Moving Guide to Austin

If you’re thinking of living in Austin, Texas, you’ve come to the right place. Not only does this city boast some of the best BBQ and craft brew around, it also has great weather, reasonable rent, and a plenty of options for outdoor activities. Here’s everything you need to know before living in Austin.

Cost of Living

Here are some facts and figures about the average cost of living to keep in mind before moving to the Capital City.

• Rent: the average cost to rent a 1-bedroom apartment is $1,190 and $1,480 for a 2-bedroom. These rates make Austin a fairly reasonable place to live in the U.S., not even breaking into the top 30 priciest cities.
• Transportation: monthly transit passes will cost around $42 on average. We’ll go into more detail on transportation options later.
• Taxes: sales tax in Austin is 8.25%.
• Food: a beer will cost you about $5 and a meal for two at a mid-range restaurant will run you about $55.

Utilities

• Utilities: the average cost of utilities for a 915-square-foot apartment in Austin is around $154. Here are some helpful resources for getting your utilities set up.
  • Texas Gas Service: Gas
  • Austin Energy: Electric
  • Austin Resource Recovery: Trash and recycling
  • Austin Water Utility: Water and sewage
• Internet: internet services range from $45-$80. Below are the largest providers in the Austin area.
  • CenturyLink
  • AT&T
  • Frontier FiOs

Weather

Don’t like the snow or cold winters? Great, neither does Austin. The average winter lows in this southern city rarely dip below 40 degrees, and the highs in the summer get up to the mid-90s. You should be aware of the possibility of tornadoes; on average, Austin sees about one tornado per year. Otherwise, get ready to enjoy some warm, sunny days in this city.

Austin Neighborhoods

Your cost of living also depends on where you decide to live, so here are a few popular neighborhoods that Austin locals like to call home.

• Zilker: Just south of Lady Bird Lake, and bordered to the north by Old West Austin, which is just across the Colorado River, Zilker is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Austin. Its lively bar and restaurant scene along S Lamar Blvd features Loro, one of Austin’s can’t miss restaurants. The neighborhood’s convenient access to Zilker Metropolitan Park and Barton Springs, its crown jewel, make Zilker one of the best places to call home.
• East Austin: This area includes neighborhoods like Holly and East Cesar Chavez. It’s also home to the famous and iconic Franklin Barbecue, plus the beloved La Barbecue, Kerlin BBQ, and Sam’s BBQ. Needless to say, if you’re looking for BBQ, East Austin is your hood.
• Clarksville: There’s a reason we named Clarksville one of Austin’s trendiest neighborhoods. This historic area just west of downtown boasts convenient access to Lady Bird Lake, cocktail bars and chic eateries along W 5th St., and beautifully restored homes. You won’t run out of things to do in this hood.
• West Campus: Located on the western side of the University of Texas, Austin, West Campus is where the students live, shop, eat, and go out at night. The Drag, a strip of Guadalupe Street with dining and entertainment, creates the eastern border of this hood. Grab a bite to eat at Halal Bros. and head out for the night or hit up The Local Pub and Patio for a night out on The Drag.

Things to Do in Austin

If we didn’t make it clear already, Austin knows its BBQ. Check out the staples like Franklin Barbecue, but don’t forget to try places like Black’s Barbecue and Micklethwait Craft Meats. What goes better with barbecue than an ice cold beer? Head to Austin Beerworks for a pint of their delicious brew or hit up Hops & Grain Brewing and enjoy a beer in either their indoor or outdoor picnic-table-style seating areas. Speaking of picnics, bring a blanket and some snacks and enjoy the day in Boggy Creek Greenbelt, an 89-acre green space with trails and a creek running through it. Don’t miss Austin City Limits, a two-weekend-long music festival that brings big name artists to Zilker Park every October.

Transportation

In Austin, a car is definitely recommended. The main form of public transportation is the Capital Metro, which features a bus and a north-south light rail commuter line. Hop on the light rail if you’re commuting out of the city limits or catch a bus if you want to bop around the city proper. Although there are plenty of bus lines to get you where you need to go, they aren’t the most efficient. It’s definitely worth it to get a car, if possible.

How to Get to Austin

From out of state, fly into Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. While there is no train system from the airport to the city center, the Capital Metro has one bus line (the 20) that shuttles to and from the airport fairly frequently. You can always grab a Lyft or schedule a Super Shuttle, if necessary.

Relocating to Austin from NYC

If you’re coming from NYC, you might notice that Austin is a bit different. Its public transportation option are much more limited, so you might want to invest in getting a car. The weather will be a nice change of pace, though, as you won’t have to deal with much of a winter. Once you fly from one of the NYC airports into Austin-Bergstrom Airport, you’ll be greeted with that warm, Texas weather.

Relocating to Austin from California

If you’re up for a road trip, hop in the car and head east on Interstate 10 (from the Los Angeles area) or head south on I-5 to get to I-10 (from Northern California). A drive from LA to Austin will take around 22 hours and a road trip from Northern California will take about 27 hours.

Relocating to Austin from Boston

Catch a flight from Boston Logan into Austin-Bergstrom and you’ll be in your new city in a little over 4 hours. Like NYC, Boston winters can be brutal; enjoy the warm weather and lack of snow when you get to Austin.

Tips for Moving to Austin

• Do: see some live music. Austin doesn’t claim the title of Live Music Capital of the World for no good reason.
• Don’t: forget your inner tube! Austin locals love floating down the Comal River in the summertime, and you’ll want your own tube for that.
• Do: get tickets to a UT Austin football game. You’ll feel pretty left out if you don’t; this city loves its college football Saturdays.
• Don’t: miss South by Southwest (SXSW). This annual conference and festival draws hundreds of thousands of people to Austin, and you’ll definitely want to be one of them.

This southern city has so much to offer that you might wonder why you’re not living in Austin, Texas already. It’s not just the downright delicious BBQ or low cost of living that keeps locals here; it’s also the historic neighborhoods, local breweries, college atmosphere, and popular festivals that residents love. What are you waiting for? Start searching for your Austin apartment so you can call this place home.