Short answer: choose a furnished apartment in Dhaka if your stay is under about two years, you are arriving without your own furniture or you need to move in within days. Choose unfurnished if you are staying longer and shipping or buying furniture anyway. A fully furnished flat typically rents for 30–50% more than the same unit unfurnished, but it removes weeks of setup and a large upfront spend.
The furnished vs unfurnished apartment decision in Dhaka is really a question about time, money and how long you will stay. This guide compares the two using figures from properties Rent Property lists, explains what "semi-furnished" usually means, and sets out who should choose which.
What does "furnished" mean in a Dhaka apartment?
Terms are not standardised, so always ask for an inventory. In practice, listings tend to fall into three groups:
- Fully furnished: ready to live in with a suitcase. Beds and mattresses, sofas, dining table, wardrobes, curtains, a fitted kitchen with cooker and fridge, washing machine, air-conditioning in the bedrooms and usually a water heater in each bathroom. Some include linen, crockery and kitchenware; many do not.
- Semi-furnished: the fixed items are in place — typically kitchen cabinets, built-in wardrobes, light fittings and sometimes air-conditioners and curtains — but loose furniture such as beds, sofas and tables is not.
- Unfurnished: an empty flat. In Dhaka this often means no air-conditioners, no appliances and sometimes no light fittings or curtain rails. Fitted kitchen cabinets and bathroom fixtures are usually present, but check.
Our listings use "furnished" and "fully furnished" separately. The difference can be as small as linen and kitchenware or as large as missing appliances, so the inventory, not the label, is what counts.
How much more does a furnished apartment cost in Dhaka?
As a rule of thumb, a fully furnished flat typically commands 30–50% more rent than the same flat unfurnished, as our Dhaka rent price guide explains. The landlord is recovering the cost of furniture, appliances and wear over the lease.
In real listings, furnishing is only one factor. Building grade, size, security and location often matter more. From properties we currently list:
- In Gulshan, three-bedroom flats range from BDT 75,000 per month for a furnished 1,350 sq ft unit to BDT 160,000 for a fully furnished 2,200 sq ft unit. An unfurnished 2,524 sq ft three-bedroom is also listed at BDT 160,000.
- In Banani, furnished and fully furnished three-bedroom flats of 2,400–2,500 sq ft range from BDT 120,000 to BDT 140,000, while another listing, an unfurnished 2,400 sq ft three-bedroom, is priced at BDT 200,000.
- In Baridhara, unfurnished three-bedroom flats of 3,000 sq ft are listed at BDT 300,000–350,000, reflecting the Diplomatic Zone location rather than the furnishing.
The lesson: compare like with like. The 30–50% premium applies to the same flat, or to closely comparable flats in the same building. Across different buildings, an unfurnished flat can cost more than a furnished one.
| Area | Properties | Lowest | Median | Highest | Avg sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulshan | 10 | BDT 70,000 | BDT 160,000 | BDT 300,000 | 2,387 |
| Baridhara | 8 | BDT 150,000 | BDT 350,000 | BDT 1,000,000 | 4,000 |
| Bashundhara | 7 | BDT 35,000 | BDT 80,000 | BDT 150,000 | 1,343 |
| Banani | 6 | BDT 120,000 | BDT 150,000 | BDT 200,000 | 2,767 |
| Uttara | 3 | BDT 90,000 | BDT 100,000 | BDT 300,000 | 3,220 |
| Mohammadpur | 1 | BDT 100,000 | BDT 100,000 | BDT 100,000 | 2,000 |
| Khulshi | 1 | BDT 35,000 | BDT 35,000 | BDT 35,000 | 1,600 |
| Nikunja | 1 | BDT 600,000 | BDT 600,000 | BDT 600,000 | 9,200 |
| Niketon | 1 | BDT 100,000 | BDT 100,000 | BDT 100,000 | 2,000 |
| Mirpur DOHS | 1 | BDT 60,000 | BDT 60,000 | BDT 60,000 | 900 |
Monthly rents in BDT, excluding service charge and utilities. Based on 39 residential properties. Updated 2026-11-08.
What does it cost to set up an unfurnished flat?
The rent saving on an unfurnished flat has to be weighed against the cost of equipping it. For a family flat in Dhaka, that usually means buying or shipping:
- Air-conditioners for each bedroom and often the living room, plus installation
- Water heaters (geysers) if not already fitted
- Fridge, cooker, microwave and washing machine
- Beds, mattresses, sofas, dining set, desks and wardrobes if not built in
- Curtains, rods and light fittings
- Kitchenware, linen and small appliances
- Possibly an inverter or UPS if the building generator does not carry the whole flat
Prices vary widely with brand and quality, so we do not quote a single figure. Get quotes for the full list before you compare it with the furnished rent, and remember that you will need to sell, store or ship everything at the end of the posting.
How long does it take to set up an unfurnished apartment?
Time is often the deciding factor. Buying locally, arranging deliveries and installing air-conditioners and water heaters usually takes several weeks, and longer around major holidays. Sea freight from overseas generally takes longer still, once shipping and customs clearance are included. During that time you are either living in a partly equipped flat or paying for temporary accommodation.
A furnished flat is usually ready within days of the lease being signed, once it has been cleaned and the inventory checked. If you need to start work immediately, that difference matters more than the rent.
Can a landlord furnish an unfurnished flat for you?
Sometimes. For a longer lease, some landlords will agree to add air-conditioners, appliances or a full furniture package in return for a higher rent. This can work well if you like a particular unfurnished flat but do not want to buy furniture yourself. If you go this way, agree the exact list of items, the brands or standard, the delivery date and who owns and repairs each item, all in writing and before you pay the advance. Semi-furnished listings are rarer; our one current example is a three-bedroom in Khulshi, Chattogram, rather than in Dhaka.
Furnished vs unfurnished apartment in Dhaka: comparison table
| Fully furnished | Semi-furnished | Unfurnished | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly rent | Highest; typically 30–50% above the same flat unfurnished | In between | Lowest for the same flat |
| Upfront spend | Deposit and advance only | Deposit plus loose furniture | Deposit plus full furniture and appliances |
| Time to move in | Days | One to a few weeks | Several weeks or more |
| Best stay length | A few months to about two years | One to three years | Two years or more |
| Flexibility at the end | High; hand back the keys | Medium | Low; sell, store or ship your furniture |
| Control over style and quality | Limited to what is provided | Partial | Full |
| Repairs to appliances | Usually the landlord's responsibility; confirm in the lease | Split; confirm in the lease | Yours, for items you own |
Who should choose a furnished apartment?
- Diplomats, UN and NGO staff and company employees on postings of five months to two years
- Anyone arriving at short notice, or before their shipment
- Employers housing staff on rotation, who need a consistent, ready standard
- People who want a predictable monthly cost with no large upfront purchase
For shorter stays, a serviced apartment goes a step further, with linen, internet, utilities and housekeeping bundled into the monthly price.
Who should choose an unfurnished apartment?
- Families on longer postings who are shipping their own household goods anyway
- People with strong preferences on beds, furniture or appliances
- Tenants planning to stay several years, where the rent saving adds up
- Employers whose housing policy includes a furniture allowance or shipment
What to check before signing either type
- Get a written, photographed inventory listing every item and its condition, signed by both sides at move-in.
- Test everything: air-conditioners, water heaters, appliances, lights and the generator changeover.
- Agree who repairs what, especially for landlord-owned appliances.
- Ask whether items can be removed or added; some landlords will adjust the furniture for a longer lease.
- Clarify the deposit terms and what counts as fair wear and tear.
Our guide to furnished apartments in Gulshan for expats covers the most popular district in more detail, or you can browse all available properties and filter by furnishing.
Ask us on WhatsApp
Tell us your area, number of bedrooms, budget and how long you plan to stay, and we will send furnished and unfurnished options side by side. Message Rent Property on WhatsApp at +880 1784-222255. We usually reply within one working day, Saturday to Thursday.