Moving to Austin and need help with cost of living (Lost Creek: wood floors, apartments)

[hzay]

Hi,

I'm 23, currently working in Boston.

My new workplace is at Lost Creek, Austin. I would like to live near office if possible. My budget is $400 - $600 including utilities. Will I get a one bedroom apartment for that? I can live far away and drive to work as well. Are there some neighborhoods I can look at?

Thanks!

[someguyatx]

Start checking craigslist for roommates in South Austin. A 1 bedroom place will run you about $800 minimum with utilities. Living far away will still cost you gas money and not reduce cost by too much.

[hzay]

Thanks for your reply. I checked craigslist and found some 1 bedroom apartments for under $600 in Far West. Is there some catch here?

http://austin.craigslist.org/apa/2469203844.html (broken link)
http://austin.craigslist.org/apa/2468595567.html (broken link)

[h886]

Originally Posted by hzay

Thanks for your reply. I checked craigslist and found some 1 bedroom apartments for under $600 in Far West. Is there some catch here?

AWESOME Neighborhood! Wood Floors*. Walk to Grocery,Cafes,Shops (http://austin.craigslist.org/apa/2469203844.html - broken link)
Far West/KILLER SPECIAL!/U.T. SHUTTLE! (http://austin.craigslist.org/apa/2468595567.html - broken link)

Far West is a good neighborhood to look in. The $600 is the real price (likely if you sign a long term lease--higher rent if you want something less than a year), but none of the apartments you look at are going to include utilities. So you need to factor in at least $30 per month for water (water is usually determined by what the complex uses, averaged per resident--not by how much you individually use.) You also need to factor in at least $80 or so per month for electricity. If you want phone/cable or internet, that will be about $100 per month. Far West is a good neighborhood in general, though having had experiences with several of the cheaper complexes, you get what you pay for. So if you're in the very cheapest ones, expect slow maintenance, an old AC/heater that may break down frequently, etc.

Also factor in that you will have a long drive down 360 in the mornings and afternoons to get to Lost Creek and that much of it will be spent parked in traffic and at the lights. Expect to use a lot of gas.

[cmaxmor]

Check http://www.auschron.com.

[someguyatx]

Originally Posted by hzay

Thanks for your reply. I checked craigslist and found some 1 bedroom apartments for under $600 in Far West. Is there some catch here?

AWESOME Neighborhood! Wood Floors*. Walk to Grocery,Cafes,Shops (http://austin.craigslist.org/apa/2469203844.html - broken link)
Far West/KILLER SPECIAL!/U.T. SHUTTLE! (http://austin.craigslist.org/apa/2468595567.html - broken link)

Like the other eprson said $600 is a good price and Far West is a pretty popular neighborhood for ut students who want to avoid campus life and younger people working. Its safe, close to downtown and convenient to a lot of things. Once you add utilities that will bring you close to $800 or $700 with no cable tv or internet.

Its a great location if working in North Austin but to Lost Creek commute will likely range from 30-60 minutes. If you work off standard hours its not really an issue