Marina Watts, Bustle, Aug. 22, 2023
Oliver’s apartment costs how much?
Only Murders In The Building has everything: A star-studded cast, amazing coats, and perhaps the most luxurious apartment building in Manhattan. The Arconia, aka the Belnord on West 86th Street between Amsterdam and Broadway, boasts a timeless facade and perfectly manicured courtyard with spacious apartments anyone would kill for. Audiences have likely looked up how much it would be to live there after seeing the bare walls of Mabel Mora’s (Selena Gomez) apartment, the blue decor of Charles Savage’s (Steve Martin) digs, or the eccentric Broadway memorabilia strewn about Oliver Putnam’s (Martin Short) place.
The condominium residences (which range from two- to six-bedroom apartments) start at $4 million to purchase. You can also rent, which could cost tens of thousands of dollars a month, according to StreetEasy. Now that Only Murders is airing its third season on Hulu, fans may wonder how exactly Charles, Oliver, and Mabel can afford to live there.
Sure, it’s mentioned early on that Charles was an actor with a successful television series in the ’90s, and you could assume Oliver’s work on Broadway was profitable at one point. They both note early on that they bought their co-ops when “the Arconia was affordable.” The Belnord was once rent-controlled, and in 1994, it was reported that the average rent was $459.65 for a six-room apartment. As for Mabel, she is staying there while renovating it for her aunt and offers very few details about her financial situation.
Here’s a deeper look at how the infamous podcasters can afford their gratuitous digs.