You’re planning a move to Mexico City. The apartment hunt brings a fork in the road: furnished or unfurnished? Each has costs you see (rent, deposits) and costs you don’t (furniture buying, setup headaches, hidden commutes to logistics). This guide breaks down the real trade-offs.
TL;DR: Furnished works for moves <6 months or if you hate logistics. Unfurnished wins for 12+ months, lower monthly cost, and staying put.
Furnished apartments: the case for convenience
What you get
- Furniture: Beds, kitchen table, couch, desk already there
- Kitchen: Stove, fridge, dishes, cookware, usually one set of pots
- Linens: Sheets and pillows (usually one set)
- Utilities: Internet usually included, sometimes water/electricity
- Move-in: You arrive, unpack clothes, and live. No IKEA runs.
Furnished costs: real examples
Narvarte 2BR, 3-month stay:
- Monthly rent: $1,600
- Deposit (refundable): $1,600
- Total cash outlay: $1,600 (upfront deposit) + $4,800 (3 months rent) = $6,400
- Utilities: ~$100/month included
Total investment: $6,400 cash
Furnished advantages
#1: Speed. You arrive and live immediately. No week 1 sleeping on a mattress on the floor. No “I can’t cook until the pots arrive.”
#2: Logistics disappear. No furniture shopping, assembling, or disposing of when you leave. That’s 20 hours of planning and delivery coordination gone.
#3: Lease flexibility. Most furnished apartments are month-to-month. Your job shifts? Relationship ends? Family calls you home? You leave at month 3 instead of month 12—no lease-breaking penalty.
#4: No furniture risk. You don’t own the furniture, so you don’t worry about damage or shipping when you leave. Damage deposit might apply, but it’s the landlord’s problem long-term.
#5: Perfect for short moves. If you’re staying 3 months, 6 months, or “maybe a year”—furnished eliminates the uncertainty tax.
Furnished disadvantages
#1: Higher monthly cost. Landlord charges premium because furniture is already there. Same apartment unfurnished: $1,200. Furnished: $1,600. That’s $400/month or $4,800/year extra.
#2: Furniture quality varies wildly. Some furnished units have IKEA-grade basics. Some have old couches that smell. You see photos, but photos lie. Video tours help, but not always.
#3: Limited customization. The furniture is there—you can’t rearrange much, can’t add your style. Some people don’t care; creatives hate it.
#4: Smaller kitchens. Furnished apartments often have minimal kitchens: one small stove, half-size fridge. If you cook seriously, this sucks.
#5: Less incentive for landlord to maintain. Furnished units wear faster (renters cycle frequently). Landlords sometimes cheap out on maintenance because the unit turns over anyway.
Unfurnished apartments: the case for control
What you get
- Empty space: Walls, floor, kitchen fixtures (sink, maybe stove), nothing else
- Sometimes: Built-in closets or shelving
- Utilities: You set up and pay for water, electricity, gas, internet
Unfurnished costs: real examples
Same Narvarte 2BR, 1-year stay:
- Monthly rent: $1,200
- Deposit (refundable): $1,200
- Furniture needed:
- 2 beds + mattresses: $600
- Kitchen table + chairs: $300
- Living room couch: $400
- Desk: $150
- Lamps, shelving, decor: $300
- Total: ~$1,750
- Delivery fees: $200 (for multiple stores)
- Internet setup: $50
Total first-month investment: $1,200 (deposit) + $1,200 (rent) + $2,000 (furniture + delivery) = $4,400
Year-long cost: $1,200 × 12 = $14,400 + $2,000 (furniture one-time) = $16,400
Unfurnished advantages
#1: Lower monthly rent. $1,200 vs $1,600 = $400/month saved. Over 12 months: $4,800 savings even after furniture costs.
#2: Your furniture, your style. You pick the aesthetic. Minimalist? Cozy? Modern? Eclectic? Go for it. Your home feels like your home.
#3: Better kitchens. Unfurnished usually has a real kitchen: full-size stove, proper fridge, counter space. Cook whatever you want.
#4: You stay longer and care more. Tenants who own their furniture tend to maintain apartments better. You’re incentivized to keep your stuff nice.
#5: Flexibility to upgrade. Bed not comfortable? Replace it. Couch worn out? New couch. Furniture is yours—you control it.
Unfurnished disadvantages
#1: Upfront logistics nightmare. You need furniture immediately. IKEA, Facebook Marketplace, rental company—you’re hunting for deals, coordinating delivery, assembling. Budget 40–60 hours of your first month.
#2: Delivery costs and waits. IKEA delivery: $50–100 per trip. Facebook Marketplace: negotiating pickup with strangers. Delivery dates slip. You’re sleeping on a mattress on the floor for a week.
#3: Lease commitment. Most unfurnished apartments require 12-month minimum. You’re locked in. Job changes? Relationship ends? You’re either breaking the lease (expensive penalty) or subletting (complicated).
#4: Furniture cost is real money. Even buying used on Facebook, you’re looking at $2,000–3,000 for a basic setup. That’s cash you could have spent on travel, entertainment, or savings.
#5: Disposal problem. At the end, you have furniture to deal with. Sell it (time-consuming), donate it (INEGI, Salvation Army), or pay someone to haul it. Hotels and furnished landlords don’t have this problem.
#6: Security and stability. Unfurnished requires knowing you’ll stay. If you’re uncertain, this is a risk.
Cost comparison: 3 scenarios
Scenario 1: 3-month stay (expat assignment)
| Cost | Furnished | Unfurnished |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,600 × 3 = $4,800 | $1,200 × 3 = $3,600 |
| Furniture | $0 | $2,000 (unused if you leave) |
| Setup time | 2 hours | 40+ hours |
| Deposit lost risk | Low (get back $1,600) | Medium (plus $2k furniture to sell) |
| Total cost | $6,400 | $7,600 |
| Recommendation | Furnished wins | Too expensive |
Scenario 2: 6-month stay (trial period)
| Cost | Furnished | Unfurnished |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,600 × 6 = $9,600 | $1,200 × 6 = $7,200 |
| Furniture | $0 | $2,000 (resell for ~$800) |
| Setup time | 2 hours | 40 hours |
| Total cost | $9,600 | $8,400 |
| Recommendation | Slight edge to Furnished | Possible if you’ll resell |
Scenario 3: 12-month stay (commitment move)
| Cost | Furnished | Unfurnished |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,600 × 12 = $19,200 | $1,200 × 12 = $14,400 |
| Furniture | $0 | $2,000 (keep or resell) |
| Setup time | 2 hours | 40 hours (upfront) |
| Total cost | $19,200 | $16,400 |
| Recommendation | Unfurnished wins | Save $2,800 |
Which one should you choose?
Choose furnished if:
- You’re staying <6 months
- You hate logistics and furniture shopping (pay the premium for peace)
- You’re uncertain about staying past 3 months (flexibility matters more than cost)
- You don’t cook much (don’t care about kitchen quality)
- You’re relocating from abroad (easier than international furniture shipping)
- Your company is paying for housing anyway (cost is less relevant)
Choose unfurnished if:
- You’re staying 12+ months
- You cook and want a real kitchen
- You want to personalize your space
- You’re willing to spend 40 hours on logistics upfront
- You’re cost-conscious (save $400–500/month)
- You enjoy furniture hunting and decorating
The hidden costs you might miss
Furnished: what’s NOT included?
- Second set of linens — Budget $100 for extras (you want to wash one while using another)
- Cooking basics — Most furnished units have pots and pans, but check. Budget $100 if you need to buy
- Towels — Usually 1–2 sets included. Add $50 for more
- Hangers and storage — Closets are often bare. Add $50–100
- Cleaning supplies — Not included. Budget $20/month
Hidden cost total: ~$200–300 upfront, then $20–30/month
Unfurnished: what’s NOT included?
- Furniture assembly time — 40+ hours of your first month
- Delivery fees — $50–150 per store, add up fast
- Duplicate furniture you don’t need — You buy, then realize you don’t have space
- Damage to furniture — Moving scratches, living use wear. Resale value drops 40–50%
- Waste and disposal — Broken furniture, old mattress—you pay to haul it away
Hidden cost total: 40+ hours of time, $200–400 in delivery, 30–50% loss on resale
The practical middle ground
Option: Buy used furniture first month, sell it on the way out
If you’re staying 6–12 months and like flexibility:
- Rent unfurnished
- Buy used furniture on Facebook Marketplace, Vivanuncios, or OLX ($1,200–1,600 total)
- Live for 6–12 months
- Resell used furniture for $400–700
- Net cost: ~$800–1,400 in furniture (plus 20 hours of hassle)
Result: You get 70% of the benefits of unfurnished (your furniture, your style, real kitchen) at 60% of the cost, with less commitment than a 12-month lease.
This works if you’re comfortable with secondhand furniture and willing to hunt deals.
Real talk: what moves most people?
- 3-month corporate assignment: Furnished, no question.
- 6-month trial move: Furnished, unless you’re sure you’ll stay.
- Moving with a partner long-term: Unfurnished, you’re committing.
- Solo digital nomad, staying flexible: Furnished, you want no strings.
- Long-term (12+ months), know you’re staying: Unfurnished, save money.
- Moving your family: Unfurnished, you want to build your space.
Neighborhoods: furnished vs unfurnished availability
Furnished apartments are easier to find in:
- Narvarte (tourist-adjacent, lots of short-term rentals)
- Roma Norte (highest tourist demand)
- Condesa (expat-friendly)
Unfurnished apartments are equally available everywhere:
- Facebook Marketplace, Vivanuncios, Inmuebles24
- Harder to navigate for foreigners (Spanish required, scams possible)
- Better local deals if you have a local friend helping
Related guides
- Furnished apartments in Mexico City — Find furnished options
- Moving to CDMX for work — Full relocation checklist
- Narvarte apartments — Best neighborhood for first-timers
- Corporate housing in Mexico City — If your company is handling it
Final verdict
Most people arriving in Mexico City for the first time should rent furnished for 3–6 months. The peace of mind, the zero logistics, and the flexibility are worth the $400/month premium. Once you know you’re staying and where you want to live, then you can negotiate an unfurnished lease or hunt for better value.
Furnished buys you time to figure out if Mexico City is really home. That’s worth money.
