Furnished or unfurnished? The answer changes the true cost of your rental by thousands per year — and the norm varies dramatically by country.
What “Furnished” Actually Means
- Bed: ✅ · ✅ · ❌
- Mattress: ✅ · Typically ✅ · ❌
- Wardrobe: ✅ · ✅ · ❌
- Desk + Chair: Sometimes · Sometimes · ❌
- Sofa: ✅ (shared areas) · ✅ (shared areas) · ❌
- Dining table + chairs: ✅ · Sometimes · ❌
- White goods (fridge, washing machine): ✅ · ✅ · Depends on country
- Kitchenware & cutlery: Sometimes · ❌ · ❌
Furnishing Costs by Country
- UK: £400–800 · £800–1,500
- Australia: AUD 800–1,500 · AUD 1,500–3,000
- US: USD 500–1,200 · USD 1,200–3,000
- Canada: CAD 500–1,200 · CAD 1,200–2,500
- Germany: €400–800 · €800–1,800
- NZ: NZD 800–1,500 · NZD 1,500–3,000
The delivery problem: IKEA delivery costs add £40–80 in the UK, AUD 50–150 in Australia. If you don’t have a car, add the cost of renting one for a day or paying for assembly.
Country Norms
Furnished is standard
- UK: Most student rentals and PBSA are furnished. Unfurnished exists mainly in the professional market.
- Australia: Mixed. Share houses are often furnished by existing flatmates. PBSA is fully furnished.
Unfurnished is standard
- Germany: Apartments routinely come without a kitchen — no cabinets, no oven, no sink. You buy and install your own kitchen (Einbauküche). Budget €1,500–3,000. WG rooms are often furnished by the previous tenant.
- France: Unfurnished is the default. Minimum lease duration differs: 3 years for unfurnished, 1 year for furnished (9 months for students).
- Japan: Apartments are almost universally unfurnished. You buy lights (even ceiling light fixtures aren’t installed), a fridge, a washing machine, and sometimes an air conditioner.
Mixed
- US: Apartments in student areas are often furnished (especially near large universities). Unfurnished is more common in professional and suburban markets.
- Canada: Similar to the US. Near-campus housing is often furnished; elsewhere is not.
- Netherlands: Furnished, semi-furnished (carpets and curtains only), or “kaal” (bare — literally nothing, no floor, no curtains).
The Math: Furnished Premium vs Furnishing Yourself
Example 1: London (12-month lease)
- Weekly rent difference: — · Save £15/week
- Annual rent: £8,840 · £8,060
- Furnishing cost (budget): £0 · £500
- True annual cost: £8,840 · £8,560
Winner: Unfurnished saves £280. Barely worth it for the hassle.
Example 2: Berlin (24-month stay)
- Monthly rent difference: — · Save €70/month
- Annual rent: €5,400 · €4,560
- Furnishing cost (including Einbauküche share): €0 · €1,200
- True 2-year cost: €10,800 · €10,320
Winner: Unfurnished saves €480 over 2 years, but the upfront cost of €1,200 and the effort of buying/selling/installing make it marginal.
Rule of Thumb
For stays under 12 months: furnished wins, every time. For stays 12–24 months in unfurnished-standard countries (Germany, Japan): break-even at best. Only do it if you value customization. For stays 24+ months: unfurnished starts to pay off, especially if you buy second-hand.
The Hidden Cost: Disposal
At the end of your lease, unfurnished means you have to deal with the furniture. Selling it recoups ~30–50% of the purchase price if it’s in good condition and you have 2–4 weeks to sell. If you’re leaving the country on short notice, you’ll likely have to give it away or pay for removal (£50–150).
Bottom line: Furnished rentals charge a premium that is almost always less than the amortized cost of buying, assembling, maintaining, and disposing of furniture. Unless you’re staying 2+ years in a country where unfurnished is the norm (Germany, Japan), go furnished.