Moving from New York City to Austin?
NY's combined 14.8% top tax versus TX's zero — the NYC finance and tech crowd's most popular Sun Belt destination.
- 1,735 mi Distance
- 26 hr Drive time
- 61% lower Home prices
- $14,800/yr Tax savings on $100K
Austin's tech and finance hiring has been heavily fueled by NYC transplants since 2020. Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Citadel, and hedge fund families have all expanded Austin presence, and the combined NY state + NYC city income tax (14.8% top) versus Texas's zero is the single biggest tax delta in any US interstate move.
Why people move from New York City to Austin.
- TX no state income tax (NY combined 14.8% top eliminated)
- TX no capital gains tax — major for tech/finance high earners
- Austin tech and finance growth (Apple, Tesla, Goldman, hedge funds)
- Home prices 61% lower than NYC
- Cost of living 36% lower than NYC
- Mild winters with seasonal variety
The money side of NY → TX.
New York City
- Median home$1,400,000
- Income tax4%-10.9% + NYC 3.876% (~14.8% top)
- Cost index187
Austin
- Median home$550,000
- Income taxNone (TX)
- Cost index119
Things you'll want to know about your new city.
Bookmark this page — these are the icons of Austin, organized by what kind of day you're planning.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Zilker Park & Barton Springs — 350-acre urban park, 68°F natural spring pool year-round
- Lady Bird Lake — Hike-and-bike trail, kayaking, paddleboarding
- Mount Bonnell — 775-ft hill with city and Lake Austin views
- McKinney Falls State Park — Waterfalls and limestone bluffs in the city
Culture & Arts
- Texas State Capitol — Tallest state capitol building, free tours
- South by Southwest (SXSW) — Annual music/film/tech festival in March
- Austin City Limits Festival — October two-weekend music festival in Zilker Park
Family-Friendly
- Congress Avenue Bridge Bats — 1.5M Mexican free-tailed bats emerge nightly Mar-Nov
- Texas Memorial Museum — UT campus natural history museum
Nightlife & Entertainment
- 6th Street — Historic entertainment district
Austin's essential restaurants.
The dining list every Austin resident knows by heart. Save the spots, work through them.
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Franklin Barbecue BBQ East Austin
Brisket worth the 2-hour line
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Uchi Japanese South Lamar
Tyson Cole's flagship sushi
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Suerte Mexican East Austin
Heirloom corn masa, James Beard nominee
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Odd Duck New American South Lamar
Farm-to-table sharing plates
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Veracruz All Natural Tacos Multiple
Best migas tacos in town
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Uchiko Japanese Rosedale
Uchi's farmhouse sister restaurant
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Olamaie Southern Downtown
Modern interpretation of Southern classics
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Loro Asian smokehouse South Lamar
Aaron Franklin's Asian-BBQ collab
Best Austin neighborhoods for New York City transplants.
Mapped to the New York City neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.
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South Congress / Bouldin
Walkable, food-and-music scene similar to Brooklyn's Williamsburg or West Village energy. $900K-$1.4M
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East Austin (78702)
Hip, walkable, gentrifying — closest to Bushwick/Bedford-Stuyvesant feel
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Westlake Hills / Tarrytown
Affluent, top schools, hilly — equivalent to Westchester premium tier — $1.5M-$3M+
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Mueller
Planned mixed-use urban village; family-friendly, walkable
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Cedar Park / Round Rock
Suburban, family-oriented, top schools, more affordable — $450-700K
What daily life feels like in Austin.
Climate
Humid subtropical. Hot summers (95-105°F, peaks over 110°F). Mild winters (40-65°F, occasional freezes). Spring is glorious; fall arrives late. Sun 230+ days/year. Annual rainfall 35 inches with occasional flash floods.
- Summer90-105°F
- Winter45-65°F
- Sun days/yr228
- Rainfall34 inches
Walkability
- Walk Score42/100
- Transit Score33/100
- Bike Score56/100
Austin is car-dependent — most errands require driving.
Outdoors & Recreation
- Lady Bird Lake — kayak, paddleboard, hike-and-bike trail
- Greenbelt (Barton Creek) — 7-mile urban hiking corridor
- Hill Country day trips — wine country, Hamilton Pool, Krause Springs
- Lake Travis — boating and lakeside dining
- Austin's 250+ parks system; Zilker is the crown jewel
- Cycling — over 100 miles of urban bike lanes
What changes about your daily life.
- You'll need a car — Austin transit minimal vs NYC's 24/7 subway
- Summer heat becomes major adjustment (100°F+ for 3-4 months)
- TX property tax 1.6%+ — partially offsets income tax savings
- Apartment to house transition — most NYC transplants buy houses in Austin
- Live music and outdoor lifestyle replaces theater and museums
- Cultural depth narrower than NYC's
How to drive there.
What it takes to move 1,735 miles.
- Full-service (3BR)$9,000-$19,000
- Container/PODS$4,800-$10,000
- DIY (26-ft truck)$3,000-$5,500
- Best monthsOctober-March (avoid TX summer heat AND avoid potential NYC weather complications)
- Lead time6-10 weeks for binding estimate; 5-10 day delivery
USDOT-registered. NYC pickup often needs COIs and elevator booking; Austin generally easier.
Moving from New York City to Austin: FAQ.
Real NYC-to-Austin tax savings?
On $200K income: NYC combined ~$22K; TX zero. Save $22K/year. On $500K: $58K saved. On $1M: $128K. Plus TX no capital gains tax — for tech RSU holders or hedge fund managers, that's potentially hundreds of thousands per liquidity event. Property tax higher in TX (1.6% vs NY 1.72% — actually similar) but on smaller home prices.
Will my NYC apartment furniture fit an Austin house?
You'll have extra space, not too little. Austin houses are typically 1,500-3,000 sqft vs NYC's 800-1,500 sqft apartments. Most NYC transplants buy more furniture rather than fit existing pieces. Outdoor patio furniture becomes useful (you may have a backyard now).
Will I miss NYC culturally?
Some NYC depth doesn't exist in Austin — Broadway theater, museum density, ethnic cuisine variety. But Austin has genuine music scene, festivals (SXSW, ACL), strong food (BBQ, Tex-Mex), outdoor culture. Most NYC-to-Austin transplants report 6-12 months of cultural adjustment; about 15% reverse within 3 years.
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