Even though it ended all the way back in 2004, Friends has still managed to remain a cultural phenomenon thanks to its lovable characters, memorable quotes and relatable storylines. There are plenty of iconic moments and locations related to the Friends franchise, but one of the first that comes to mind is Monica's apartment. Located in the West Village, Monica's apartment served as the main setting of the series for its entire run. Every member of the group lived in the apartment at one point, and it was the site of some of the series' biggest moments.
The apartment is also pretty spacious; almost twice as big as Chandler and Joey's apartment across the hall. As iconic as the apartment is, first-time Friends viewers might not be aware of just how any of the friends could afford to live in such a big apartment.
The group wasn't exactly swimming in cash throughout the show. Though Monica primarily worked as a chef at the beginning, there was a short period in the first few seasons where she was struggling to find work after being laid off. Monica's most long-term roommate, Rachel, worked as a waitress before working in fashion, and its unclear how much money former roommate Phoebe made as a massage therapist. Chandler and Joey also lived in the apartment together briefly in Season 4, and Chandler eventually moved in with Monica after they started dating. While Chandler seemed to have stable income throughout the series, Joey's lack of money as a struggling actor was a recurring theme. And then there is Ross, who only lived in the apartment prior to the series.
The answer to the question of the apartment's affordability can be found in Season 3, Episode 6, "The One With The Flashback." Taking place one year before the series' pilot, the episode revealed how Joey and Chandler became roommates, when Phoebe moved out of Monica's apartment, and the beginnings of Ross' first divorce. During the episode, Monica invited Joey into the apartment for drinks. While she is pouring Joey some lemonade, Monica explained that the apartment originally belonged to her grandmother.
After Monica's grandmother moved away, Monica began living in the apartment and subletting it illegally. The apartment was also rent-controlled, so Monica, as well as whoever else was living there at the time, only had to pay a small amount of money. It's easy to miss this explanation, especially considering that Joey is stripping naked while Monica is talking due to misinterpreting her friendly invitation for drinks as a call for sex. After this episode, the topic of the apartment's affordability, and any other money problems the Friends characters might have had, is only brought up if the plot of a specific episode needs to address it.
It's a common theme in sitcoms for characters to live in outrageously large apartments despite the fact that most people can't afford something so big, and Friends is no exception. While Monica's apartment is an iconic staple of the series, real people in their early 20s would be lucky to find an apartment of that size.
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