What to Pack for a Furnished Room in Montreal (and What to Leave Behind)
The whole point of a furnished room is arriving with two suitcases. But "furnished" means different things in different places, and the gap between what you assume is provided and what actually is decides whether your first night is comfortable or spent on a bare mattress at 11pm looking for an open store. Here is the practical list: what is there, what to bring, what to buy locally, and what to leave at home.
The baseline this list assumes: a genuinely all-inclusive furnished room — bed, desk, storage, WiFi, hydro, heating, cleaning — like Coliville at C$160–C$205/week. Confirm your own place matches before packing; our all-inclusive guide has the checklist.
What's Already There (Don't Pack)
In a proper furnished room:
- Bed frame + mattress
- Desk and chair
- Wardrobe / storage
- Curtains or blinds, lighting
- Kitchen equipment in common areas — pots, pans, dishes, cutlery, kettle, microwave
- Washing machine access
- Vacuum and basic cleaning supplies
- WiFi router (already set up and working)
Ask before you fly: is bedding included? This is the single most variable item. Many furnished rooms provide the mattress but not sheets, duvet, or pillow. If not included, it is your night-one priority, and it is cheap to buy here.
The Two-Suitcase List
Suitcase 1 — Clothes
- Everyday clothes for 2 weeks (there's a washing machine; you don't need a month's worth)
- Layers — Montreal swings from 30°C in August to -25°C in January. Layering is the entire strategy.
- One smart outfit — interviews, presentations, a nice dinner
- Comfortable walking shoes — this is a walking and metro city
- ⚠️ Do NOT buy your winter parka at home unless you're coming from a genuinely cold country. Canadian winter gear is better, correctly rated, and widely on sale in the fall. Budget $300–$500 here.
Suitcase 2 — Everything Else
Documents (carry-on, never checked)
- Passport, visa/study or work permit
- Acceptance or employment letter
- Insurance documents
- Vaccination records
- Birth certificate
- Digital copies in cloud storage — do this before you leave
Electronics
- Laptop, phone, chargers
- Canadian plug adapters — Canada uses Type A/B, 120V. If you're coming from Europe, Asia, Africa, or Australia, check your device voltage. Most laptop and phone chargers handle 100–240V; hair dryers and kettles usually don't and will die.
- Headphones — shared living
Personal
- Prescription medication with a doctor's note (enough for the transition period)
- Glasses / contacts + prescription
- Toiletries for the first week only — everything is available here
- A few things from home that make a room feel like yours: photos, a small object, whatever it is for you. This matters more than people expect in month two.
Buy on Arrival (Cheap and Easy Here)
| Item | Where | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bedding (if not included) | IKEA, Walmart, Simons | $60–$120 |
| Towels | Same | $25–$40 |
| Winter parka + boots | Sportium, SAIL, Simons, Winners | $300–$500 |
| Toiletries, cleaning basics | Jean Coutu, Pharmaprix, Dollarama | $40 |
| Groceries, week one | Maxi, Super C, IGA | $80–$120 |
| Humidifier (electric heat is dry) | Canadian Tire, Amazon | $30 |
| SIM card | Fizz, Public Mobile | $25–$40/month |
Local tip: Dollarama for anything you don't need to be good — hangers, storage bins, basic kitchen extras. Maxi and Super C beat every other grocery chain on price; Jean-Talon and Atwater markets beat everyone on produce.
Leave at Home
- Furniture of any kind — the entire premise of a furnished room
- Kitchen equipment — common areas are stocked
- Bulky appliances — voltage mismatch, and they're cheap here
- Full-year wardrobe — there's a washing machine and you'll buy winter gear here
- Books you won't read — heaviest, least useful thing in any suitcase
- Large toiletry supplies — weight for something available at every corner
- Bedding, IF included — confirm first
Airline Weight Reality
Most airlines: 23 kg per checked bag, 2 bags on transatlantic tickets. That is genuinely enough for a furnished room move. If you're over, the honest fix is fewer clothes and zero books — not a bigger bag.
Shipping a box from home costs $100–$200 and takes weeks; almost everything in it can be bought here for less. The exception is sentimental items, which are worth the shipping precisely because you can't rebuy them.
Your First 48 Hours
- Bedding (if not provided) — night one priority
- Groceries — basics for the week
- SIM card — Fizz or Public Mobile
- OPUS transit card — any metro station
- Toiletries top-up
Then the administrative chain: SIN, bank account, RAMQ registration. Order and timing in our moving checklist.
FAQ
Is bedding included in furnished rooms in Montreal? Varies. Always ask specifically — it's the most common gap and the most urgent to fill on arrival.
Should I bring a winter coat from home? Only if you already own one rated for -25°C. Otherwise buy here in September–October: better gear, better prices than December.
Do I need a voltage converter? Canada is 120V, Type A/B plugs. Laptop and phone chargers are almost always dual-voltage. Hair dryers, kettles, and straighteners usually are not.
How much should I budget for arrival purchases? $400–$700 excluding winter gear; $700–$1,200 including it.
Can I buy everything in Montreal? Yes. The city has IKEA, Walmart, Canadian Tire, Simons, Dollarama, and Amazon delivers everywhere. Nothing on this list is hard to find.
The Bottom Line
A furnished room means you fly with clothes, documents, electronics, and a few things that make a space yours — and buy the rest in your first week for a few hundred dollars. Confirm bedding before you pack, don't buy your parka at home, and leave the furniture and kitchenware where they are.
Want a room where all of the above is already handled? Coliville — furnished, all-inclusive, from C$160/week. Arrive with two suitcases.