Unfurnished or Fully-Furnished: Which Is Better for Travel Nurses?

When you take a travel nurse job, you move a lot. Every few months, a new city. A new place to sleep. And every time, the same big question comes up.

Should you pick a place that already has everything in it? Or should you get an empty one and bring your own stuff?

It sounds simple, but it’s not. A ready place costs more, but you walk in and start living. An empty one is cheaper, but you spend your first few days buying, fixing, and setting up. That’s time you could spend resting after long shifts.

By the end of this article, you would be able to decide which apartment type suits you better: unfurnished or fully-furnished.

Let’s get in.

What is a Fully Furnished Apartment?

When a place is fully furnished, it means you can move in with just your bags. The bed is already there.

There’s a couch to sit on, a table to eat at, and maybe even a TV.

You’ll find cups, spoons, plates, and pots in the kitchen.

There are sheets and towels too. You don’t have to buy or bring much.

It’s made for people who want to settle in fast.

Most of these homes come from people who know travel nurses move a lot.

They set up apartments that have everything ready.

You only need to show up.

These are usually short-term rentals that already include things like light, water, and Wi-Fi in the price.

Many companies build their whole business around this kind of setup. Some work only with travel nurses.

Others rent to doctors, business people, and anyone staying for a few months.

They make sure the place feels clean, safe, and easy to live in so you can focus on your job, not on fixing up a house.

Unfurnished or Partially Furnished Housing

An unfurnished apartment is an empty space. You walk in and see bare rooms. No bed. No chair.

No fridge. Just the walls, floor, and maybe a stove if you’re lucky.

You have to bring in or buy everything yourself before you can live there.

Some people like this because they can choose what goes in and make the place feel like home. But for travel nurses, that can be hard.

You’re only there for a few months, and moving furniture around takes time, money, and effort.

So an unfurnished place gives you control, but it also gives you more work.

You have to think about what to buy, how to move it in, and what to do with it when your contract ends.

The Key Factors Travel Nurses Should Consider

Before you pick a place to stay, think about how long your contract is.

Most travel nurse jobs last two or three months. That’s not a long time.

If you bring your own furniture, you’ll spend more time setting up than living in it.

For short stays, it’s often easier to pick a place that already has what you need.

Here are what you should consider in full:

• Contract length
  Most travel nurse jobs last about two or three months. That’s not long enough to set up a whole house. A ready place saves time and stress. 
• Budget
  An empty place might seem cheaper, but you’ll spend on furniture, kitchen tools, and setup. A ready place costs more each month but often ends up easier on your wallet. 
• Convenience
  Moving big things again and again takes time and energy. After long shifts, you’ll want to rest, not lift boxes or build shelves. 
• Storage
  If you buy furniture, where will it go when your job ends? Storage costs money too. A ready place means you don’t have to worry about that. 
• Agency support
  Some travel nurse agencies help pay for housing or give you a housing allowance. Check what yours covers before you decide.

Pros and Cons of Fully Furnished Housing

Fully furnished housing makes life easier for travel nurses who move often and don’t want to deal with setup or packing.

Pros

• You can move in right away and start living. 
• Perfect for short jobs that last a few months. 
• Bills like light, water, and Wi-Fi are often included. 
• Easy to move out and switch cities when your next job starts. 

Cons

• The rent can be a bit higher. 
• You can’t change much about how the place looks. 
• It might not have everything you like for full comfort.

Pros and Cons of Unfurnished or Partially Furnished Housing

Pros:

• Lower monthly rent. 
• Freedom to choose your own furniture and setup. 
• More “home-like” if staying long-term in one city. 

Cons:

• Expensive upfront setup (furniture, utilities, décor). 
• Moving and storage challenges. 
• Time lost coordinating logistics before and after each contract.

Cost Comparison Example

For a typical three month stay, the numbers often show that a fully furnished place is about the same or a little cheaper than buying and setting up furniture.

Renting furniture can be the cheapest and least stressful option.

For example: A Breakdown of Unfurnished Apartments

Monthly rent for a fully furnished unit = 2,400 dollars
Move in fee = 100 dollars
Cleaning fee = 150 dollars
Monthly rent for an unfurnished unit = 1,800 dollars
Monthly utilities for unfurnished = 200 dollars
Furniture rental option = 300 dollars per month
Furniture purchase option = 1,200 dollars one time
Moving costs = 300 dollars
Short term storage if you buy furniture = 100 dollars per month
All examples are for a 3 month lease

Fully furnished example

Monthly rent 2,400 dollars times 3 months equals 7,200 dollars
Add move in fee 100 dollars and cleaning fee 150 dollars
Total cost for 3 months equals 7,450 dollars

Unfurnished option A. Rent the furniture

Monthly rent 1,800 dollars plus utilities 200 dollars plus furniture rental 300 dollars equals 2,300 dollars per month
2,300 dollars times 3 months equals 6,900 dollars
Add moving cost 300 dollars
Total cost for 3 months equals 7,200 dollars

Unfurnished option B. Buy furniture and store it between gigs

Monthly rent 1,800 dollars plus utilities 200 dollars equals 2,000 dollars per month
2,000 dollars times 3 months equals 6,000 dollars
Add furniture purchase 1,200 dollars
Add storage 100 dollars times 3 months equals 300 dollars
Add moving cost 300 dollars
Total cost for 3 months equals 7,800 dollars

What these numbers show
Fully furnished 7,450 dollars
Unfurnished plus furniture rental 7,200 dollars
Unfurnished plus purchase and storage 7,800 dollars

The cheapest in this example is renting furniture for the short stay. Fully furnished is close behind and wins on time and stress saved. Buying furniture becomes the most expensive once you add storage and moving.

What really matters

If you stay short term, the time you save matters. Buying and moving furniture takes time and energy. Renting furniture or choosing a fully furnished place gets you sleeping, resting, and working faster.
If you plan to be in one city longer than a few months, buying can make sense. For three month contracts, furnished or furniture rental usually makes more sense.

The Ideal Choice: What Works Best for Travel Nurses?

For most travel nurses, a fully furnished place makes the most sense. You move in, drop your bags, and start work.

No shopping for beds or sofas. No setting up lights or waiting for the Wi-Fi guy. It saves time and keeps you rested for your shifts.

It also gives peace of mind. You know everything you need is already there.

You don’t worry about moving trucks or storage when it’s time for your next job. You just pack your clothes and go.

But if you plan to stay in one city for a long time, or if you live close to your next hospital, an unfurnished place can work.

You can buy your own things and set up the space how you like it.

That only makes sense if you’re staying long enough to enjoy it.

How to Find Reliable Fully Furnished Travel Nurse Housing

Finding the right housing matters a lot when you move for work. You need a place that’s safe, clean, and ready when you arrive.

The best way to find that is to look for providers who understand travel nurses and how often you move.

Check if they offer short leases, full setups, and support when you need help.

Before you book, always look at real photos of the space.

Make sure the furniture and rooms match what’s shown. Read what’s included, like Wi-Fi, laundry, and kitchen tools.

Go through the contract so you know the rules about deposits, notice periods, and move-out terms.

Reviews from other nurses can also help you spot reliable options.

At Travel Nurse Houses we provide fully furnished housing designed for travel nurses. Each apartment is ready to move into, close to major hospitals, and set up with everything you need to feel at home from day one.

Conclusion

For most travel nurses, comfort and convenience matter more than small savings. A fully furnished place costs a little more, but it saves time, effort, and worry. You move in, settle down, and focus on work instead of setting up a house.

Choosing the right housing is about how easy your day feels after long shifts and how much peace you have knowing your space is ready.

If you’re planning your next assignment, take a look at our furnished options. At Travel Nurse Houses, we help travel nurses find comfortable homes that make every move simple and stress-free.