A friend moved to Austin in early 2020 and was paying $1,400/month for a 3-bed house with a yard.…
T=0: The Decision
LA apartment, $2,200/month, 620 square feet, shared laundry. Freelance video income at $72k, saving $400/month. Everything in LA required a car, which cost $600/month to own and park.
A friend moved to Austin in early 2020 and was paying $1,400/month for a 3-bed house with a yard. The same income would fund a completely different life. Texas had no state income tax. I moved in March 2021.
A savings rate above 20%. A life that takes up more space.
6 Months Out
Saving $1,600/month more than in LA. The creative community here is real and growing — I have found more production work in 6 months than I expected. Austin was already overheating but the advantage over LA is still enormous.
“The Austin creative industry is real and expanding but not deep yet. Maintain your LA network remotely — the best work will come from existing relationships who can now hire you cheaper than LA-based alternatives.”