What the 'Devil Wears Prada' Lifestyle Costs in 2006 vs. 2026
Twenty years ago, the iconic Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) explained the deeper meaning of a cerulean — not just blue — sweater to her assistant Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway). A lot has changed since then, notably the cost of living in New York City — especially for someone like Andy, who moves between the lowly life of an everyday New Yorker and the glitz and glamour of the high-fashion world.
To commemorate the arrival of the long-awaited sequel, “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” in theaters May 1, we compared Andy’s 2006 lifestyle as a fashion assistant with what a similar lifestyle would look like today. Think of it as a new budget for the Andy of old. And when it comes to budgeting, nobody does it quite like we do.
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A Salary That Is More T.J. Maxx Than Saks Fifth Avenue
Despite being adjacent to some of the most luxurious brands on the market, Andy’s salary as an assistant wouldn’t let her shop till she dropped at those boutiques. Then again, whose would?
Writers for The Cut estimate that she would have made between $32,000 and $35,000 in 2006.
How would she fare today? A publicly posted salary range for an assistant to Anna Wintour — the rumored inspiration for Miranda Priestly — listed pay between $60,000 and $80,000 in 2026.
Andy would be more likely to get her wardrobe staples at Target or Costco than Saks Fifth Avenue or Hermès — which is, frankly, better for her financial, emotional and physical health in the long run.
The Cost of Rent (Hold On to Your Fancy Hat)
It’s no secret that apartments in New York City aren’t exactly cost-effective. It’s also well known that the silver screen takes plenty of liberties with how much it costs to afford an apartment on your own.
That said, even Andy’s 2006 digs were still quite pricey. While it’s difficult to determine exactly how much her apartment might have cost 20 years ago, rent data from that era suggests she might have expected to pay between $2,400 and $2,800 a month for a Manhattan apartment.
A comparable Manhattan apartment today would reasonably be expected to rent for around $4,200 a month — or more, depending on neighborhood and amenities. On that salary? Don’t be ridiculous.
Getting to Work in Fine Style
With Andy’s low wages compared with the work she does — balancing all those egos? We hope there’s a gym membership in her employee benefits — she’s obviously not taking a town car or a cab to work every day.
In 2006, a 30-day unlimited MetroCard cost about $76. Today, the equivalent monthly cost to commute in Manhattan through OMNY fare caps works out to roughly $132.
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The Clothes (What You’re Really Here For)
If nothing else, “The Devil Wears Prada” is a love letter to high fashion. The film’s highlights include Andy’s transformation from a meekly attired recent college graduate to a Chanel-clad fashionista in her own right.
We have to be honest, even if it gives us frown lines. Whether she was shopping in 2006 or 2026, Andy’s ability to afford any of these clothes is pure movie magic.
Remember that Chanel blazer that dazzled even her cattiest peers in the offices of Runway? In 2005, it cost roughly $4,100 directly from the boutique. That’s right — more than $4,000 for a tweed blazer. The New York Post reports that this same blazer now retails for more than $14,000 on the secondary market.
As for the titular Prada carried by Miranda, The Cut estimates that her celebrated Prada Spazzolato bag retailed for about $1,445 in the mid-2000s. Today, that same bag can sell for as much as $11,000 on the resale market.
Higher Costs of Coffee
Any discussion of “The Devil Wears Prada” wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the cost of that tall, no-foam skim Starbucks latte with an extra shot. The Cut says that in 2006, it would have been an affordable $3. Today? It’s about $6.50.
The Bottom Line
There are major differences in Andy Sachs’ lifestyle in 2006 and 2026 — though a generous dose of suspended disbelief is essential to her success in both time periods.
Fashion may be cyclical, but New York City costs have only ever gone in one direction.
That’s all.
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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