Last updated:
Key takeaways
- Furnished apartments cost 20–40% more per month but include all furniture, appliances, and utilities. Unfurnished apartments have lower monthly rent but require a 5,000–15,000 EUR upfront investment.
- For stays under 18 to 24 months, furnished is typically the more cost-effective choice once you factor in setup costs.
- Furnished apartments use flexible contracts (Zeitmietvertrag or fixed-stay Mietvertrag). Unfurnished apartments use open-ended tenancies requiring three months' notice to exit.
- The Mietpreisbremse rent cap applies to long-term unfurnished leases but not to furnished temporary rentals.
- Both furnished and unfurnished tenants in Germany can register their official address (Anmeldung), provided the contract is a proper residential Mietvertrag.
- Furnished suits expats, professionals on assignment, and international students. Unfurnished suits long-term residents who want to make a home their own.
Quick answer
Furnished apartments are more expensive per month but move-in-ready, flexible, and all-inclusive. Unfurnished apartments have lower monthly rent but require a large upfront investment and a long-term commitment. The right choice depends on how long you plan to stay and how much setup work you can take on. For most international arrivals and professionals on assignment, furnished is the practical choice for the first year or two in Germany.
Overview
Choosing between a furnished and an unfurnished apartment in Germany is not just a question of taste. It affects your monthly budget, the type of contract you sign, how quickly you can move in, and how easily you can leave. The right answer depends almost entirely on how long you plan to stay and what stage of life you are at.
Germany has one of the world's most structured private rental markets. Around 80 to 85% of tenants rent unfurnished, reflecting the country's strong culture of long-term, settled tenancy. But a growing segment, particularly international professionals, students, and people in professional transition, turns to furnished rental for the flexibility and simplicity it provides.
This guide compares both options across the dimensions that matter most: total cost, what is included, contract type and flexibility, legal framework, and practical fit. All furnished rental data comes from Wunderflats internal booking records (Jun 2025–May 2026) covering eight major German cities.
Cost comparison: monthly rent vs. total cost of stay
Monthly rent is only part of the picture. To compare fairly, you need to account for setup costs and the cost of exiting each type of arrangement.
Monthly rent premium for furnished apartments
Furnished apartments in Germany typically cost 20 to 40% more per month than comparable unfurnished apartments in the same area. In cities like Berlin, the premium is typically 200 to 400 EUR per month above an equivalent unfurnished flat. In München, where base rents are higher, the absolute premium is larger.
This premium reflects what is included: furniture, appliances, utilities (heating, hot water, often electricity and internet), and often no need to set up or cancel separate contracts. The Mietpreisbremse rent cap does not apply to furnished temporary rentals, so the market determines the price.
Upfront setup costs for unfurnished apartments
An unfurnished apartment in Germany often comes with bare walls and no fitted kitchen. This is not unusual: in Germany, tenants routinely move the entire kitchen with them when they leave. Setting up an unfurnished apartment typically requires:
- Kitchen: Units, appliances, and installation: typically 3,000 to 8,000 EUR or more
- Furniture: Bed, sofa, dining table, wardrobe, storage: 2,000 to 6,000 EUR
- White goods: Washing machine, refrigerator (if not already fitted): 500 to 1,500 EUR
- Total: Typically 5,000 to 15,000 EUR for a complete setup
At this level of upfront investment, the break-even point versus a furnished apartment (which costs more monthly but requires nothing upfront) typically falls at 18 to 24 months, depending on city, apartment size, and furnishing choices.
Practical rule: If you plan to stay for less than 18 months, furnished is likely the more cost-effective option once setup costs are factored in. If you plan to stay for 3 years or more, unfurnished generally works out cheaper over the full tenure, and you have the benefit of a home designed exactly as you want it.
What is and is not included
The difference between furnished and unfurnished is more significant in Germany than in many other countries, because German unfurnished apartments frequently include none of the built-in fixtures that tenants in other countries take for granted.
Furnished apartment: what you get
- Bed and bedroom storage
- Sofa, dining table and chairs
- Fully equipped kitchen (oven, hob, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, cookware)
- Washing machine (in-unit or shared)
- Heating and hot water included in monthly Warmmiete
- Broadband internet (on many listings)
- Ready to move in on day one, with no utility contracts to set up
Unfurnished apartment: what you get
- Empty rooms with fitted bathroom
- Usually no kitchen (or an older basic kitchen if included: always confirm)
- No furniture, no appliances
- Utilities billed separately (you set up your own electricity and internet contracts)
- Freedom to furnish and design the space entirely as you wish
Flexibility and contract length
This is one of the most significant practical differences between the two options.
Furnished mid-term apartments are typically offered on flexible contract terms. The lease has a defined duration, or includes the ability for the tenant to end the contract with relatively short notice. This suits people who know they need somewhere for 3 months, 6 months, or up to a year, but do not want to commit to a multi-year tenancy.
Unfurnished apartments almost always use an open-ended unbefristeter Mietvertrag. This means the contract has no set end date. To leave, the tenant must give three months' written notice (Kündigungsfrist). The landlord cannot end the contract without specific legal grounds (personal use, renovation, or serious breach). This protects long-term tenants but makes unfurnished apartments a significant commitment.
For someone arriving in Germany for a one-year assignment, signing an unfurnished open-ended lease creates a real exit problem: ending it at the 12-month mark still requires three months' notice and a full move-out process.
Legal differences in Germany
Contract types
Furnished (temporary): A Zeitmietvertrag under §575 BGB (fixed-term) or a standard Mietvertrag with a defined stay agreed by both parties. The Zeitmietvertrag requires a valid written reason for the time limit. Without one, it automatically converts to an open-ended tenancy.
Unfurnished (long-term): An unbefristeter Mietvertrag (open-ended tenancy). The landlord cannot legally refuse to renew, and cannot raise rent freely: rent increases are governed by the local Mietspiegel (rent index) and limited to 20% over three years in most cities.
Mietpreisbremse (rent brake)
The Mietpreisbremse limits how much landlords can charge on new unfurnished long-term leases in cities with tight housing markets. It does not apply to furnished apartments rented on a temporary basis. This is a deliberate legal distinction: the furnished temporary market is exempt to reflect the added value and service provided.
Deposit rules
For both furnished and unfurnished apartments, the maximum deposit in Germany is three months' Kaltmiete (net rent, not including utilities). This cap is set by §551 BGB and applies regardless of contract type.
Anmeldung (address registration)
Both furnished and unfurnished tenants have the right to register their address in Germany, provided the contract is a proper residential Mietvertrag. This is a legal requirement for anyone living in Germany for more than two weeks.
Who each option suits
Furnished apartment: who benefits most
- Professionals on assignment: A defined project or contract in a German city, typically 3 to 12 months. No time or willingness to buy furniture. Needs Anmeldung for tax and administrative purposes.
- Expats relocating to Germany: Arriving before a permanent flat is found. Wants a legal, comfortable base while exploring the city and understanding the long-term rental market.
- International students on semester abroad: Typically 4 to 6 months. University halls are limited. No German credit history means furnished mid-term rentals are often easier to secure than long-term unfurnished flats.
- People between homes: Separation, flat purchase delayed, renovation in progress. Needs a clean, comfortable temporary solution that does not become a long-term commitment.
- Budget: Willing to pay a monthly premium in exchange for no setup costs, no utility admin, and an exit with short notice.
Wunderflats data: Approximately 55% of furnished mid-term bookings across Germany are work-related (relocation, assignment, project-based). International students account for a further 13.7%. The profile is clearly not long-term settled residents: it is people with a defined reason to be somewhere for a defined period.
Source: Wunderflats internal data (BigQuery), Jun 2025–May 2026. Figures cover furnished mid-term apartments booked across 8 major German cities.
Unfurnished apartment: who benefits most
- Long-term residents: Planning to stay in the same city for 3 years or more. The upfront investment in furniture pays off over time through lower monthly rent.
- People building a permanent home: Wanting to choose their own furniture, design the kitchen, and make the space genuinely their own.
- German nationals with established rental history: The unfurnished long-term market is where the majority of German rental stock sits. A strong Schufa score and German income documentation open up the widest range of options.
- Budget: Can absorb the 5,000 to 15,000 EUR upfront setup cost in exchange for lower ongoing monthly rent.
Furnished rents by city: Wunderflats data
The figures below are all-inclusive Warmmiete for furnished mid-term apartments. This means heating, hot water, and building services are included. No additional utility contracts are needed.
| City | Median rent/month | Median stay |
|---|---|---|
| München | 1,650 EUR | 3.9 months |
| Hamburg | 1,590 EUR | 3.6 months |
| Berlin | 1,490 EUR | 3.2 months |
| Köln | 1,400 EUR | 3.5 months |
| Frankfurt am Main | 1,300 EUR | 3.0 months |
| Düsseldorf | 1,250 EUR | 3.0 months |
| Stuttgart | 1,250 EUR | 3.7 months |
| Leipzig | 1,100 EUR | 3.0 months |
Source: Wunderflats internal data (BigQuery), Jun 2025–May 2026. All-inclusive Warmmiete for furnished mid-term apartments.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Furnished apartment | Unfurnished apartment |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent | 20–40% higher | Lower |
| Upfront cost | Deposit only (max 3 months Kaltmiete) | Deposit + 5,000–15,000 EUR setup |
| Utilities | Included (Warmmiete) | Separate contracts needed |
| Move-in time | Immediate | Weeks to months (furniture, kitchen) |
| Contract type (Germany) | Zeitmietvertrag or defined-stay Mietvertrag | Unbefristeter Mietvertrag (open-ended) |
| Notice to exit | End of fixed term, or as agreed | 3 months (Kündigungsfrist) |
| Mietpreisbremse applies? | No (temporary furnished exemption) | Yes (in applicable cities) |
| Anmeldung possible? | Yes (with Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) | Yes |
| Schufa typically required? | Often not required for international tenants | Almost always required |
| Best for | Stays up to ~18–24 months; expats, professionals, students | Long-term residents, 2+ years |
Frequently asked questions
Is a furnished apartment more expensive than unfurnished in Germany?
Yes, typically 20 to 40% more per month. In Berlin, the monthly premium is usually 200 to 400 EUR. However, unfurnished apartments require an upfront setup investment of 5,000 to 15,000 EUR. For stays under 18 to 24 months, furnished apartments are often the more cost-effective option overall.
Do German unfurnished apartments include a kitchen?
Not always. In Germany, tenants often take their entire fitted kitchen with them when they move. This means some unfurnished apartments are advertised as Einbauküche (fitted kitchen included) and some are not. Always check what is included before signing. If no kitchen is included, budget for a significant installation project. A furnished apartment on Wunderflats always includes a fully equipped kitchen.
How much notice do I need to give to leave an unfurnished apartment in Germany?
Three months, in writing. The German standard notice period (Kündigungsfrist) for tenants in open-ended contracts is three months, regardless of how long you have lived there. The notice must be given in writing (Schriftform) and received by the landlord no later than the third working day of a month for the notice to count from that month. For furnished mid-term rentals on a fixed-term contract, the lease ends at the agreed date: no separate notice is required.
Does the Mietpreisbremse rent cap apply to furnished apartments in Germany?
No. The Mietpreisbremse does not apply to furnished apartments rented on a temporary basis. It applies to new long-term unfurnished leases in cities designated as having tight housing markets (angespannte Wohnraumversorgung). The furnished rental market is exempt because the all-inclusive price covers furniture, appliances, and utilities: not just the base rent.
Can I negotiate the rent on a furnished apartment in Germany?
Yes, in principle. Rent on furnished apartments is not subject to a legal cap (unlike long-term unfurnished leases in some cities), so it is determined by supply and demand. In high-demand cities and periods, landlords have less reason to negotiate. In lower-demand periods or for longer stays, there is more room. Booking directly through a platform like Wunderflats gives you transparent pricing and the ability to compare listings side by side.
What is the deposit for a furnished apartment in Germany?
German law (§551 BGB) caps the deposit at three months' Kaltmiete (net rent, not including utilities) for any rental contract. This applies to both furnished and unfurnished apartments. The landlord must return the deposit within a reasonable period after the tenancy ends: typically 3 to 6 months: minus any documented deductions for damage beyond normal wear and tear.
Sources
- Wunderflats internal data (BigQuery), Jun 2025–May 2026: city rents, booking durations, tenant profiles, 8 major German cities
- Proforg Global Mobility: Furnished vs. unfurnished apartments in Germany: What expats need to know
- Zeitwohnen: Furnished or Unfurnished Rentals? Advantages and Disadvantages
- Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB) §575: Zeitmietvertrag; §551: deposit cap, gesetze-im-internet.de
- White Apartments: Furnished or Unfurnished Rental: Which Strategy Makes Sense in 2025?
