What It Cost To Furnish an Apartment in 2006 vs. 2026
The cost of furnishing an apartment has grown from $5,992 in 2006 to $9,888 today. Inflation is the simple explanation for the surge — you need $1.65 to purchase the items you could’ve gotten for $1 in 2006, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) inflation calculator.
But while BLS data shows that inflation has increased in 19 of the past 20 years, home furnishings and supplies actually got cheaper for several years before costs shot up again.
Keep reading to find out how much you’ll pay to furnish an apartment in 2026 compared to 20 years ago and learn how prices got to where they are today.
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The Cost of Furnishing an Apartment in 2026 vs. 2006
You’ll pay 65% more to furnish an apartment today than you would have 20 years ago. To find out what that means in practical terms, MoneyLion shopped on stores like Ashley Furniture, Wayfair and Bed Bath & Beyond to see what things cost today, then divided the prices by 1.65 to get the 2006 equivalents.
Living Room Costs
Living room furnishings usually include high-ticket items plus easy-to-upgrade accent pieces.
Sofa and Recliner Set
This Latitude Run sofa and recliner set is $970 and was approximately $588 in 2006.
Coffee and End Table Set
This two-piece coffee and end table set by Charlton Home is $600 and was approximately $364 in 2006.
TV Stand
This Bayou Breeze TV stand is $157 and was approximately $95 in 2006.
Floor Lamp
This Mercer41 floor lamp is $97 and was approximately $59 in 2006.
Dining Area Costs
A dining set for four and a small credenza fit most apartments.
Dining Set
This Red Barrel Studio dining set is $620 and was approximately $376 in 2006.
Credenza
This Wrought Studio credenza is $164 and was approximately $271 in 2006.
Lamp
This Three Posts table lamp is $45 and was approximately $27 in 2006.
Bedroom Costs
The bedroom is the most expensive room to furnish even with just the basics — a bed with mattress, boxspring and bedding and a dresser.
Queen-Sized Bed
This Danabrin queen-sized bed is $500 and was approximately $303 in 2006.
Dresser
This Danabrin dresser is $1,000 and was approximately $606 in 2006.
Chest of drawers
This Danabrin chest of drawers is $800 and was approximately $485 in 2006.
Night Stand
This Danabrin night stand is $200 and was approximately $121 in 2006.
Mattress
This Sealy Posturepedic Elite Albany hybrid mattress is $1,799 and was approximately $1,090 in 2006.
Bed in a Bag
This Simply Soft bed in a bag is $59 and was approximately $36 in 2006.
Bedside Lamps
These Union Rustic bedside lamps are $62 and was approximately $38 in 2006.
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Home Office Costs
Home offices were less prevalent in 2006 than they are now, so we based this example on a small, low-budget office carved out a living room, dining area or bedroom.
Desk With Storage
This Trendfurn by Design desk with storage is $160 and was approximately $97 in 2006.
Desk Chair
This Bring Home Furniture desk chair is $47 and was approximately $29 in 2006.
Bathroom Costs
Bathrooms are still inexpensive to outfit with the basics, but not as inexpensive as they were 20 years ago.
Turkish Towel Set
This Turkish towel set for two by White Classic Hotel Collection is $40 at Walmart and was approximately $24 in 2006.
Shower Curtain and Bathroom Accessories Set
This Clara Clark shower curtain and bathroom accessories set is $35 and was approximately $21 in 2006.
Kitchen Costs
Assuming you use the dining area for meals, you can skip a table and chairs in the kitchen. But you’ll still need supplies to make it functional.
Stoneware Set
This Famiware stoneware set, which includes six sets of different dinnerware, is $90 and was approximately $55 in 2006.
Silverware
This Pfaltzgraff silverware set, which has enough pieces for six people, is $60 and was approximately $37 in 2006.
Kitchen Utensils and Accessories
This set of Smith Barton kitchen utensils and accessories is $113 and was approximately $69 in 2006.
Knife Set
This KitchenAid knife set from Walmart is $59 and was approximately $36 in 2006.
Cookware
This Calphalon cookware set is $180 and was approximately $109 in 2006.
Why Are Furniture Prices So High?
Today’s high prices are the result of several events. Recovery from the Great Recession and the rise of online retailers such as Amazon and Wayfair influenced prices in the years leading up to the pandemic, as Home Furnishings Business reported. Then, during the pandemic, high demand coupled with low supply drove prices up. And while prices again fell post-pandemic, tariffs on major suppliers such as China have forced them up again, per the Federal Reserve.
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This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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