Moving From NYC to Austin
Austin, Texas has become one of the nation’s most desirable places to live. Whereas before, many musicians, creatives and young tech entrepreneurs would be concentrated on the coasts of the U.S, now people are flocking to Texas. These days, many are making the move from New York City to Austin. In fact, high-earning New Yorkers can save up to $250,000 a year by relocating to Austin, as a result of the reduced tax burden and lower cost of living. Here is what you should know about moving from NYC to Austin!
MOVING FROM NYC TO AUSTIN: THE BENEFITS
No Income Tax
One of the primary benefits of relocating from New York to Austin is the income tax benefit. Texas is one of the 9 U.S states with no income tax which can be a huge added plus to your yearly salary, especially if you are coming from New York.
Thriving Economy & Growing Job Market
Austin has a strong economy that is only getting stronger. Thanks to companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, Tesla and SpaceX that have relocated here, there are plenty of job opportunities within the city. Even if you move to Austin without having secured a job beforehand, you shouldn’t have a hard time finding employment. The Austin job market has witnessed 5.8% in job growth in just the last year. Moreover, the unemployment rate remains low, at 2.9%. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in NYC is almost double that, at 5.3%.
Lower Cost of Living
NYC is famously one of the most expensive cities in the world. Though the cost of living in Austin has risen due to its recent surge in popularity, Austin can still be a relatively affordable city. The average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Austin is around $1560 a month. Whereas, in NYC, the average rent for a studio apartment in the city center hovers at around $3429 a month, more than double for an apartment half the size.
In general, the cost of living in Austin is considered to be around 38% cheaper than in NYC.
Essentially, all categories (entertainment, healthcare, food, transportation, housing) are more expensive in New York than Austin.
In terms of real estate, home prices in Austin have nearly doubled from 2011 to 2021. However, there are measures being taken by city lawmakers to ensure affordable housing in the future.
Moreover, there are plenty of new up and coming neighborhoods and suburbs being developed within Austin. This means that there are ways to find better deals if you move further away from the center, since the prices in many popular areas in Austin have gone up.
Bustling City Life
Though Austin only has a fraction of the population of NYC, Austin is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. The city is projected to see a 13.55% population growth rate over the next 5 years. Austin is expected to become the third biggest metro area by the end of the 21st century. And while New York City is losing residents, Austin has been steadily growing in population over the past few years.
Lots of fun stuff going on!
Like New York City, you will never grow bored in Austin. There are plenty of fun restaurants, bars, galleries, shopping areas, music venues and more. Austin is famous for its live music scene down in Red River, 6th Street, South Congress and Central East. Austin is also famous for its Tex-Mex, tacos and BBQ, but you can find just about any cuisine you want in this city. In fact, Food & Wine recently named Austin a top food city. Like NYC, Austin has all of the amenities you may desire, whether that be organic food, smoothie places, work out classes, boxing and so on.
Also, Austin is home to two of the largest festivals in the U.S. The first is SXSW which has happened every March since the 1980s. SXSW is a unique film, music, media and tech festival that has something for everyone. In the fall, Austin hosts the ACL (Austin City Limits Festival) which is a music festival that features loads of delicious food and tons of artists from a diverse array of music genres. Past performers include Alanis Morissette, Kendrick Lamar, R.E.M and Sonic Youth, to name a few.
Weather
Austin has excellent weather. Though some may complain that the summers are too hot, the spring and fall are perfect. Moreover, if you are tired of New York snowstorms, you will be pleased to learn that Austin has mild winters, with high temps in the 60s. Though it does get chilly, it won’t be anything like NYC.
Best part of Austin weather is that the city gets over 300 sunny days per year! This is perfect for those who love the outdoors and hanging out in nature.
Time to get a car!
Some neighborhoods in Austin are walkable, but people in the city still prefer to get around by car. This can be a bit of an adjustment after living in NYC. Though of course, nothing will be as cheap as the subway, owning a car in Texas may end up being cheaper than owning one in NYC. For one, gasoline prices in Austin are around 24% cheaper than in NYC. Also, car-related fees like tolls, parking rates and parking tickets, though comparable, are still cheaper in Austin than NYC. For example, the average parking ticket in Austin is $35, while the average parking ticket in NYC is $65.
However, in general, car insurance prices in Texas are higher than in NY which is something to keep in mind.
Nature
New York City is not exactly known for its nature…. However, Austin is a city that is bursting with greenspaces. In fact, 15% of the city is a greenspace!
Within the city of Austin, there are numerous national parks, nature preserves and lakes perfect for camping, swimming, hiking, kayaking, bird-watching, rock climbing and more. Due to the weather, Austin residents can enjoy nature almost all year long. If you are a nature lover be sure to check out the following sites in and around the Austin Metro area:
Lady Bird Lake Hike-and-Bike Trail.
Barton Springs Pool.
Mount Bonnell.
McKinney Falls State Park
Zilker Metropolitan Park
Pedernales Falls State Park
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (great for kids!)
One of the most famous activities in Austin during the summer is heading to the Barton Springs Pool, an outdoor swimming pool made with water from nearby natural springs. Though the water is chilly (68 degrees year round), the vibes are excellent!!
READY TO MOVE FROM NYC TO AUSTIN?
No matter your next move, USA Preferred Movers can help you make it! USA Preferred Movers is a licensed and professional Texas moving company that specializes in local and long distance moves. If you’re looking for Texas Movers, call us for a free quote!