Furnished vs Unfurnished in Montreal: Run the Math Before You Decide
"Furnished costs more" is the received wisdom and it is wrong more often than it is right. The correct answer depends entirely on one variable — how long you are staying — and almost nobody calculates it properly. Here is the honest math at four different stay lengths.
The benchmark used throughout: Coliville furnished all-inclusive rooms at C$160/week (The Sherwin, ~$693/month) and C$205/week (The Gramercy, ~$888/month). Compared against a typical $700/month unfurnished room.
What Each Actually Costs to Start
Unfurnished room: the upfront bill
| Item | Budget (IKEA/Marketplace) | Decent |
|---|---|---|
| Bed frame + mattress | $350 | $700 |
| Desk + chair | $150 | $350 |
| Storage/wardrobe | $120 | $300 |
| Lamp, curtains, rug | $100 | $200 |
| Bedding, pillows | $80 | $150 |
| Total | $800 | $1,700 |
Plus: transport ($50–$150 if you don't have a car), assembly time (a full weekend), and the Hydro-Québec + internet account setup — which for newcomers can trigger their own credit checks and deposits.
Furnished all-inclusive: the upfront bill
First payment. That is the entire list. Quebec makes security deposits illegal, so there is no deposit either.
The Math at Four Stay Lengths
4 months (an internship term)
| Line | Unfurnished $700 | Furnished C$160/wk |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $2,800 | $2,773 |
| Furniture | $800–$1,700 | $0 |
| Hydro (winter-weighted) | $200–$280 | included |
| Internet | $120–$160 | included |
| Resale loss / disposal | $100–$300 | $0 |
| Total | $4,020–$5,240 | $2,773 |
Furnished wins by $1,250–$2,470. It is not close. See our intern housing guide for why this term length is the clearest case.
8 months (an academic year)
| Line | Unfurnished $700 | Furnished C$160/wk |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $5,600 | $5,547 |
| Furniture | $800–$1,700 | $0 |
| Hydro | $320–$480 | included |
| Internet | $240–$320 | included |
| Resale loss | $100–$300 | $0 |
| Total | $7,060–$8,400 | $5,547 |
Furnished wins by $1,500–$2,850.
12 months
| Line | Unfurnished $700 | Furnished C$160/wk |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $8,400 | $8,320 |
| Furniture | $800–$1,700 | $0 |
| Hydro + internet | $840–$1,200 | included |
| Resale recovery | −$200 to −$500 (recovered) | $0 |
| Total | $9,840–$10,920 | $8,320 |
Furnished still wins by $1,500–$2,600. This surprises people.
24 months
| Line | Unfurnished $700 | Furnished C$160/wk |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $16,800 | $16,640 |
| Furniture (amortized, keep it) | $800–$1,700 | $0 |
| Hydro + internet | $1,680–$2,400 | included |
| Total | $19,280–$20,900 | $16,640 |
Interesting: even at 24 months the all-inclusive rate holds up — because the utility line never stops. The math only truly flips when you compare against a cheaper unfurnished room ($600 or less) over multiple years, or when you already own furniture.
When Unfurnished Actually Wins
Be honest about these cases:
- You already own furniture. The upfront cost is zero, and unfurnished wins immediately.
- You are staying 3+ years. Furniture amortizes to near-nothing.
- You found a genuinely cheap room — $550–$600 with utilities included is a real edge.
- You want your own things. Not a financial argument, but a legitimate one. Some people need their own space to feel like theirs.
- You are furnishing a whole apartment for a couple/family. The per-person math changes entirely.
The Costs People Forget
- Hydro is winter-weighted. Averaging "$50/month" hides a $150 January. In a poorly insulated triplex, worse.
- Internet has a 1–2 week install wait. You will work from a café or burn mobile data.
- Selling furniture at exit recovers 20–30% of what you paid, on a good day, after a week of Marketplace messages.
- Moving furniture on July 1 in Montreal, when every truck in the city is booked, is its own special expense.
- Your time. A weekend of assembly plus a week of exit logistics is real, even if it does not appear on a spreadsheet.
What "Furnished" Should Actually Include
Not all furnished is equal — verify before you compare:
- Real bed frame + quality mattress (ask its age)
- Desk and chair you can actually work at
- Wardrobe/storage, curtains, lighting
- And the all-inclusive layer: WiFi, hydro, heating, cleaning
A listing that says "furnished" but bills hydro separately is semi-furnished with extra steps. Our furnished rooms guide has the full checklist and red flags.
FAQ
Is furnished more expensive in Montreal? Per month on the sticker, sometimes. All-in over any stay under two years, usually not.
How much does it cost to furnish a room in Montreal? $800 budget, $1,700 decent. Plus transport and a weekend.
Can I sell my furniture when I leave? Yes, at 20–30% of purchase price, if you start early. July 1 is a buyer's market — everyone is dumping at once.
What about furnished apartments (not rooms)? Furnished 1-bedrooms run $1,900–$2,400/month — a steep premium. The furnished advantage is strongest at the room level.
The Bottom Line
Under 12 months, furnished all-inclusive wins on pure economics — usually by $1,500–$2,800. Over 24 months it is closer, and if you already own furniture, unfurnished wins outright. The mistake is comparing sticker prices instead of totals.
Run your own numbers against the benchmark: Coliville — C$160/week at The Sherwin, C$205/week at The Gramercy. Furniture, WiFi, hydro, and cleaning all in the rate.