Posted by lalamark on 2005-01-19 12:27:05
Post Subject:
It's been a while since I lived in Austin (4 yrs) but I'm back every holiday or break from school and have stayed with friends as they've migrated around the city.
I've always heard that Austin is relatively expensive for a city its size (though nothing like New York or San Francisco). That said, I was able to live (with a roommate) working retail, so it can't be that bad.
You are unlikely to find the perfect roomy 1 bdrm apt with hardwood floors and great light in a recently restored Craftsman style bungalow for very cheap, but with a little effort you should be able find what Austin does best: character. Architectural oddities + low rent + your groovy decorating style = the perfect apartment.
A good friend now lives in the Cherrywood neighborhood; very charming, quirky, and close to Fiesta. She rents a 2 bdrm duplex (with gorgeous wood floors) for about $800.
If you don't know anybody looking for a roommate, I've found 2 places in the classified ads in the Chronicle. They weren't the best, but the price/location was right even if the personalities weren't, and I had a place to live until something better came along.
