Budgie are, I`m afraid, one of the most quiet birds. They do chatter almost constantly sometimes.
Other small and `quiet` birds include the lovebird, the parrotlet, the cockatiel and little pyrrhura conures (green cheeks, black cappeds, maroon bellieds, etc). Cockatiels and pyrrhuras will need a cage that has an area of at least 18 inches by 18 inches. Bigger is better. Budgies, parrotlets and lovebirds can get away with slightly smaller cages. When using a cage of minimum size requirement, though, your bird will need a LOT of out of cage time. Some companies sell cages that`re much too small to ever be used as a permanent bird cage. Some of them are more appropriate for travel-cages (for vet visits and other car-rides). If you can get back to us with a measurement on the cage, and what you`re looking for in a bird we might be more help.
Budgies are playful, lovebirds are sassy, cockatiels are cuddly... pyrrhuras and parrotlets can be both cuddly and playful, but they both are infamous for their behavior problems. (Pyrrhuras are little biters, parrotlets can be little hormonal/territorial monsters. They both make delightful pets if you`re prepared to deal with these problems, though!)
I also think it`s important that you spend time in the pet store listening to the birds you`re considering getting. Personally, I find a male cockatiel to be much more obnoxious then a budgie. Budgies are more constantly noisey, but a screaming cockatiel happens to be one of the most annoying sounds on earth, in my opinion! It just grates on my ears.
Goodluck.
