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Priced Out or Just Over It? What’s Really Driving NYC Renters to Consider Austin

By: Jennifer Villalba

Recent trends explicitly demonstrate that many people leave overcrowded megapolises and move to Austin, TX. It’s especially vivid among the former New York residents. What makes them leave the bustling city and move to Austin?

This city is developing rapidly, including expanding its job market as well as hosting more and more cultural events. Many people find no difference between New York and Austin, except for one. These are living costs, mainly the apartment rentals. 

If you are interested in moving to Austin from New York or elsewhere, the Austin Apartment Team is ready to help you find the best apartment that perfectly suits your budget and needs. Austin is a top destination now, where apartments are not overpriced, whether you want to rent or buy one. 

Reasons behind the Relocation from NY to AU

Many people in NY start to experience a sinking feeling when living in such megapolises. The most significant drawback of residing in NY is overpaying for the local apartments. Even though you may escape from the city’s bustle, you will be at home sooner or later. Personal space and comfort matter a lot for a proper fest and for overall quality of life. 

However, there’s a huge problem in this case. Rent hikes year after year, requiring people to pay more for the same apartments. The latter ones often lack space and are outdated. Even though many people who are fond of the city’s energy or merely chase their dream jobs eventually become disappointed and start looking for alternatives.

On the surface, it may seem there’s no problem, and living under such conditions may be reasonable to achieve a higher income later and afford better living conditions. However, reality shows a huge discrepancy between the effort and money spent on maintaining daily routines and living in NY and the benefits this city offers its residents. It becomes overcrowded and requires ever-increasing spending, without promising anything in return. 

The situation may be even more challenging than it seems to be. The size of apartments is a major problem for many NY residents. Even though they live in a city full of impressive opportunities, returning home to an extremely small apartment never adds to their personal comfort. Many people are often forced to spend thousands for an apartment that resembles a closet. Changing it needs time and energy, with no guarantee, unfortunately, of having something better instead.

Beyond the small apartment’s size, there are many other troublesome aspects. The facilities may be outdated there; for instance, leaky faucets may require weeks to fix. There are even cases when the sanitary conditions in the apartments are terrible. On top of that, if you have a pet, you also often need to make a pet deposit. 

All of the above issues contribute to the general frustration and make many NY residents scramble for solutions. High prices and poor living conditions make people consider alternatives, since the math often doesn’t add up. 

Some NY residents end up reporting they have to skip the basics, such as rest on weekends and yearly vacations, just to make ends meet. Less space, more stress, and a nagging feeling that they are overpaying a lot for the privilege of merely sleeping make many people shift their focus to rapidly growing Austin. 

What Does Living in Austin Offer?

Actually, this city in Texas can offer all the comforts of home at reasonable rates. People who are working remotely probably won’t notice any difference in their daily routine. 

Austin offers a pretty extensive job market with many available job openings in many industries. Both qualified specialists and fresh graduates find it comparatively easy to find their first jobs in Austin. 

Overall, this rapidly growing city offers far better living conditions than New York does. These touch both the settings and prices. People who arrive in Austin usually don’t have any trouble finding their first good apartment, even on a budget. Austin offers all the basic and top-notch conditions people are usually looking for:

  • More space. People in Austin prioritize comfortable living, and they share that view when offering their apartments for rent. They don’t strive to split the apartment into smaller pieces just to earn more. They keep the spaces they offer for rent reasonable in size and conditions. The apartments ordered for rent in Austin are equipped with everything people need for comfortable living, including sufficient repairs. Once you rent an apartment in Austin, there will be no need for you to repair the basic utilities just to have more or less comfortable living conditions. 
  • Flexibility. Overall, new residents enjoy more favourable rental terms in Austin than in New York. There are more decent listings available with fewer limitations and extra financial burdens. There aren’t many listings that limit pets or kids. It’s uncommon for locals in Texas to require a deposit from new residents with pets. Overall, renting an apartment in Austin, Texas, is hassle-free. It takes much less time to find a decent apartment, especially when you work with professional local real estate consultants. They help to find the right apartment even before a person moves from New York or another US city to Austin.
  • Better overall value. Besides the rental costs, the apartments in Austin provide better value. They are better planned, equipped with all necessary amenities, and overall have higher square footage. New residents may even get an apartment with a balcony for amazing coffee breaks. These kinds of apartments are offered at reasonable rates. Beyond such fantastic options, new residents can enjoy a bedroom separate from the living room, a spacious kitchen, and other high-end amenities in Austin. They will be very different from surviving in the concrete jungles of New York. 
  • Higher quality of life. Austin is developing and growing rapidly. It welcomes new entrepreneurs and is open to new manufacturing sites. Beyond these aspects, this city already has a vibrant urban life with a unique vibe and plenty of events, many of them are international. Thus, moving and living here is not boring at all. What’s important is that new residents can seamlessly afford many regular entertainment options and vacations while living in decent or even high-end apartments. 

Working with professional local real estate specialists even decreases the time spent on searches. They possess extensive expertise and first-hand knowledge of the real estate market in Austin, and even their own database of apartments for rent. Dealing with the local providers is the easiest way to find a decent apartment for rent before or after relocating to Austin. It’s a more convenient, reliable option than looking through national listing sites that often fail to provide real-life information about apartments, causing inconveniences and extra stress for people who want to relocate to Austin.

Bottom Line: New York vs Austin at a Glance 

Many people find Austin to be a more attractive option for living year after year. This rapidly growing city even became a new home for people who formerly resided in megapolises, such as New York. There are many reasons for this choice:

  • The job market in Austin is booming. It offers more well-paid jobs with far less competition at the moment. In New York, people need to spend more time searching for a well-paid job, with far denser competition for each job opening, in any area.
  • Affordable living costs. The difference in living costs between Austin and New York is incomparable. The housing market in Austin remains far more accessible than those in metropolitan areas, such as New York, San Francisco, and Seattle. Besides that, there’s no state income tax in Texas. This aspect greatly increases residents’ savings.
  • Cultural life. Austin is well-known across Texas for its vibrant life and unique city vibe. As the city grows and expands, it also gains new entertainment spots and starts hosting multiple international festivals. Events such as Austin City Limits bring musicians from all around the globe together. Beyond that, Austin also hosts numerous fantastic galleries, theatres, and museums.
  • Sense of community. Unlike New York, where people are over-focused on their lives, but more on careers, Austin offers a unique, friendly, and cheerful vibe. It offers people a chance to feel what it is like to be a part of a community.

Living in Austin is much more comfortable and affordable than in many megapolises, such as New York. That’s why many more people who used to live in New York are moving to Austin. The latter has a unique, friendly vibe and offers better living conditions, often for less than in NY. If you plan to move to Austin and are looking for a good apartment, the Austin Apartment Team is ready to help you shortly!