How Much Does It Cost to Furnish an Apartment?

Let’s say you’ve found your perfect apartment in NYC, close to all your favorite amenities without being in the middle of the city’s biggest crowds. 

Rent in New York is already high, but now you have to shell out even more cash to furnish your apartment with all the necessary furniture and appliances. How much does it cost to furnish an apartment? It depends on factors that include where you buy your items, whether they’re new or used, and how many rooms your apartment has. 
 

Take a closer look at how much it would cost to make your new place feel like home.

Average Cost to Furnish an Apartment 

As you’re calculating the cost of buying furniture for your new digs, don’t forget to include extras like sales tax, delivery fees, and assembly fees. In NYC, many delivery windows still incur extra fees for elevator or concierge building access.
 

While you might be able to save a few bucks by picking up items yourself, many people living in NYC don’t own a car — or don’t own one large enough for bulky furniture — and therefore have to pay extra to have their bulky purchases delivered and set up.
 

Also, furnishings include much more than just big furniture pieces. Things you use every day, like dishes, cookware, and mats for your feet, also have to be purchased and can add up as you tally the total cost.
 

According to recent furnishing cost breakdowns, here are typical ranges:

• Budget-to-mid furnishing for a one-bedroom: $4,000–$8,000 (used + new mix)
• Mid-range furnishing for a one-bedroom fully new: $8,000–$12,000+
• For a two-bedroom apartment (with extra room/home office): ranges of $9,000–$15,000+ depending on size and quality. 

Cost to Furnish 1-Bedroom Apartment 

If your apartment has only one bedroom, you won’t have room for much more than the basics. These include essentials like a bed, sofa, basic kitchen appliances, dishes, and linens. 
 

The average renter will spend around $8,000 furnishing an entire one-bedroom apartment with new furniture. This includes the costs of basic items and estimated delivery fees of around $500 in NYC high-rise buildings. Costs for a studio apartment are similar to those for a one-bedroom—though you might save a bit on furniture since the living/bed area overlaps.

If you’re working from home, you might budget an extra $300-$800 for a proper desk/chair setup. If you want smart home features like smart locks and voice-controlled lighting, expect to add up $200-$1,000 depending on how extensive.

Cost to Furnish 2-Bedroom Apartment 

What if you have two bedrooms to fill? If you’re using one of the rooms as a studio or guest room, you’ll have yet another category on your shopping list. Filling your two-bedroom apartment could cost over $10,000, depending on how you’re using that spare bedroom. 

If you use one room as a home office or a second bedroom, budget-wise you might spend $9,000–$15,000+, especially if you want quality and tech-friendly furniture. Don’t forget that a larger apartment means larger windows or extra window treatments which means extra cost for curtains and blinds as well. Also, delivery fees often escalate with building height.

How to Budget for Apartment Furnishings 

We know what you’re thinking: After signing the lease on an NYC apartment, you probably don’t have $10,000 just lying around. 

Most new renters fill their apartments with furniture little by little, focusing on the necessities at first and purchasing more pieces as they’re able. Here are two more helpful tips for apartment furniture budgeting in New York City.

Consider Your Moving Plans 

Before you make a list of the furnishings you need for your place, consider how long you plan to stay there. Think about it in terms of best-case and worst-case scenarios. How long would you live there in a perfect world, and how soon would you be able to move if it doesn’t work out? 
 

If one or both of those time frames are only a few months, buying a full apartment’s worth of stuff may not be worth it. Remember that the cost of paying for movers every few months can add up just as quickly as the cost of furniture. With remote and hybrid work, many renters now account for the possibility of relocating elsewhere, so flexible/rent-to-own furniture or modular furniture is becoming more popular.

Choose Your Essentials 

To remote workers or students, a nice desk and desk chair might be essentials. To others, this combo might be nice to have but can be done without for a while. 
 

Most people will have the same few necessities, including a bed, a fridge, and some kind of seating. Outside of this short list, however, what you consider essential may be different from someone else. 
 

Make a detailed list of the things you need in order of importance and focus on your need-to-have items first. For example, 
 

• Tier 1 (move-in): bed/mattress, sofa/chair, basic kitchen set (fridge if not included, cookware, dishes)
• Tier 2 (first 3-6 months): dining table/chairs, desk/chair, dresser/storage
• Tier 3 (next 6-12 months): decorative touches, smart home upgrades, specialty furniture
   

This phased approach helps spread cost over time rather than incurring all at once.

Tips for Saving Money on Furnishings 

Now that you know how to make room in your budget for furniture, there are a few other steps you can take to keep your costs low without compromising the items you want and need.

Visit Estate Sales and Flea Markets 

The prices quoted for furnishing one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments were given with the assumption that you buy all of your items new from local furniture and department stores. According to one source, furnishing a one-bedroom using primarily second-hand items can start around ~$3,200.

Visit your local flea markets and keep an eye out for estate sales in your area to find high-quality used furniture at a discounted price. You could find a unique piece that big-box furniture stores just don’t have.  

Ask Family Members

Have family members in the area? You’ll never know if they have some furniture they’re trying to get rid of unless you ask. If you can take something off their hands, you’ll get a new home decor item for cheap or free, and you’ll be doing them a big favor. 

Pick Timeless Over Trendy 

Before you pick up any furniture piece or home decor item, take a moment to ask yourself whether it’s timeless enough to be used for years or if you’ll get tired of it in a matter of months. You may be charmed by the latest furniture trends, but you’ll end up spending a lot more money over the years if you don’t go for classic pieces that will always look great.

Opt for Multi-Functional Furniture 

With remote work and smaller apartments common in NYC, furniture serving multiple functions is smart. For example, consider sofa beds or convertible sectionals, desks that fold away or double as dining tables, and storage ottomans and beds with built-in drawers to maximize your space.  

Should I Just Rent a Furnished Apartment? 

While buying your own furnishings gives you greater control over your home decor, it’s clear to see that it can get expensive fast. This is why renting a furnished apartment might be the way to go, especially if you’re a digital nomad or plan to move in a year or less.

With a furnished apartment, you’ll be able to save thousands on buying furniture so that you can focus on finding the best place for you. And furnished apartments are usually available right away, making them convenient if you’re brand-new to the city. 

Explore NYC’s Best Apartments on Roomrs

Are you looking for the best furnished NYC coliving apartments? On Roomrs, you’ll find incredible furnished and partially furnished places throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Browse our site to learn more!