No instrument is louder than the drums. In addition to being the loudest, the drums also take up more space than other instruments. Purchase a simple drum pad to practice technique on. If you are a beginner, a solitary drum pad should be all you practice on anyway.
Technique is vital to playing the drums well.
Find four or five phone books and set them around you on the floor if playing around the drum set is what you wish to do. Playing around these books will help you get around any drum set easily. Use one of the many electronic drum sets available with headphone capabilities to hear actual drum sounds when you practice. Get drum and cymbal practice pads for your acoustic drum set. Most drum stores carry sets of pads that also muffle sounds.