BR. Venice, which the report treats as a separate market from L.A. (even though it’s not its own city—yet), is 5th on the list, with median rents of $3,922.

Speaking of Venice, we JUST LISTED a charm-filled 2BR/2BA 900 sq.ft. home this week at 854 Superba Ave. (pictured) for $6,495mo. The reaction? Renters are throwing money at us.

Also on the Westside, Playa Vista and Marina del Rey place high on the website’s list (17 and 18), with median rents of $3,327 and $3,320, respectively. Other pricey hoods include West Hollywood ($3,180), Culver City ($3,161), and Hollywood ($3,110). The take-away? Stop paying someone else’s mortgage and contact us about buying a home!