What do you pay before and at move-in for a studio at Centro?
You pay a deposit that starts at $500, a $50 application fee, an administrative fee, and your first month of rent. Pets add a deposit, a one-time fee and monthly pet rent. Centro states that fees are estimates and actual amounts may vary, so confirm each one in writing.
Here is the full list, in the order you meet each cost:
| Cost | Amount | When it applies | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $50 | When you apply | No, non-refundable |
| Administrative fee | Ask the leasing office | When you apply | Returned if you are denied |
| Security deposit | Starts at $500 | Before move-in | Per your lease |
| Pet deposit, per pet | $150 | Before move-in, if you have a pet | Per your lease |
| Pet one-time fee, per pet | $250 | Before move-in, if you have a pet | Ask the leasing office |
| First month of rent | Your listed rent, possibly prorated | At or before move-in | Not applicable |
| Pet rent, per pet | $25 a month | Every month, if you have a pet | Not applicable |
Everything in the table with an amount comes from Centro’s published deposits and amenities information. The administrative fee amount is not published.
The terms to know are the security deposit, the application fee and the administrative fee. Each has a short entry in the glossary.
How much is the security deposit?
Centro says studio deposits start at $500. The word “start” matters. It means $500 is the lowest figure, and your deposit may be higher. Ask for the exact amount in your written quote, and ask how the deposit is returned when you move out.
A security deposit is money you hand over before move-in. The landlord holds it against damage or unpaid balances. You do not spend it. Whatever the lease allows to come back is returned after you move out.
Do not assume the deposit is the same for every applicant or every home. Centro states that fees are estimates and actual amounts may vary. Confirm your number with the leasing office, and read the live terms on the deposits page.
What does the application fee cover, and can you get it back?
The application fee is $50, and Centro says it is non-refundable. You pay it when you apply. It is not a deposit and it does not go toward rent. If your application is denied, you do not get the $50 back.
That rule is why you should know the real price range before you pay. A renter who sees the rent, the deposit and the fees first is much less likely to lose $50 on a home that does not fit. Read the approval guide to see what happens after you apply.
Third-party sources describe the same pattern across Austin. Austin Apartment Locators warns renters about having to “shell out up to $250 in app and admin fees when applying for a place.” Centro’s $50 application fee is one part of that picture. The size of Centro’s administrative fee is the other part, and the leasing office can tell you.
Is the administrative fee returned if you are denied?
Yes. Centro states that the administrative fee is returned if you are denied. That is the key difference from the application fee, which is not returned. If you are approved, the administrative fee is part of your cost to move in.
Because the amount is not published here, ask three questions:
- How much is the administrative fee?
- When do I pay it: at application or at lease signing?
- How long does a refund take if I am denied?
Get the answers in writing. A written quote also protects you, because Centro honors quotes for 2 business days. See the rent quote entry for how that works.
What do pets add to the move-in bill?
Each pet adds a $150 deposit and a $250 one-time fee at move-in, then $25 in monthly rent. Centro allows up to 2 pets, with no weight limit. Breed restrictions apply, and there is a dog park on site.
Here is the pet math for one pet and for two pets:
| One pet | Two pets | |
|---|---|---|
| Pet deposit ($150 each) | $150 | $300 |
| Pet one-time fee ($250 each) | $250 | $500 |
| Pet cost due at move-in | $400 | $800 |
| Pet rent ($25 each, every month) | $25 | $50 |
| Pet rent over 12 months | $300 | $600 |
Those figures use Centro’s published per-pet amounts. A second pet doubles each line. Ask the leasing office whether the per-pet pricing applies exactly as listed when you have two animals.
For more on the terms, see pet deposit, pet fee and pet rent. The page on pet-friendly studio apartments in Austin covers the full policy.
How is the first month of rent figured?
The first month is your listed monthly rent, and it may be prorated if you move in mid-month. Proration means you pay only for the days you live there that month. The method varies by lease, so ask the leasing office how Centro does it.
Here is the usual formula, shown as a general example and not as a Centro quote:
- Divide the monthly rent by the number of days in the move-in month. That is the daily rate.
- Multiply the daily rate by the number of days you will live there that month.
Say a studio rents for $699 a month and you move in with 15 days left in a 30-day month. The daily rate is $23.30. Fifteen days comes to $349.50. If you move in on the 1st, you pay the full $699.
The pro-rated rent entry has the short definition. Some communities charge a full month first and prorate later instead.
What is a worked example of the total cash due?
For a $699 studio with no pet, the amounts Centro has published add up to $1,249 before the administrative fee. That is a $500 deposit, a $50 application fee and one full month of rent at $699. Add the administrative fee once you know it.
This table uses the lowest published numbers. Your amounts may be higher:
| Line | No pet | One pet | Two pets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deposit (starts at) | $500 | $500 | $500 |
| Application fee | $50 | $50 | $50 |
| Pet deposit | $0 | $150 | $300 |
| Pet one-time fee | $0 | $250 | $500 |
| First month of rent at $699 (full month) | $699 | $699 | $699 |
| First month of pet rent | $0 | $25 | $50 |
| Subtotal before administrative fee | $1,249 | $1,674 | $2,099 |
Add the administrative fee to each column. If you move in mid-month and the lease prorates, the rent line falls. If your home rents above $699, the rent line rises. Centro’s listed range is $729 to $1,114 for 1st floor studios and $699 to $1,099 for 2nd floor studios as of 2026-11-02, and prices change daily.
This is an estimate built from published minimums. It is not an offer. Use it to size the cash you need, then ask for the real quote. The worked example post walks through a similar case.
How do you keep move-in costs low?
You cannot remove the deposit or the fees, but you can avoid surprises. Ask for the full quote first, check which special applies, and time your move-in date. A small timing change can lower the prorated rent line.
Try these steps:
- Ask for a written quote that lists every one-time and monthly charge.
- Confirm the deposit amount and how it is returned.
- Ask whether your home qualifies for a move-in special. Centro lists up to 8 weeks free on select floor plans, and offers vary by floor plan.
- Ask how the free weeks are applied. Some communities credit them in the first months. Others spread them across the lease.
- Compare the net monthly cost, not the headline. Read how move-in specials work.
- Set cash aside for the first payment, the deposit and the fees before you apply, so a denied application does not leave you short.
You can also review the total monthly price idea on the page that compares starting price and total monthly cost.
Which fees come back and which do not?
Of everything you pay, only the administrative fee is stated as returned on a denial. The application fee is not returned. Deposits are handled under your lease. Rent is not returned. Pet fees follow the terms Centro gives you.
| Item | If you are denied | If you are approved and move out later |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee ($50) | Not returned | Not returned |
| Administrative fee | Returned | Part of your move-in cost |
| Security deposit | Ask the leasing office | Handled under your lease |
| Rent | Not applicable | Not returned |
Always read the lease before you sign. The lease controls the details. This guide explains the pieces so the lease reads clearly.
What should your written quote include?
A good quote lists every charge, one-time and monthly, for your exact home. Centro honors quotes for 2 business days, so the quote is worth getting early. It turns this guide into real numbers you can plan around.
Check that the quote shows:
- The monthly rent and the date it starts
- The security deposit amount
- The application fee and the administrative fee
- Pet deposit, one-time fee and monthly pet rent, if you have a pet
- The first month’s rent and whether it is prorated
- Any move-in special and how it is applied
- The total due on the day you move in
If a line is missing, ask for it. If a number is different from this guide, trust the quote. Centro states that fees are estimates and actual amounts may vary. Pricing and availability are subject to change. The quote is the document that fixes the numbers for 2 business days.
What cash should you set aside beyond the table?
Add a cushion for the costs around the move itself. These are not Centro fees. They are your costs, and they vary by person, so the guide gives no dollar amount for them.
- A truck, helpers or movers
- Setting up utilities and internet, if they are not included
- Basic furniture and supplies for a studio
- Renter’s insurance, if you want it or the lease asks for it
Ask the leasing office what is required at move-in and what is optional.
Next step
Ask for your written quote and your exact deposit before you apply. Book a tour or call (737) 317-8369, and bring the questions from this guide.
