--- title: "Short-Term and Furnished Rentals in Austin: Costs and Terms" description: "Month-to-month, short-term and furnished rentals explained: what each means, why they cost more, and what Centro Studio Homes lists for furnished stays." url: https://centro.multisites.ai/guides/short-term-and-furnished-rentals-austin publisher: Centro Studio Homes phone: +17373178369 tour: https://centro.multisites.ai/scheduletour --- ![Centro studio sleeping area with a full bed and side tables](https://centro.multisites.ai/_astro/studio-bed.B2lBUTtu_1RE6QG.webp) # Month-to-month, short-term and furnished rentals in Austin: what they mean and what they cost A month-to-month lease renews each month with no end date. A short-term rental runs for a set, brief period. A furnished rental includes furniture. All three usually cost more than a 12-month unfurnished lease. Centro lists Furnished Short Term Rentals at $1,954 per month. Contact the office for availability. Updated November 2, 2026 - **Three different things**Month-to-month is about the lease. Short-term is about the length. Furnished is about what is inside. - **They cost more**Flexibility and furniture carry a premium over a standard 12-month unfurnished lease. - **Centro's listing**Centro lists Furnished Short Term Rentals at $1,954 per month. - **Call to confirm**Contact the office for availability. Centro does not publish more about this program. ## What is the difference between month-to-month, short-term and furnished? They answer three different questions. Month-to-month describes the lease: it renews each month with no end date. Short-term describes the length: a set, brief stay. Furnished describes the home: it comes with furniture. One rental can be all three, or only one. People mix these terms up, and the mix-up costs money. If you only need a bed for four months, you want short-term and furnished. If you own your furniture and just want to leave on 30 days’ notice, you want month-to-month and unfurnished. Ask for the term you actually need. Term What it describes Plain meaning Glossary Month-to-month The lease Renews monthly, no end date [Month-to-month lease](https://centro.multisites.ai/glossary/month-to-month-lease) Short-term The length A set, brief stay [Short-term rental](https://centro.multisites.ai/glossary/short-term-rental) Furnished The home Includes furniture [Furnished apartment](https://centro.multisites.ai/glossary/furnished-apartment) Fixed lease The lease A set term, often 12 months Lease term ## What is a month-to-month lease? A month-to-month lease is a rental agreement that automatically renews at the end of each month until either the landlord or the tenant gives written notice to end it. It has no set end date. Avail describes it in those terms, and notes that both sides can leave on short notice. The usual features follow from that: - **Short notice to leave.** You may only need to give notice about a month ahead. Check your lease and local law for the exact period. - **Rent can change.** The landlord can raise the rent with advance written notice, so the price may not stay the same. - **A higher monthly price.** Flexibility has a price, which the next section covers. - **A lease may convert.** A fixed lease can turn into month-to-month when it ends. Ask what happens at the end of your term. State law and your lease set the real notice rules. Read your lease and ask the leasing office to explain the notice period in writing. See our [glossary entry on month-to-month leases](https://centro.multisites.ai/glossary/month-to-month-lease) for a short definition. ## What is a short-term rental? A short-term rental is a rental for a set, brief stay, such as a few weeks or months, rather than a standard 12-month lease. It may be furnished or not. The length is the point, and the price usually reflects it. Short-term stays suit situations where plans are not fixed. You might be waiting on a home to close, trying a new city, or covering a gap between leases. Apartment List groups short-term and month-to-month leases together as the options that give the most flexibility, and notes that they come at the highest price. A few things to check on any short-term rental: 1. **Minimum stay.** Is there one? Some short-term rentals set a minimum number of days or months. 2. **What the price covers.** Does it include furniture, utilities, internet or cleaning? Ask for a list. 3. **Move-out rules.** What notice do you need, and what happens to your deposit? 4. **Lease paperwork.** Get the terms in writing, with the start and end dates. Read more in our [short-term rental glossary entry](https://centro.multisites.ai/glossary/short-term-rental). ## What does “furnished” mean? A furnished apartment comes with furniture. Zillow says furnished apartments typically include the essentials, like a bed, sofa, table and basic kitchenware. Some include more, and some include less. The only way to know what is in a home is to ask for an inventory list. Zillow splits furnished homes into three levels: Level What you usually get What you may still bring Fully furnished Furniture in each area, and often kitchenware and linens Personal items Semi-furnished Major pieces, like a bed, sofa and table Kitchenware, bedding, accessories Basic furnishings Only essential furniture, such as a couch and bed Most other things Zillow also advises that you ask for an inventory list before signing a lease, since furnishings can vary more than you think. Do that for any furnished unit. Ask also what happens if a piece breaks, and whether you may remove or swap any item. Our [furnished apartment glossary entry](https://centro.multisites.ai/glossary/furnished-apartment) has a short definition. ## Why do these rentals cost more? They carry a premium for flexibility, for furniture, or both. Avail says landlords frequently charge a month-to-month premium that adds roughly 20% to 40% to the monthly cost over a fixed term. Zillow says furnished apartments typically cost 15 to 20 percent more than similar unfurnished ones. The table below shows the general pattern. These are market figures from the sources named, not Centro prices. Rental type General cost pattern Source and date Month-to-month Roughly 20% to 40% more per month than a fixed term Avail, updated June 16, 2026 Furnished About 15% to 20% more than a similar unfurnished unit Zillow, September 30, 2025 Short-term and month-to-month The most flexibility, at the highest price Apartment List, March 2026 12-month unfurnished The standard baseline Apartment List, March 2026 Why the premium exists: - **The owner takes on risk.** A unit that turns over often may sit empty between stays. - **More work per stay.** Cleaning, repairs and re-listing happen more often. - **Furniture costs money.** Someone buys it, maintains it and replaces it. - **Convenience.** You skip buying, moving and storing furniture. Short stays can still save money. If you rent for a few months, the cost of buying furniture from scratch, even budget pieces, can add up quickly. Zillow says the extra rent may be worth it for a short stay. For a long stay, the premium adds up month after month. ## What does Centro list for furnished short-term rentals? Centro lists “Furnished Short Term Rentals” at $1,954 per month. Contact the leasing office for availability. Centro does not publish more about this program on its listing, so ask about it directly. Here is what is known and what is not: Question Known from Centro’s listing Is a furnished short-term option listed? Yes, “Furnished Short Term Rentals” What is the listed price? $1,954 per month Is it available now? Contact the office for availability Minimum or maximum stay Not published What furniture is included Not published What the price covers Not published For comparison, Centro’s standard studio listings run from $699 to $1,114 per month as shown on 2026-11-02. Prices change daily; check current pricing. The two prices are not the same product, so a direct comparison does not tell you what the extra cost buys. Ask the office what is included in the $1,954 price. You can see the standard studios on the [floor plans page](https://centro.multisites.ai/floorplans). Call the leasing office at (737) 317-8369, or use the [contact page](https://centro.multisites.ai/contactus). The office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, and Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM. It is closed on Sunday. ## How do you decide which option fits? Start with how long you will stay and what you own. If you stay under a year and own no furniture, furnished short-term may cost less than buying a household of goods. If you own furniture and want a lower rent, a standard lease costs less per month. Use this simple table to compare. Fill in your own numbers. Question If yes, lean toward If no, lean toward Will you stay less than 6 months? Furnished short-term A fixed lease Do you own a bed, sofa and table? Unfurnished Furnished Do you need to leave on short notice? Month-to-month A fixed lease Is the lowest monthly rent your top goal? A fixed lease Furnished or flexible Then do the cost math. Take the monthly price, multiply by the months you will stay, and add move-in costs. Compare the totals, not just the monthly price. Our guide to [studio apartment costs in Austin](https://centro.multisites.ai/guides/studio-apartment-costs-austin) shows how to total the costs, and the [starting price vs total monthly cost](https://centro.multisites.ai/compare/starting-price-vs-total-monthly-cost) page explains how to read the number on a listing. An example, using made-up numbers to show the method only: - Option A: $1,500 per month furnished, for 3 months = $4,500. - Option B: $1,100 per month unfurnished, for 3 months = $3,300, plus buying and moving furniture. If furniture costs more than $1,200 for those three months, option A wins. If you already own furniture, option B wins. These figures are not Centro prices. Use them as a model for your own numbers. ## What should you ask the leasing office? Ask about price, length, what is included, and how to end the stay. Get the answers in writing. These questions cover the most common surprises. 1. What is the monthly price for a stay of 1, 3, 6 and 12 months? 2. Is there a minimum stay? A maximum? 3. What furniture and items are included? Can I see an inventory list? 4. Are utilities, internet or cleaning included in the price? (Centro lists a cable and internet package. Ask what it costs and if it applies.) 5. How much is the deposit, and when is it refunded? Centro’s studio deposits start at $500. 6. What is the application fee? Centro’s is $50, and it is non-refundable. 7. How much notice do I give to move out? 8. Can the rent change during my stay? 9. What happens if I need to extend or leave early? 10. Is the home in the same building as the standard studios? Read about the standard deposit and fee terms on the deposits page. For more questions to ask, see our [apartment tour checklist](https://centro.multisites.ai/guides/apartment-tour-checklist). ## Can you tour a furnished short-term unit? Ask the leasing office. Centro offers in-person guided tours and live video tours. Whether a furnished short-term unit is part of a tour depends on availability, so confirm when you call. If a live video tour is possible, ask the guide to show the whole inventory: the bed, sofa, table, kitchen items and storage. Take screenshots. Compare them with the inventory list you request. This protects you at move-out, because you have a record of what was there on day one. Book a tour on the [schedule a tour](https://centro.multisites.ai/scheduletour) page, or call to ask about the furnished option first. ## Next step Call the leasing office at (737) 317-8369 to ask about the furnished short-term option and its availability, or [book a tour](https://centro.multisites.ai/scheduletour) to see the standard studios. ## Questions renters ask What is a month-to-month lease? A month-to-month lease is a rental agreement that renews at the end of each month until you or the landlord gives written notice to end it. It has no set end date, so it gives you flexibility. Most such leases cost more per month than a fixed term. How much more does a month-to-month lease cost? It varies by property. Avail says landlords frequently charge a premium of roughly 20% to 40% over a fixed-term lease. That is a general figure, not a Centro price. Ask the leasing office for the exact monthly price at each lease length. What does a furnished apartment include? Furnished apartments typically include the essentials: a bed, sofa, table and basic kitchenware. What is included can vary by unit. Ask the leasing office for an inventory list before you sign, so you know exactly what is in the home. Does Centro offer furnished short-term rentals? Centro lists Furnished Short Term Rentals at $1,954 per month. Contact the leasing office for availability. Centro does not publish the minimum stay, the furniture list or what the price includes, so ask those questions when you call. Are furnished apartments more expensive? Usually yes. Zillow says to expect to pay 15 to 20 percent more for a furnished apartment than a similar unfurnished one. The gap depends on the city, the furniture and the lease length. These are general figures, not Centro prices. Which is better for a short stay, month-to-month or furnished short-term? It depends on what you own and how long you plan to stay. Furnished short-term saves you from buying or moving furniture. Month-to-month on an unfurnished home can cost less per month if you already own furniture. Compare the total for your length of stay. ## Sources 1. [Avail: Master the Month-to-Month Lease](https://www.avail.com/education/articles/month-to-month-leases)A month-to-month lease is a rental agreement that automatically renews at the end of each month until either the landlord or the tenant provides written notice to terminate. 2. [Avail: Master the Month-to-Month Lease (premium)](https://www.avail.com/education/articles/month-to-month-leases)Landlords frequently charge a month-to-month rent premium that adds roughly 20% to 40% more to the monthly cost compared to a fixed term lease. 3. [Zillow: Do Apartments Come Furnished?](https://www.zillow.com/learn/do-apartments-come-furnished/)Expect to pay 15-20% more for a furnished apartment compared to a similar unfurnished unit. 4. [Zillow: Do Apartments Come Furnished? (what is included)](https://www.zillow.com/learn/do-apartments-come-furnished/)Furnished apartments typically include the essentials, like a bed, sofa, table, and basic kitchenware. 5. [Apartment List: 36 Questions to Ask When Renting an Apartment in 2026](https://www.apartmentlist.com/renter-life/questions-to-ask-when-renting-an-apartment)Remember that short-term and month-to-month leases provide the most flexibility but come at the highest price. 6. [Apartment List: 36 Questions to Ask When Renting an Apartment in 2026 (lease length)](https://www.apartmentlist.com/renter-life/questions-to-ask-when-renting-an-apartment)A 12-month lease is the standard lease length, but other lease options may be available. ## Come see your studio. Tour in person or by live video. Book a time and we will show you the studios available now. [Book a tour](https://centro.multisites.ai/scheduletour) [(737) 317-8369](tel:+17373178369) Leasing office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM; Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM; Sunday, closed.