Business
- 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
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $8,500 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $340,000)
Essentials
- 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
Working and Networking
- 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
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Austin, Austin Newcomers Club
Transportation
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)