Moving from New York City to Austin can be a massive change since Austin is a progressive and liberal city located in a conservative state.
They’re both diverse cities with booming economies. If you are a fan of cities that are filled with weird and wonderful things to do, you’re in luck because Austin’s unofficial motto is “Keep Austin Weird”.
Austin gives you all that you desire from a big city, but yet is small enough to give you that small-town feel and sense of community that you just can’t get in NYC.
So if you plan on trading in the Big Apple for the Silicon Hills, this guide will explain the whole moving process and share some helpful tips to assist you with your relocation.
The Moving Process From New York City to Austin
How Far is Austin from New York City?
The distance between New York City and Austin is 1,742 miles. The driving time of this journey is approximately 26 hours by car depending on traffic.
So whether you’re planning on doing a DIY move and driving the journey yourself in a rented moving van or you’re planning to drive your car and hire a professional mover, it’s definitely worth noting that it’s an extremely lengthy drive.
The flight time is roughly 4 hours long, so if the idea of sitting in a car for 26+ hours doesn’t sound like fun to you, you should definitely consider flying.
What is the Average Cost to Move From New York City to Austin?
The average cost to move from New York City to Austin is between $3,300-$7,700. That means on average it costs roughly $5500.
There are many variables that determine the exact cost of a move from New York City to Austin such as the number of items being moved, the dates of the move, whether you’ll want additional packing and unpacking services, and whether you plan to hire professional moving services or do it yourself.
Should I Move From New York City to Austin?
This move can be a massive change, but there are some definite benefits. Huge rental price decreases and more live music venues per capita than any other city in the US are two of the biggest benefits. If this sounds good to you, then you should move from New York City to Austin.
How New York City Compares to Austin
Living Costs Compared
The first thing a New Yorker will notice when they arrive in Austin is how affordable it is comparatively.
It’s no secret that New York City is one of the most expensive places to live in the US, let alone the world, so the rental and real estate prices in Austin will be a pleasant surprise.
The median rent in NYC is around $2,850, while in Austin it’s only $1,192. The great thing about Austin is that you can find a huge mix of different style homes on offer, ranging from modern contemporary houses to Victorian-style homes.
If you’re planning to buy a house in Austin you will be happy to hear that purchasing real estate in Austin is so much cheaper than in NYC. The median sale price of a house in NYC is $705,407. Whilst the median sale price is only $369,000 in Austin.
In general, the cost of living in Austin is around 43.3% lower than in NYC. So expect cheaper utilities, groceries, and healthcare costs in Austin too.
Public Transportation
Capital Metro is Austin’s public transport system. It is made up of metro rail, metro buses and commuter trains that serve Austin and the surrounding areas.
Although Austin isn’t necessarily a city where you need to drive, most residents own their own vehicles. Similarly to NYC, traffic can be a bit of a nightmare so you might want to stick to using public transport if you live in downtown Austin.
In New York City an unlimited subway card costs $127 per month and $2.75 per ride. In Austin, a metro rail Commuter 31-Day Pass costs $96.25 and a One-Way Ticket costs $3.50.
Weather
If you don’t enjoy those harsh, snowy winters in NYC, Austin will be a great choice for you.
As you know, NYC experiences hot, humid summers. Austin’s summers are hotter with temperatures hitting the high 90’s, but the evenings are cooler so if humidity is not your friend you’re in luck!
On average, New York gets roughly 25 inches of snowfall every winter whilst Austin gets no snow! The coldest average monthly temperature in New York sits at around 27℉. Austin’s average lows in the winter months are around 38℉.
Moving From New York City to Austin DMV
If you are planning to move from New York City to Austin, please note that you will have to get a new driver’s license.
New residents in Texas can drive with an out-of-state driver’s license for up to 90 days after moving to Texas. After the end of the 90 days, you must apply in person at the driver’s license office for a Texas license.
If you need more information about what you will need to complete the process it can be found here.
Buying a Home in Austin
As we mentioned earlier, buying a home in Austin is significantly cheaper than buying a home in NYC. These are the neighborhoods to consider if looking to buy a home.
East Oak Hill
East Oak Hill has been named as the best neighborhood to buy a home in Austin on Niche. This neighborhood is perfect for families, as the public schools here are highly rated.
One side of the neighborhood contains bigger, more expensive homes that perch on hills overlooking the scenery.
The other side of the neighborhood is comprised of tree-lined streets with houses in rows. If you’re looking for a neighborhood with friendly neighbors and a high percentage of homeownership, East Oak Hill is a great choice for you.
Old West Austin
If you love history and architecture, Old West Austin is a great choice for you. This residential area is made up of three different neighborhoods; Old Enfield, Pemberton Heights, and Bryker Woods. The architecture of the homes here dates back to the mid-1800s to the 1950s.
If you’re an outdoorsy person, this may be the neighbourhood for you.
Not only does this neighborhood have beautiful architecture, but it also has plenty of biking and hiking trails. In addition to this, Lake Austin is easily accessible from Old West Austin.
North Loop
This neighborhood is a leader in keeping Austin weird. North Loop is packed with vintage shops, record stores, great restaurants, and stylish bars.
This neighborhood is a quaint part of Austin and the housing stock is mostly comprised of Post WW2 single-family homes. Are you looking for a neighborhood with a diverse community feel?
North Loop is a great option, as the residents here are an eclectic mix of young professionals, artists, and long-term locals.
Selling Your Property in New York City
The first step when planning to sell your property in New York City is finding the right realtor. You also have to consider when to sell your home.
Housing prices can fluctuate by thousands of dollars depending on what time of year you sell your home. June is the best month to sell in New York for speed, and July is the best month to sell for a better price in New York. Selling in either of these months is a great idea.
Figuring out what your house is worth is a vital task to ensure a financially favorable and speedy sale. Gauging your home’s value compared to the area’s market value is the best way to confidently price your home. An experienced real estate agent can provide a market analysis.
A good, reliable realtor will guide you through the whole process and can really help you alleviate the stresses that come with selling your home.
Finding a Job in Austin Before You Move There
Before you move to Austin, it’s advised to try and find a job so that your move can be as stress-free as possible. Some ideas of where to start the job search would be
City of Austin Jobs
This is a great resource to find jobs in the City of Austin. This informative page contains information on where residents can find job opportunities in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
Indeed
Indeed is always a great place to find job listings no matter where you are based. You can use the tools to filter your search to certain areas in Austin and there are always new job listings posted daily.
To see the jobs currently available in Austin, check them out here.
Word of Mouth
Do you know anyone living in the area? Ask them if they know anyone looking to hire! It’s such a simple concept but yet we forget to use it.
Moving From New York City to Austin Checklist
The following checklist will allow you to assess what needs to be done before trading the Big Apple for the Bat City.
At Least 4 to 6 Weeks Before the Move
– Organize a professional moving company.
– Let your health care physician, dentist, and other service providers know that you are moving.
– Order moving supplies or ask your moving company to provide them as an additional service
– It is a great idea to sell or donate your unwanted items. You can sell on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Or you can donate them to the Salvation Army and they will pick items up at no charge.
– Begin packing; clearly mark boxes with a marker indicating which room they will be going into at delivery.
– You will need to make your change of address known to several different places, such as wherever you do your banking, the DMV, your workplace, any other financial institutions (such as credit card providers), the post office, your utility provider, and, saving the most important for last, your friends and family.
– Sort plane tickets if you’re planning to fly.
2 Weeks Prior to the Move
– It is imperative to clean and/or make needed repairs on your old home before moving out, since leaving your place an absolute mess may leave your security deposit in jeopardy.
– Because of the abundance of fragile items in your kitchen, you’ll want to pack these items away long in advance, with protective bubble wrap to ensure nothing gets broken in transit.
– You will also want to begin packing your things from bedrooms and bathrooms, except for your essential items that you will be using until you move.
– If necessary, you will want to arrange a babysitter for your kids and/or pets for parts of the move that you need to be able to focus and get things done.
A Couple of Days Before Your Move
– Clean up your home completely, double checking any cracks and crevices that may have your stuff hidden away.
– Unless your movers will do it for you, dissassemble your furniture to make your move a smoother process, and ensure to keep any screws, brackets, or other small items that are needed for reassembly. Pro tip: tape these smaller items in a bag to the bottom of the furniture.
– Print out the floor plan of your new home and have enough for the movers as well.
– You may want to hit the ATM before moving day, as you’ll need to have enough cash to tip your movers. Generally speaking, you’ll want to tip $20-$30 per mover.
– Make sure that you confirm with your movers the details of your move. The last thing that you want is to have moving day come around, and you and your movers aren’t on the same page.
– Get in touch with the landlord or current homeowner of your new place, and ensure that you’ll be able to get the keys to your new place when you arrive.
– Document the condition of your old place through pictures and videos, to ensure that you have proof of its state. This will come in handy if your landlord tries to keep your deposit, based on incorrect facts.
Moving Day
– Hand over your old home’s keys to the necessary people, such as landlord or building management.
– Do a quick run-through of your home to ensure that nothing gets left behind, whether it’s just a smaller item, or an entire box of stuff.
– Ensure that everything you packed up is in your new home before unpacking everything.
– If the moving company you are working with is going to assemble your furniture, make sure that they reassemble it in the correct room to avoid unnecessary work.
– Be sure to thank everyone helping you move, and leave them a tip!
You did it! Congrats and enjoy your new home!
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