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Is Furnished Student Housing Worth It? What Drake Students Should Know
When you are weighing off-campus housing options at Drake University, one of the first questions that comes up is whether furnished housing is actually worth the rent premium. The price difference can feel significant enough to give you pause.
But furnished housing is rarely just about the furniture. The real comparison is not furnished rent versus unfurnished rent. It is furnished rent versus unfurnished rent plus the full cost of furnishing, moving, and setting up an apartment on your own. Once you do that math, the picture looks very different.
This guide breaks down what furnished student housing includes, what you would spend furnishing an apartment yourself, and what to look for when deciding if a furnished option fits your situation. For a broader look at the off-campus decision itself, see our guide on What Is It Like Living Off Campus at Drake University.
Quick Answer: Furnished student housing is typically worth it for college students moving off campus for the first time, living far from home, or prioritizing a low-stress move-in experience. When rent includes furniture, utilities, and amenities, the total monthly value often exceeds the cost of managing those things separately.
What Does "Furnished" Actually Mean in Student Housing?
Not all furnished apartments are equal. The term can mean anything from a mattress on a frame to a fully outfitted space ready for move-in day. At a basic level, a furnished student apartment typically includes a bed frame, a desk and chair, living room seating, a dining table and chairs, and some storage.
At the higher end, purpose-built communities like Drake West Village go further. Every apartment comes with a full leather furniture package, a full-size bed frame, a dining set, and a study desk. Nothing to assemble, nothing to haul upstairs, and nothing to buy before your first day of class.
Understanding the full inventory matters because the value of furnished housing scales directly with how complete it is. A furnished apartment that still requires you to buy a desk or a sofa has not actually solved the problem. Review the complete furniture list on our available floor plans at Drake West Village before comparing options.
The Real Cost of Furnishing an Apartment from Scratch
This is the number most students underestimate. When you sign a lease on an unfurnished apartment, you are not just agreeing to pay rent. You are agreeing to cover every piece of furniture that does not come with the unit.
Basic First-Apartment Setup Costs
- Bedroom (bed frame, mattress, dresser): $600 to $1,500
- Living room (sofa, coffee table): $500 to $2,000
- Desk and chair: $200 to $500
- Dining table and chairs: $200 to $600
- Kitchen basics (cookware, dishes, utensils): $300 to $600
- Household essentials and laundry supplies: $100 to $200
Conservative total: $2,000 to $5,000 before your first rent payment.
A June 2025 analysis found that students who choose furnished accommodations save 55 to 65 percent compared to purchasing new furniture. And that is before the move. According to Move.org's 2026 data, moving truck rentals average around $1,005 for a local move, with costs rising significantly for out-of-state students. For broader context, the average cost of room and board at a public four-year college is $14,034 per year as of 2025-26. Off-campus furnished housing with utilities included often competes favorably with that figure.
What All-Inclusive Really Means (and Why It Changes the Comparison)
There is a meaningful difference between an apartment that is furnished and one that is furnished and all-inclusive. If the unfurnished option also requires you to manage utilities separately, that adds monthly cost and administrative effort to the real comparison.
At Drake West Village, rent includes a fully furnished apartment, water, sewer, and trash, plus access to the community amenities included with every lease: the 24/7 fitness center, 24-hour study lounges on every floor, the game room, courtyard, BBQ grills, and on-site laundry. No hidden amenity fees.
When you factor in utilities (typically $100 to $150 per month for a small apartment) and a gym membership ($30 to $50 per month), the gap between furnished all-inclusive and unfurnished narrows considerably. A June 2026 student housing market report found that nearly 60 percent of students now prefer bundled utility pricing when choosing off-campus housing.
The honest comparison is total monthly outlay, not just the rent line.
Who Benefits Most from Furnished Student Housing?
It makes the most sense if you are…
Moving from out of state. Starting furnished eliminates thousands of dollars in shipping or moving costs and the logistical complexity that comes with long-distance moves.
Moving off campus for the first time. First-time renters consistently underestimate setup costs. A furnished space removes that variable. Our Essential Tips for First-Time Apartment Renters covers what else to expect when you sign your first lease.
On a predictable budget. One payment covering furniture, utilities, and amenities makes monthly expenses easier to manage and eliminates surprise bills mid-semester.
Staying for one or two years. Furnished housing tends to offer better value over a standard off-campus lease term compared to buying furniture, moving it in, and then dealing with it when you leave.
It may be less of a priority if you are…
Already owning furniture you plan to use and have a reliable way to transport it, or if personalizing your living space with specific pieces matters more to you than the convenience of an all-inclusive setup.
Questions to Ask Before Signing a Furnished Housing Lease
- What exactly is in the furniture package? Get a full list and confirm whether the mattress is included or if you need to bring your own.
- Are utilities truly included or is there a cap? Some communities advertise utilities as included but impose a monthly allowance. Understand the terms before assuming full coverage.
- What is the damage policy? Know your liability for normal wear versus accidental damage to provided furniture.
- Are there hidden amenity fees? Confirm that everything advertised as included is in the base rent, not billed as a separate monthly add-on.
- Is the lease aligned with the academic year? Ask whether academic-year terms are available so you are not paying through the summer. For a full move-in prep checklist, see our Drake University Move-In Day: A Student's Complete Checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions About Furnished Student Housing
Is furnished student housing more expensive than unfurnished?
The monthly rent on a furnished apartment is often slightly higher. But when you account for furniture costs, moving expenses, and separate utility and amenity payments, furnished all-inclusive housing frequently costs less on a total monthly basis. Compare total cost, not just the rent line.
What furniture is typically included in a furnished student apartment?
Most furnished student apartments include a bed frame, study desk, sofa, and dining set. Drake West Village includes a full leather furniture package, full-size bed frame, dining set, and study desk. The apartment is fully move-in ready on arrival with no assembly required.
Do I still need to bring anything to a furnished apartment?
Yes. Furnished apartments provide the furniture, but you are still responsible for bedding, pillows, towels, kitchen supplies, and personal items. Review the specific inventory list for your apartment so you know exactly what is included before move-in day.
Is all-inclusive student housing worth it?
All-inclusive housing, where a single payment covers furniture, utilities, and amenities, offers predictable monthly costs and eliminates the effort of managing multiple accounts. For students managing a budget independently for the first time, that simplicity has real value beyond the dollar amount.
How much does it cost to furnish a student apartment from scratch?
Market data puts the cost of furnishing a basic student apartment at $2,000 to $5,000 for new items, or $1,000 to $2,500 buying secondhand. That is a significant upfront cost before your first rent payment or utility bill, not including any moving expenses.
Can I personalize a furnished apartment?
Yes. You can add your own bedding, decor, wall art, rugs, and personal touches to a furnished apartment. You typically cannot remove or replace the provided furniture, but the space is yours to make feel like home within those parameters.
Does Drake West Village offer furnished apartments?
Yes. Every apartment at Drake West Village comes fully furnished with a leather furniture package, full-size bed frame, dining set, and study desk. Water, sewer, and trash are included in rent, along with access to all community amenities including the 24/7 fitness center, 24-hour study lounges on every floor, game room, and on-site laundry at no additional cost.
Ready to See Furnished Living for Yourself?
The question of whether furnished student housing is worth it comes down to one honest comparison: what would you actually spend to replicate that value on your own?
For most Drake students making the move off campus, the math tends to favor furnished housing once you factor in furniture costs, moving expenses, and the ongoing cost of managing utilities and amenities separately. But beyond the numbers, there is a real advantage in being able to show up on move-in day with your bags, your bedding, and your laptop and actually start your semester, instead of spending the first two weeks assembling furniture and opening utility accounts.
If you are ready to see what furnished off-campus living looks like in the West Village neighborhood, explore the floor plan options and book a time to walk through the space. The sooner you lock in your spot, the better your options.
See the floor plans, check availability, and schedule a tour with the Drake West Village leasing team, schedule a tour at Drake West Village.