Between 2010 and 2019, Austin saw 177,079 people move to its city center, making it fifth in population increase in the U.S. It's not hard to understand why tourists and new residents alike are attracted to the city, especially because average rent prices in Austin remain on the low end compared to other cities of its size.
Austin has slowly transformed from a college town to a quickly-growing city. It was named the best place to live by U.S. News, thanks to its outdoor spaces, live entertainment options and culture.
While the heat takes some getting used to, you can find plenty of swimming holes to cool down like Barton Springs Pool and the Blue Hole. When it cools down, spend your time exploring the seven-and-a-quarter-mile Barton Creek Greenbelt for hiking and a view of Sculpture Falls.
But what is the average rent of living in Austin? And if it's within your budget, what neighborhood would you pick?
Walkability, quality of schools, dining scene, work commutes and other factors contribute to rent prices. The capital of Texas has plenty to offer in the job market as a large tech hub. Austin City Limits and South by Southwest bring plenty of entertainment to the city, and its historical roots, outdoor activities and food scene keep it as an attractive option.
Despite an increase in housing demand, Austin's one-bedroom average rents remain at $1,518 per month.
We've collected average rent data across Austin neighborhoods and analyzed them to determine the most expensive and affordable areas of the city.
Proximity to food trucks, trendy coffee shops, arts and culture events and older architecture has attracted the crowds to these neighborhoods.
You can find the highest average rents concentrated around the city center, including Downtown, Rosedale and Bouldin Creek. Lady Bird Lake runs through Downtown with activities like canoeing, hiking and paddle boating and offers excellent views for those that live nearby.
Less than 10 minutes from downtown Austin, Mueller takes the spot for the most expensive average rent in Austin. The neighborhood took over the now-shuttered Robert Mueller Municipal Airport.
That's no surprise there as the planned community boasts public transportation, a high walkability score and plenty of retail and businesses.
| Neighborhood | Average 1-BR Rent Prices |
|---|---|
| Mueller | $3,963 |
| Market District | $3,611 |
| Warehouse District | $3,009 |
| Downtown | $2,977 |
| Govalle | $2,745 |
| Seaholm District | $2,629 |
| Bouldin Creek | $2,558 |
| Steiner Ranch | $2,477 |
| Westfield* | $2,146 |
| Rainey Street District | $2,085 |
While other emerging, cheaper neighborhoods, mostly located to the northeast of Austin, are quickly growing in both residents and amenities.
| Neighborhood | Average 1-BR Rent Prices |
|---|---|
| Laurel Oaks* | $890 |
| Gracywoods | $909 |
| Quail Hollow | $909 |
| St. Johns | $928 |
| Pecan Springs Springdale | $946 |
| Georgian Acres | $951 |
| North Austin | $971 |
| Coronado Hills | $975 |
| Chevy Chase South | $999 |
| Windsor Hills | $1,002 |
Austin remains weird and affordable despite its recent boom in visitors and new residents. Don't knock these neighborhoods before exploring — they offer more than you think. Windsor Park provides delicious Mexican and American food, a chill, no-frills bar scene and good coffee. Plus, Bartholomew Park and Pool area are nearby.
One-bedroom apartments in the cheapest neighborhoods in Austin remain less than $1,000 a month. Family-friendly suburb Gracywoods boast good schools and proximity to the 300-acre Walnut Creek Park featuring a playground, hiking trails and other amenities. North Austin is the perfect mid-point for those that want city life but the quiet of the suburbs.
For a complete rundown of average neighborhood prices in Austin, see the chart below.
| Neighborhood | Average 1-BR Rent Prices |
|---|---|
| Allandale | $1,137 |
| Anderson Mill Village South | $1,074 |
| Barton Hills | $1,708 |
| Bouldin Creek | $2,558 |
| Brentwood | $1,210 |
| Broadacres | $1,122 |
| Central Austin | $1,840 |
| Cherrywood | $1,521 |
| Chevy Chase South | $999 |
| Circle C Ranch | $1,556 |
| Clarksville | $1,939 |
| Copperfield | $1,092 |
| Coronado Hills | $975 |
| Crestview | $1,744 |
| Downtown | $2,977 |
| East Austin | $1,825 |
| East Cesar Chavez | $1,855 |
| East Congress | $1,566 |
| East Oak Hill | $1,545 |
| East Riverside - Oltorf | $1,088 |
| Galindo | $1,291 |
| Garrison Park | $1,292 |
| Georgian Acres | $951 |
| Govalle | $2,745 |
| Gracywoods | $909 |
| Greater South River City | $1,901 |
| Hancock | $1,703 |
| Heritage | $1,537 |
| Highland | $1,378 |
| Hyde Park | $1,150 |
| Keesee | $1,284 |
| Lamplight Village | $1,219 |
| Laurel Oaks* | $890 |
| Market District | $3,611 |
| Milwood | $1,126 |
| Montopolis | $1,599 |
| Mueller | $3,963 |
| Nalle Woods | $1,583 |
| North Austin | $971 |
| North Burnet | $1,733 |
| North Loop | $1,296 |
| North Shoal Creek | $1,159 |
| North University | $1,083 |
| Northeast Austin | $1,184 |
| Northwest Austin | $1,341 |
| Oak Hill | $1,616 |
| Parker Lane | $1,173 |
| Pecan Springs Springdale | $946 |
| Pleasant Valley | $1,226 |
| Quail Hollow | $909 |
| Rainey Street District | $2,085 |
| Riverside | $1,022 |
| Rosedale | $2,011 |
| Seaholm District | $2,629 |
| Silverton Heights | $1,378 |
| South Austin | $1,298 |
| South Congress | $1,923 |
| South Lamar | $1,477 |
| South Lawn | $1,653 |
| Southeast Austin | $1,443 |
| Southpark Meadows | $1,387 |
| Southwest Austin | $1,522 |
| St. Edwards | $1,574 |
| St. Johns | $928 |
| Steiner Ranch | $2,477 |
| Sweetbriar | $1,156 |
| Tarrytown* | $1,575 |
| Teravista | $1,123 |
| Travis Heights | $1,689 |
| University of Texas-Austin | $1,065 |
| Upper Boggy Creek | $1,521 |
| Warehouse District | $3,009 |
| West Austin | $1,616 |
| West Congress | $1,160 |
| West Oak Hill | $1,630 |
| West University | $1,537 |
| Westfield* | $2,146 |
| Windsor Hills | $1,002 |
| Windsor Park | $1,015 |
| Wood Creek | $1,057 |
| Zilker | $1,813 |
Whether you're local to Austin or new to the Texan city, finding the right neighborhood requires a bit of patience to review all the factors. With plenty of outdoor activities, a thriving tech industry and excellent food availability (did someone say tacos?), Austin can steal your heart.
Now that you have a few options within your budget, you can continue narrowing down the neighborhoods based on commute and lifestyle.
Muriel Vega is an Atlanta-based journalist who writes about technology and its intersection with arts and culture. She's worked on content for startups like Mailchimp, Patreon, Punchlist, Skillshare, Rent. and others. Muriel has also contributed to The Washington Post, Eater, DWELL, Outside Magazine, Atlanta Magazine, AIGA Eye on Design, Bitter Southerner and more.