Austin Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
Internations Austin, Austin Newcomers Club |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
Capital Factory ($250/mo) at 701 Brazos St; Industrious ($400/mo) |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Caffé Medici (810 Congress Ave) or Radio Coffee & Beer |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Austin Digital Nomads Meetup, Built In Austin events |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
Uber, Lyft, and local nonprofit RideAustin |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
MetroBike, Lime, Bird (approx. $1 to start + $0.39/min) |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Lake Travis (Windy Point Park); Nearest ocean: Port Aransas (3.5 hours) |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
Southwest Airlines |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
American Airlines, British Airways, KLM/Lufthansa |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
I-35, MoPac (Loop 1), and Hwy 183 |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
Capital MetroRail (Downtown Station), Austin-Berstrom International (AUS) |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
CapMetro App: $1.25 Single, $2.50 Day Pass |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
Vonlane (Luxury bus) to Dallas/Houston, Amtrak Texas Eagle |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
St. David's Medical Center or Dell Seton Medical Center |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
Black Swan Yoga (donation-based), Practice Yoga Austin |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
Castle Hill Fitness, Gold's Gym (multiple locations) |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
Washatopia (Self-service/Drop-off) at 2101 South Lamar Blvd |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
DoorDash, UberEats, Favor (local favorite) |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Texas Beef Brisket at Franklin BBQ ($34/lb) |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Arlo's (Food truck), Bouldin Creek Cafe |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Amy's Ice Creams, Gourdough's Public House |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
H-E-B (Local favorite grocery store), Trader Joe's |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Amazon (Same-day delivery available), Walmart.com |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
H-E-B Delivery, Instacart, Amazon Fresh |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
Rainey Street (Historic houses turned bars), 6th Street |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
Austin Beerworks, Jester King Brewery |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
Wine Belly, June’s All Day |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
The Picnic Food Trailer Park (Barton Springs Rd) |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Ramen Tatsu-Ya (Japanese), Loro (Asian-Smokehouse fusion) |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Texas State Capitol, Lady Bird Lake |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
Blanton Museum of Art, The Contemporary Austin |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
The Bullock Texas State History Museum |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
St. Mary's Cathedral, Austin Buddhist Vihara |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
SXSW (March), Austin City Limits (October) |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
East 6th Street, South Congress Ave |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
The Paramount Theatre, ZACH Theatre |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Texas Farmers' Market at Mueller (Sundays) |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Continental Club, Antone's Nightclub |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Greetings from Austin Mural (S 1st St & Annie St) |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Thai Fresh Cooking School, Sur La Table (Domain) |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Wally Workman Gallery, Flatbed Center for Contemporary Printmaking |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
The Driskill Hotel (opened 1886) |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
Keep Austin Weird culture, Tex-Mex influence |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Barton Springs Pool (Natural spring $9 non-resident) |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Guadalupe Mountains (7hr drive), Big Bend (9hr drive) |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail (10 miles) |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Mount Bonnell (highest point in city) |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
Congress Avenue Bridge (1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats) |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Emma Long Metropolitan Park (designated pits) |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
FedEx Office, UPS Store, USPS |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
Rossmove iPhone Repair, CPR Cell Phone Repair |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Spin Austin (701 Congress Ave) |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
Texas Language Center (UT Austin), Austin Community College |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Austin Central Library (Award-winning architecture) |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
Asian American Resource Center, Dougherty Arts Center |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
Cidercade Austin ($12 for unlimited play) |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
Not legal in TX; Nearest is Lucky Eagle (Eagle Pass) |
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
Austin, Texas, United States |
| 👥 Population |
975,000 (City), 2.4 million (Metro area) |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
High-speed fiber (Google Fiber, AT&T) up to 1000 Mbps; average 250 Mbps |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
US Dollar (USD). 1 USD = 0.92 EUR |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Safe to drink; high mineral content |
| 🔌 Power |
120V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A/B sockets |
| 📶 SIM Card |
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon. Mint Mobile ($15/mo) is a popular budget choice |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
Chase, Wells Fargo, Wise (digital), Revolut |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Zillow, Apartments.com, Airbnb for short-term stays |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Yes, credit cards and Apple/Google Pay accepted everywhere |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb, Landing (furnished flexible leases), Sonder |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
Firehouse Hostel ($45-$60/night) at 605 Brazos St |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
Downtown or South Congress (SoCo) for walkability and sights |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
East Austin (Holly or Cherrywood) for community and cafes |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $8,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $340,000) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $5,200 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $208,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $7,800 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $468,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $4,600 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $276,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. $7,200 per m² (e.g., 85 m² = $612,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. $4,200 per m² (e.g., 85 m² = $357,000) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
21% Federal; 0% Texas State Income Tax/Franchise Tax depends on revenue |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
0% for residents; 30% for non-residents (subject to treaties) |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Citizens/Residents: Worldwide income; Non-residents: US source income |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
37% Federal; 0% State |
| 🧾 VAT |
8.25% Sales Tax (combined state and local) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
Yes, GILTI and Subpart F rules apply for US taxpayers |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
Yes, high rates approx. 1.8% to 2.2% of assessed value |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
No state transfer tax; small recording fees apply |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
No state income tax makes it very attractive for US-based earners |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING AUSTIN