Temporary corporate housing is a fully furnished apartment or home rented for 30 days or more, used to bridge the gap between an employee’s old residence and their new permanent one. It goes by several names: corporate housing, temporary housing, serviced apartments, and executive rentals all describe the same thing.

For relocating employees, that gap is rarely optional. A house doesn’t sell on schedule, a lease falls through, or the new home needs work before anyone can move in. Without a plan for those weeks, your employee ends up in a hotel at roughly $5,100 a month, eating out three times a day, with a start date slipping while they try to house-hunt from a room with no kitchen.

ARC coordinates temporary housing as part of a full corporate relocation program. This page covers what corporate housing costs, how it compares to the alternatives, how long employees typically stay, and how to set the policy limits that keep spend under control.

Key Takeaways

• Corporate housing averages around $3,300 per month all-inclusive, compared to roughly $4,900 to $5,100 per month for a hotel before food and incidentals.
• Stays of 30 consecutive days or more eliminate hotel occupancy tax in most U.S. states, which is worth another 6% to 15% on top of the base rate difference.
• The average corporate housing stay for a relocating employee runs 83 to 99 days, so a 30-day policy cap is usually too short.
• Vacation rental platforms look cheaper on paper and carry duty of care exposure that most HR teams don’t price in.

Corporate housing is fully furnished, move-in-ready accommodation rented on a monthly basis, typically with a 30-day minimum stay. Most units are apartments or condos, though single-family homes are available in some markets.

The unit comes with everything an employee needs to live normally from day one: furniture, a full kitchen with cookware and utensils, linens, towels, and utilities. Internet, cable, and in-unit laundry are standard in most inventory. The point is that the employee unpacks a suitcase and starts working, rather than buying a shower curtain and waiting on a mattress delivery.

Relocation is the largest single driver of corporate housing demand in North America, accounting for roughly a third of the market. Project work, training assignments, insurance displacement, and internships make up most of the rest.

Temporary housing sits alongside household goods shipping and destination services as one of the three benefits that appear in nearly every relocation policy, at every tier.

How Much Does Corporate Housing Cost?

Corporate housing is priced monthly and quoted all-inclusive. Utilities, furnishings, and standard amenities are built into the rate rather than billed separately.

Corporate Housing Rates

National averages. Rates in high-cost metros run meaningfully above these figures, and rural or secondary markets run below.

Rates stabilized in 2026 after several volatile years, largely because of new multifamily construction coming online in major business markets. That’s a change from 2022 through 2024, when low apartment inventory pushed corporate housing rates up sharply.

The 30-Day Tax Threshold

This is the detail most HR teams miss. In most U.S. states, a stay of 30 consecutive days or longer is exempt from hotel occupancy tax. Occupancy tax runs 6% to 15% depending on jurisdiction.

If you’re putting an employee up for six weeks and you book it as two three-week hotel stays, you’re paying that tax on both. Book a single 30-day-plus corporate housing lease and it disappears. On a $3,300 monthly rate, that’s a few hundred dollars per employee per month with no change in the housing itself.

How Long Do Employees Stay in Temporary Housing?

The average corporate housing assignment runs 83 to 99 days. That’s meaningfully longer than the 30-day cap many relocation policies still carry.

The mismatch causes real problems. An employee hits day 31 with their house still under contract and no permanent lease signed, and now they’re paying out of pocket or coming back to HR for an exception. Neither outcome is good.

Realistic durations by situation:

Most policies set a base allowance by tier with a defined extension process. That way the exception is planned for rather than negotiated in a panic at day 29.

ARC’s Role: Coordinating the Right Housing, Every Time

ARC is a third-party global relocation company, serving a diverse client base. While we don’t own housing and we’re not realtors, we have a vast network of temporary housing providers, realtors, and other professionals. 

We operate with a single point of contact (SPOC) service model. When you work with us, we provide you and your relocating employee with a dedicated relocation counselor. Your counselor serves as your single point of contact, coordinating all arrangements between you and various vendors, including those providing housing. 

At ARC, we customize housing options to fit each employee’s relocation package, budget, and timeline so they can be at their new office on time. 

Types of Temporary Housing Options We Coordinate

ARC is your trusted housing relocation expert. Our global network contains a range of accommodation options. These include:

• Diverse Short-Term Options: You can choose between short-term rentals and extended-stay hotels.
• Furnished Homes: Our housing service providers also offer fully-furnished apartments and corporate housing. So you just move in and relax!
• Housing Amenities: If you need a pool, gym, or proximity to specific services, we can help. We’ll account for the amenities you need in your temporary housing (as long as they comply with your company’s policies).
• Pet Considerations: ARC also cares about your pets. If you need pet-friendly accommodation, we will also help you find it. Everyone should feel at home in your new location!
• Family Size: If you have a large family, your relocation consultant will also take that into account. We have access to family-sized units or executive options to meet your needs. 

ARC also supports relocation home sales through our network of real estate and legal professionals. So if you need to sell a home before relocating and/or purchase another home in your new destination, we can help you. 

The ARC Realtor Rebate can help you save thousands on the purchase of a new home in your new location. Apply and learn more today:

Coordinated Housing Support from Start to Finish

ARC is your housing relocation expert. Here are some features of our temporary housing support:

• Large Network: We provide nationwide and international relocation services through our vast network of service providers. These include movers, realtors, loan officers, temporary housing providers, appraisers, inspectors, and immigration attorneys. 
• Personalized Support: Your relocation counselor will perform a detailed needs assessment for each employee or transferee. We ensure that the temporary home meets all requirements.
• Pre-Approved Housing Options: While ARC can access various housing options, we comply with your policy guidelines. We ensure that all housing options are within your organization’s policy limits. 
• Coordinated Access: Your relocation consultant will coordinate all check-in and check-out procedures for a seamless transition for each employee. 
• Streamlined Finances: ARC maintains centralized billing and expense management. So, all company spending on temporary housing and other covered relocation expenses is transparent, accurate, and accessible. 

Benefits of Working with ARC for Temporary Housing

Our corporate relocation housing services offer the following benefits:

• Enhanced Efficiency: Working with ARC saves HR departments time and resources. We manage all the admin details associated with getting your new hire to your company at the start of their contract.
• Policy Compliance: We ensure that all the housing options comply with your organization’s temporary housing policies. 
• Employee Satisfaction: ARC’s temporary housing relocation process accounts for your employee’s unique needs. This personalized approach leads to greater satisfaction, staff retention, and productivity. 
• Clear Communication: We keep you abreast of all the stages of each employee’s relocation process. 
• Timely Process: ARC’s centralized single point of contact (SPOC) service model avoids delays, hidden costs, and last-minute problems. We streamline each stage for transparency and efficiency. 
• Flexibility: These temporary accommodations are more flexible than long-term rentals. This allows your company to adjust usage according to project timelines and employee relocation needs.
• Seamless Relocations: Temporary housing helps ease your employee’s transition to a new location. Such accommodations provide a sense of stability as they search for permanent housing.  
• Cost Savings: Temporary accommodations are often less expensive than hotels (especially during extended stays). Your company avoids hotel rates and extra fees, but corporate housing provides fixed rates and includes utilities and amenities. 

What to Expect When You Partner With ARC

You can expect the following when you choose ARC Relocation: 

• Dedicated Relocation Consultant: Your relocation expert works with each employee to cover all aspects of their move. We ensure there’s a seamless transition. 
• Policy-Compliant Housing: ARC will arrange housing options that comply with your organization’s policies and meet your employees’ needs.
• Reduced Administration: Your dedicated relocation consultant streamlines your employee’s access to temporary housing. We make it easy for your HR department to keep track of all accommodation logistics.
• Consistent Feedback: We provide frequent updates and support for your HR department and incoming employees. Everyone stays abreast of all the relocation stages. 
• Smooth Transitions: At ARC, we don’t just focus on getting your employee into appropriate temporary housing. We also coordinate their move into permanent housing in their new location. 
• Enhanced Employee Experience: Corporate accommodations offer a more comfortable and home-like experience. Amenities, like gyms and walking trails, also contribute to a healthier lifestyle and work-leisure balance. We understand that happy employees are more productive!
• Attract and Retain Top Talent: Providing comfortable and accessible temporary housing is a great perk. It helps your company attract the best talent and enhance employee retention.

Let ARC Handle the Housing, So You Can Focus on Your Employees

It can be overwhelming to find short-term accommodation during relocation. But ARC is your expert in securing relocation temporary housing. After traveling across cities, states, or even countries, employees always appreciate going to a home-like setting in their new location. 

ARC will help you find the best corporate accommodations worldwide, so your internal teams can focus on achieving strategic goals. When you work with us, you save time, your employees are supported, and your company creates a reputation for prioritizing its people. 

Work With an ARC Relocation Specialist Today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does corporate housing cost per month? A one-bedroom corporate housing unit averages around $3,300 per month in 2026, all-inclusive. Studios run $2,800 to $3,100 and two-bedroom units run $3,800 to $4,500 or more. Rates in high-cost metros run above these national averages.

Is corporate housing cheaper than a hotel? For stays of 30 days or more, yes, and by a wide margin. Corporate housing averages about $3,300 a month against roughly $4,900 to $5,100 for a hotel before taxes and fees. Add meals, laundry, and parking, which a hotel room without a kitchen forces, and the gap widens by another $1,500 to $2,800 a month. Under 30 days, hotels usually win.

What’s the minimum stay for corporate housing? Thirty days is the standard minimum across most providers. It’s also the threshold at which hotel occupancy tax stops applying in most U.S. states.

How long is temporary housing usually covered in a relocation package? Policies commonly allow 30 days for renters and 60 to 90 days for homeowners, with an extension process for moves that run long. The actual average stay is 83 to 99 days, so a flat 30-day cap tends to generate exceptions rather than savings.

Is temporary housing taxable to the employee? Usually yes. Employer-paid temporary housing during a relocation counts as taxable income under current U.S. tax law. Most companies gross up the benefit so the employee doesn’t absorb the tax.

Can we use Airbnb for employee relocation housing? You can, though most mobility teams move away from it. Vacation rentals are managed by individuals rather than companies, which usually means no commercial liability insurance, no 24-hour maintenance, and no verifiable code compliance. As the employer, you carry duty of care for an employee you’ve asked to relocate, and a platform booking is hard to defend if something goes wrong.

Who pays for temporary housing during a relocation? The employer, in nearly all corporate relocations. It’s a standard component at every policy tier. In a lump sum arrangement, the employee pays it out of the lump sum, which is one of the reasons unmanaged lump sums produce poor housing outcomes.

Does corporate housing accommodate pets and families? Pet-friendly inventory is widely available in most markets, usually with a deposit or monthly fee, and demand for it has grown substantially since 2021. Multi-bedroom family units and executive-tier inventory are available in most metros. Both should be addressed in your policy so the answer is known before an employee asks.

What happens if the employee needs to stay longer than planned? Extensions are common and usually negotiable, though availability tightens in high-demand markets. When ARC holds the lease, we handle the extension with the provider directly. The part worth planning is your internal approval path, so an extension request doesn’t stall while an employee’s move-out date approaches.