Moving from San Francisco to Austin?
The defining tech move of the 2020s — Bay Area engineers, founders, and VCs trading 13.3% income tax and $1.4M starter homes for Austin's tech boom.
- 1,755 mi Distance
- 26 hr Drive time
- 61% lower Home prices
- $9,300/yr Tax savings on $100K
Austin's tech population doubled between 2018 and 2023 — fueled almost entirely by Bay Area transplants. The migration was so concentrated that Austin Realtors started keeping unofficial 'San Francisco buyer' lists, and certain neighborhoods (East Austin, Mueller, Cedar Park) saw 70%+ home price growth in three years. Tesla, Apple, Oracle, Indeed, and Meta all opened or expanded major Austin operations during this period.
Why people move from San Francisco to Austin.
- TX no state income tax (CA's 13.3% top eliminated)
- TX no capital gains tax — major for tech workers with RSU vesting events
- Austin tech ecosystem — Apple, Tesla, Oracle, Google, Meta, Indeed
- Home prices 61% lower than SF
- Lower cost of living broadly (index 119 vs SF's 187)
- Mild winters with seasonal change (vs SF's foggy 60°F year-round)
The money side of CA → TX.
San Francisco
- Median home$1,400,000
- Income tax1%-13.3% progressive
- 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 San Francisco transplants.
Mapped to the San Francisco neighborhoods that probably feel like home to you.
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East Austin (78702)
Hip, walkable, food/music scene — closest to Mission District energy. $700K-$1.2M
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South Congress (SoCo) / Bouldin
Walkable, premium dining, similar Hayes Valley feel — $900K-$1.4M
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Westlake Hills
Top schools, hilly, Lake Austin access — Marin County premium tier — $1.5M-$3M+
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Mueller (planned community)
Mixed-use urban village, family-oriented, walkability designed in
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Cedar Park / Leander (suburbs)
Suburban, Apple campus accessible, top schools, $450-700K — closer to Pacifica or San Mateo for the dollar
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The Domain / North Austin
Tech corridor, dense apartments and condos, walkable retail
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 drive everywhere — Austin transit is minimal vs SF Muni/BART
- Summer heat becomes major — 100°F+ for 3-4 months, AC bills $300-400/month
- Property tax 1.6%+ effective (vs CA's 0.74%) — partially offsets income tax savings
- BBQ becomes part of weekly rotation; Franklin's brisket really does justify the line
- Mexican food is great but different (Tex-Mex, not Cal-Mex)
- Live music and SXSW become part of cultural calendar
How to drive there.
What it takes to move 1,755 miles.
- Full-service (3BR)$9,500-$20,000
- Container/PODS$5,000-$10,500
- DIY (26-ft truck)$3,000-$5,500
- Best monthsOctober-March (avoid TX summer heat for both you and your goods)
- Lead time6-10 weeks for binding estimate; 5-10 day delivery window
USDOT-registered carrier required. SF building requirements (elevator booking, COIs) common; Austin pickup/delivery generally easier.
Moving from San Francisco to Austin: FAQ.
Should I time the move around RSU vesting?
If you have major equity events ahead, yes. Establishing TX residency before vesting can save CA's 13.3% on capital gains AND ordinary income — for a $1M vesting event, that's $130K. Requires genuine residency: 183+ days TX, TX driver's license, voter registration, primary residence sold or rented, banking shifted. CA aggressively audits; sloppy execution triggers back taxes plus penalties.
Will Austin tech salary match SF?
Senior roles generally 80-95% of Bay Area for equivalent positions. Apple/Tesla Austin engineers paid competitively with Cupertino with cost-of-living adjustment. Combined with 60% lower home prices and zero state tax, net effective income typically improves 30-50%. Junior tech roles less attractive — Austin pays less in absolute dollars.
Will my SF furniture fit Austin homes?
Mostly yes; Austin homes typically larger than SF condos. Open layouts and higher ceilings common. You may have extra space rather than too little. Outdoor furniture often becomes more useful in Austin (pools, patios). Consider whether sectional sofas and large dining tables fit current SF apartment — they'll fit Austin easily.
Is Austin still cheap?
Less than 5 years ago. Austin median home doubled from $310K (2018) to $550K (2024). LA/SF transplants find Austin still 40-60% cheaper than Bay Area, but absolute prices no longer 'cheap.' Property tax at 1.6%+ adds $7-12K/year on a typical home.
How long does adjustment take?
Most Bay Area transplants report 6-18 months of adjustment. Heat hardest in first summer. Reverse-migration rate ~10-15% within 3 years; the other 85% report higher quality of life and effective income.
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