So back in Houston I had a 3-bedroom house full of furniture, and when I decided to start splitting time between Texas and Playa, I went through this exact decision. Here's what I learned.

Furnished makes sense for the first 6-12 months, no question. You'll pay about 20-30% more in rent but you've got zero hassle — AC, fridge, stove, bed, the works. Think of it as paying for convenience while you figure out if this is really your place. That's what I did year one.

Unfurnished is the move once you're committed. And furnishing a place here is way cheaper than the States. You can outfit a whole 1BR apartment from Coppel or Elektra for $15,000-25,000 MXN — that's like $800-1400 USD. IKEA ships from Mexico City too, takes 2-3 weeks.

But the real pro move? Buy secondhand from expats heading home. The Facebook groups "Playa del Carmen Buy/Sell" and "Expats Leaving Mexico — Selling Everything" are absolute gold mines. People sell nice stuff for pennies on the dollar because they can't take it with them.

One thing that caught me off guard — some places advertised as "furnished" have the bare minimum. I'm talking a bed frame with no mattress, a table with no chairs. Always ask for detailed photos or go see it yourself before you sign anything.