If you need housing for more than a few weeks but less than a full year, you’ve likely felt caught between two imperfect options. Short-term rentals are often expensive and designed for brief stays, while long-term leases require commitments that don’t always match temporary situations.
This is where midterm rentals, often referred to as monthly rentals, come in.
Midterm rentals offer a flexible housing option for people who need temporary housing without sacrificing comfort, stability, or predictability.
What Is a Midterm (or Monthly) Rental?
A midterm rental can be a furnished or unfurnished rental designed for stays lasting 30 days to less than one year. You’ll also hear people refer to these as monthly rentals, since they typically price and book them by the month rather than by the night.
These rentals serve people who need housing for a specific period but are not ready or able to commit to a traditional 12-month lease. Most midterm or monthly rentals are move-in ready and often include utilities, internet, and basic household essentials.
How Long Is a Midterm or Monthly Rental Stay?
Midterm and monthly rental stays usually range from one to six months, although rentals that allow stays of up to a year can technically qualify as midterm rentals.
This range in length of stay works well for people with known but temporary timelines. For renters, it often means:
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Flexible lease lengths
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Fewer upfront commitments
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The ability to adjust plans if orders or contracts change
Midterm Rental vs Short-Term Rental
Short-term rentals are generally priced nightly and designed for travel or vacations. While they can work for brief stays, they often become expensive and impractical for longer periods.
Midterm rentals and monthly rentals are priced by the month and designed for everyday living. They usually offer more space, better value, and amenities that support routines like cooking, working, and family life.
For many renters, choosing a monthly rental over a short-term option provides more comfort and cost predictability during temporary housing.
Midterm Rental vs Long-Term Lease
Traditional long-term leases typically require a year-long commitment and setting up utilities. They are often unfurnished and can be difficult to exit early.
Midterm rentals offer a middle ground. They provide furnished and unfurnished housing with shorter lease terms and often include utilities in the monthly rent, making them a lower-risk option for people who need flexibility. Monthly rentals are especially helpful when long-term plans are still uncertain.
Who Are Midterm and Monthly Rentals Best For?
Midterm and monthly rentals are well suited for people navigating transitions, temporary assignments, or in-between periods.
Travel Nurses and Healthcare Professionals
Travel nurses and healthcare workers often take contracts lasting several weeks or months. Monthly rentals provide furnished housing near hospitals without the uncertainty or cost of nightly pricing.
Military Members on PCS or TDY Orders
PCS and TDY moves rarely follow a perfect timeline. Midterm rentals offer flexible, comfortable off-base housing while waiting for permanent housing or completing temporary assignments. Monthly rental terms align well with the unpredictable nature of military moves.
Students (Undergraduate, Graduate, and Post-Doctoral)
Students at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral level may need housing that aligns with semesters, internships, research programs, or temporary academic appointments. Midterm and monthly rentals offer flexible lease lengths that fit academic timelines without requiring a year-long commitment. For students relocating temporarily, these rentals provide a practical and furnished housing option near campus or research facilities.
Corporate Relocations and Remote Workers
Professionals relocating for work or spending a few months in a new city often choose monthly rentals so they can settle in without committing to a long-term lease.
Snowbirds
Snowbirds often spend several months each year living in a different location, typically on a seasonal basis. Midterm and monthly rentals offer a flexible housing option that allows them to settle in comfortably without committing to a long-term lease. These rentals provide a home-like environment for extended stays while keeping future plans open.
Families Between Homes or Life Transitions
Families selling a home, renovating, or relocating may need temporary housing that still feels stable. Midterm and monthly rentals offer space, privacy, and consistency during these transition periods.
What Do Midterm or Monthly Rentals Typically Include?
Most midterm and monthly rentals are designed to be move-in ready.
Common inclusions are:
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Furniture and basic household items
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Utilities such as electricity, water, and internet
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Kitchens suitable for daily use
Inclusions vary by property, which is why reviewing listing details is always important before booking.
How Much Does a Monthly Rental Cost?
The cost of a monthly rental depends on location, size, and amenities, but pricing generally falls between short-term and long-term options.
Because many midterm rentals include utilities and furnishings, monthly pricing is often more predictable and easier to budget for than extended hotel stays or nightly rentals.
How to Find a Midterm or Monthly Rental
Midterm and monthly rentals can be harder to find than traditional apartments or vacation rentals because they serve a specific need. Some renters search general rental platforms, while others look for housing options built specifically for monthly stays.
Using a platform focused on midterm rentals (like MatchBook cough cough) can help align listings with flexible timelines and reduce the friction of searching across multiple sites.
Common Misconceptions About Midterm and Monthly Rentals
One common misconception is that midterm rentals are simply extended short-term stays. In reality, they are structured differently, priced differently, and intended for longer-term living.
Another misconception is that monthly rentals are only for professionals. While many renters are working professionals, these rentals work well for families, military members, and anyone needing flexible temporary housing.
Is a Midterm or Monthly Rental Right for You?
If you need housing for a few months and want something more comfortable than a hotel but more flexible than a long-term lease, a midterm or monthly rental may be the right fit.
They offer a balance of flexibility, comfort, and stability that supports many temporary housing situations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Midterm and Monthly Rentals
What qualifies as a midterm rental?
A midterm rental is a rental with a stay length of 30 days to less than one year. People often refer to these as monthly rentals.
Is a monthly rental the same as a midterm rental?
Yes. Monthly rentals and midterm rentals generally describe the same type of housing, with monthly rental emphasizing how the stay is priced.
Are midterm rentals cheaper than Airbnb?
For longer stays, midterm and monthly rentals are often more affordable than nightly short-term rentals because they are designed and priced for extended stays.
Do monthly rentals include utilities?
Many monthly rentals include utilities and internet, but inclusions vary by property and should always be confirmed before booking.
Who typically uses midterm or monthly rentals?
Common renters include military members, travel nurses, college students, snowbirds, corporate professionals, remote workers, and families between homes.