Beyond "Keep Austin Weird": Your Insider's Ultimate Guide to Renting and Living in Austin, Texas
Hi, I’m Raul, the ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Guide for Austin. I’ve called the area home long enough to know all the shortcuts and best places to check out and am happy to share them with you today.
I’ve put together this insider’s guide to the most popular and special places in the city so you can get the lay of the land whether you’re thinking of moving here or curious about what daily life looks like.
Let’s get you familiar with why big-name celebrities and tech hubs are flocking here in droves and help you picture how you’re own life can look in this insider’s guide to Austin.
Why Austin Has Become a Destination
Austin has its share of landmarks but what really wins people over is the daily life and friendly atmosphere. Mornings start with a trail run, followed up by cafe visits with laptops, and ending the night with tacos from the local food truck.
The city is big enough to have options without feeling unapproachable like in big cities like Houston or Dallas.
People feel relaxed and are allowed to be themselves rather than putting on an appearance or trying to keep up with the wealthy individuals in the city. It’s easy to move in and feel immediately like you’re home.
It’s also a city of micro-scenes with coffee shops doubling up as co-working hubs and food trucks becoming part of the neighborhood institution.
Small venues launch bands that end up headlining festivals and you’ll follow your favorite local restaurant expand into several locations.
You’ll meet runners who are UX designers, chefs who spin vinyl, and neighborhoods that invite you to a backyard roast pit.
There is always a new local spot to discover but you’ll feel like it’s always been there.
What Rent Really Costs in Austin
To be fair, Austin has come a long way from the days when anyone could afford rent here from artists to professionals. The new tech hubs have raised prices around the city, but compared to coastal hubs in California or New York, your dollar stretches further.
Near the urban core of the city like East Austin or South Congress, modern apartments come with pools, fitness centers, and coworking lounges. You’ll pay more for being close to walking trails or high up condos with spectacular skyline views.
But, if you head a few miles north or south, you’ll find newer communities with larger floor plans and parking included at friendlier prices.
Current Rental Pricing for Apartments in Austin
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,312 | $600 | $4,487 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,473 | $499 | $10,000+ |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,861 | $599 | $10,000+ |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,273 | $674 | $10,000+ |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $1,932 | $489 | $10,000+ |
| 5 Bedroom Apartments | $3,148 | $845 | $10,000+ |
| 6 Bedroom Apartments | $4,764 | $3,395 | $9,000 |
Current Rental Pricing for Rental Homes in Austin
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,402 | $800 | $3,163 |
| 1 Bedroom Homes | $1,425 | $325 | $6,950 |
| 2 Bedroom Homes | $2,026 | $750 | $10,000+ |
| 3 Bedroom Homes | $2,494 | $500 | $10,000+ |
| 4 Bedroom Homes | $3,174 | $600 | $10,000+ |
| 5 Bedroom Homes | $5,226 | $730 | $10,000+ |
| 6 Bedroom Homes | $8,054 | $750 | $10,000+ |
| 7 Bedroom Homes | $11,075 | $9,200 | $10,000+ |
To find your right location you need to consider what matters most to you. Are you more of a walker and live music type of person or do you prefer a larger floor plan with a backyard for the dog?
Many locals choose to stay around major corridors like I-35, Mopac, or Highway 183, where you can get to just about anywhere in the city in about 15-20 minutes.
When looking for listings, try to go beyond the sticker price. Factor in internet availability, on-site parking, utilities, and commuting costs.
Once you’ve found a good area to try out, our tools at ApartmentHomeLiving.com make it easy to filter your must-haves so you get targeted places to choose from.
How To Commute Around Austin
Austin has done major construction around the most popular streets to make them bike accessible so you always have a greener option to get around town.
The city also continues to build out other transit options like the Metro Rail that stretches from Downtown to the community-driven areas.
If you are commuting daily, the biggest unlock is timing. Start a little early or a little later and you’ll dodge the worst waves on I-35 and Mopac, which has the worst traffic in the city.
There is no shortage of neighborhood centers filled with grocery stores, salons, gyms, restaurants, and coffee shops. They are usually clustered around arterials including:
- Burnet
- Lamar
- South Congress
- Manor
The protected lanes along most of these roads make them bike-friendly, so you have plenty of options if you love traveling on two wheels.
Located around popular areas are also rentable scooters to fill short gaps in travel. Rideshares are abundant and always available, but they will get competitive around big events like SXSW.
Parking can be a real problem and cause some stress as you arrive at your destination but most residential streets offer an alternative to parking lots.
The Job Market in Austin
The Austin economy runs on a mix of tech, creative industries, healthcare, higher education, hospitality, and government. The blend means the city has just as many professionals as it does creatives.
You’ll see a startup sitting down the street from a global headquarters and it’s not unusual to run into a CEO or two while ordering your coffee.
If you’re in UX, data, sales, marketing, or content creation, you’ll find plenty of teams building interesting businesses.
The big anchor in the city is education due to the University of Texas, but healthcare is right behind it with major hospitals dominating the employer landscape.
If you thrive on the cross-pollination of individuals and like the variety it brings, you’ll fit in just fine in Austin. Executive professionals all eat and drink at the same places as your local barista.
Every conversation with someone is an opportunity to network in this city so you always want your CV ready when you get invited to a lunch.
Most apartments cater to this type of lifestyle and host co-working sessions or are conveniently located next to popular resting areas.
The Best Food, Music, and Nightlife
Known around the Lone Star State as the Live Music Capital of the World, Austin has plenty of venues that host bands every day of the week. Walking into any dive bar could uncover jaw-dropping talent.
You don’t need to be a night owl to enjoy it either. Early shows are common and plenty of events are family-friendly.
If you’re more of a cocktail person than a concert, you’ll find plenty of speakeasies, mezcal dens and rooftops with skyline views. Trivia nights are also a popular pastime in Austin along with vinyl listening parties and pet-friendly patios.
Austin doesn’t do boring and every weekday or weekend night can become its own adventure. Food is a core identity and Tex-Mex, barbecue, and ramen are almost on every corner.
Unique chef-driven pop-ups have become common and some of the most popular restaurant owners have combined forces to create innovative new dishes.
The mix of options is what makes Austin so popular. It’s not unusual to grab a breakfast taco after your morning run, hit up the farmer’s market, and spend an afternoon at a brewery or coffee roastery all within a three-mile radius.
Outdoor Getaways and Weekend Playgrounds
When people picture Texas, natural swimming holes probably don’t come to mind, but Austin will change that perception pretty quickly. Lady Bird Lake is the city’s heartbeat and runs directly through town, separating North and South Austin.
This is where you’ll find a sea of kayakers, paddleboarders, and miles of lakeside trails. Early morning runners and cyclists flood the areas and golden hour coaxes out couples looking for an intimate date night.
Zilker Park is the largest city park and is the communal backyard for picnics, festivals, and frisbee throwers. The Greenbelt runs alongside it with hills, creeks, and small waterfalls you can take a dip when the water is high enough.
Early birds love weekday dawns on the trails when the city feels like your own playground. Right outside the city is one of the biggest winery regions in the country and unique natural swimming spots like Jacob’s Well.
Even people who don’t consider themselves outdoor people find themselves spending time on one of the many patios at popular restaurants.
Apartment communities lean into it with dog parks, pool courtyards, outdoor kitchens, and bike storage. If you’re idea of a perfect Saturday is a long run with brunch on the patio then you’re in the right place.
Five Neighborhoods Locals Love
While most areas of Austin have something unique and special to offer, here are five areas I personally recommend that stand out above the rest.
Hyde Park
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $964 | $725 | $1,732 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,463 | $795 | $2,025 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,643 | $1,250 | $3,724 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,697 | $1,500 | $4,829 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $5,000 | $4,100 | $7,000 |
Hyde Park has always been one of my favorite neighborhoods in Austin. The streets are lined with huge, mature trees and the homes feel timeless.
Bungalows are next to cozy duplexes and small apartment buildings are tucked behind historic facades.
The quiet and walkable area is full of charm and coffee shops are almost an extension of people’s living rooms.
Barton Creek
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,296 | $1,022 | $2,279 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,606 | $949 | $10,000+ |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $1,929 | $1,299 | $7,100 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $2,364 | $2,179 | $2,935 |
An escape away from the city atmosphere but located right in the heart of it all, Barton Creek is as special as it is popular. Apartments and townhomes in this area are more expensive and for good reason.
Surrounding you are some of the city's most popular restaurants, pools, and views of nature. It’s peaceful and right next to the greenbelt and Zilker Park.
Weekend hikes and dips in the natural spring waters are just a way of life in this neighborhood and it’s easy to access popular areas like South Congress and Downtown.
Cherrywood
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,565 | $749 | $4,487 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,958 | $700 | $4,947 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,286 | $799 | $5,255 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $3,910 | $2,075 | $7,539 |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $4,583 | $2,350 | $7,000 |
An eccentric and color neighborhood, this is one of Austin’s most prized areas. The mix of mid-century homes and updated apartments gives it personality.
It’s the kind of place where you’ll find art in people’s yards and community gardens tucked between houses.
Local restaurants and coffee houses like the famous Cherrywood Coffehouse and tucked right between established homes.
The friendly and lived-in atmosphere is comfortable and you’ll always find someone walking their dog or taking a light job.
East Austin
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,417 | $702 | $4,487 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,705 | $499 | $5,224 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,167 | $599 | $7,200 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $3,228 | $1,160 | $10,000+ |
| 4 Bedroom Apartments | $2,560 | $849 | $7,000 |
| 5 Bedroom Apartments | $4,170 | $2,500 | $5,995 |
One of the city’s most newly renovated areas, East Austin is where the city’s creative pulse beats the loudest. Full of energy and culture, the area has experienced the most home renovations and East 6th Street has plenty of modern and luxury apartments that are recently built.
I love walking through this area at night, where you can feel the community of Austin coming to life in music venues, bars, and restaurants.
It’s busy but in an exciting way like you’re at the very epicenter of what makes Austin so unique compared to other big cities around the country.
Mueller
| Bedroom | Average Rent | Cheapest Rent | Highest Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio Apartments | $1,754 | $725 | $2,547 |
| 1 Bedroom Apartments | $1,991 | $849 | $3,796 |
| 2 Bedroom Apartments | $2,299 | $1,250 | $4,877 |
| 3 Bedroom Apartments | $3,768 | $2,195 | $5,149 |
Mueller is one of the newest communities in Austin with everything you need close by. You’ll find clean, contemporary apartments and townhomes surrounded by parks, trails, and open spaces.
The neighborhoods have an eclectic mix of housing and apartments. You’ll see decade-old homes right next to brand new apartment buildings.
On the weekends, this area really comes to life with new bars and the beloved Alamo Drafthouse playing the latest movies.
Enjoying All Austin Has To Offer
Walking along one of the trails in Austin or hanging out at one of the patios helps me remember why I never left Austin. The music, the food, and the people make this a true lifestyle and not just another big city.
