Austin Texas

[DaveG99]

I live in Orlando and I am thinking about moving out to Austin. From the pictures I have seen its very nice. I also like the pictures I saw from lake travis. My girlfriend wants to move there with me since she is from there originaly. I am a estimator in the commercial roofing business so finding work isnt a problem. The main reason is for buying a house. I am 30 years old and havent bought a house yet. I really want one and a house in Orlando is atleast $250,000 or more for something decent. In Austin you can get a new 3bed/2bath for $110,000. Anyone from there and do you like it? Pros and cons about it would be great.

[Confooseld]

My cousins/grandfather live there and I've been many times (I'm actually going to visit them tommorow afternoon/or then next morning and staying for 3 days). I like it much more than Houston(where I've lived for the last 18 years). I dunno what the traffic is like in in Orlando but in Austin it's pretty bad and only going to get worse especially around rush hour. I'm not sure Orlando is humid but I'm going to guess it is Austin is not and as we all know dry heat>wet heat in terms of comfort/ease of exercise. You wouldn't call it a desert but it's pretty dry. Austin is about as liberal as Texas is going to get I don't know if that's a positive or negative for you but you should know. It's a decently hilly city and the country surrounding it is as well.

Seems like you'd know all this though already as your girlfriend is from Austin.

[UH_OH_5_OH]

I have never lived there but have visited many many times and it is a great city....I can't speak for the school system...but the city is great. Music, culture, Lake Travis, Downtown, etc. plus THE LONGHORNS ! ! ! ! HOOK EM HORNS ! ! !

[DaveG99]

I know the traffic cant be worse than orlando's. It is just down right horrible around here. I have heard about 6th street and it sounds like a fun place to go out for drinks and partying. I assume its a pretty fun town since the college is there.

[Hunter21]

I lived in San Antonio for 11 yrs. and every chance we got, we went up to Austin and my b/f's parents live in austin so we would always go and visit them, I actually loved Austin better than SA! so I DEFINITELY recommend it! Very beautiful city and alot of nightlife and tons of awesome restaurants downtown!!! I hope you get to move there! BTW, Houston is known for the worst traffic ever! lol :D

Erin

[oz]

Cost of living is about 10% cheaper in Austin comparing to Orlando. So if you were making, let's say $100K, the equivalent income is $89,572.96. You may take a 10.43% decrease and still maintain your standard of living.

[oz]

Average HOME PRICE in Orlando is $355,472.33, Austin is $221,248.00, difference of $134,224.33

APT RENT is less in Orlando $853.00 versus $954.00 in Austin :confused:

DENTIST VISIT in Orlando $65.60, Austin $74.25

The rest are listed with Orlando 1st then Austin


DOCTOR VISIT $63.33 $65.80
OPTOMETRIST $56.00 $78.00
WASHER REPAIR $53.92 $53.00
VET SERVICES $40.28 $41.18
BEAUTY SALON $32.40 $50.00
MENS SHIRT $31.38 $19.66
WOMENS SLACKS $29.14 $34.33
PHONE $26.95 $20.57
BOYS JEAN $20.07 $18.66
PIZZA $12.31 $11.32
HAIR CUT $10.80 $14.50
TIRE BALANCE $10.38 $8.69
T BONE STEAK $8.09 $7.79
DRY CLEANING $8.09 $9.63
MOVIE $7.88 $8.10
BEER $7.34 $7.49
WINE $6.59 $5.66
IBUPROFEN $4.60 $5.81
CASCADE $3.93 $3.57
BOWLING $3.80 $4.44
CRISCO $3.73 $3.28
POTATOES $3.69 $2.94
CEREAL $3.28 $2.25
TENNIS BALLS $3.24 $2.59
2-PC CHICKEN $3.08 $2.75
COFFEE $3.02 $2.61
POTATO CHIPS $2.91 $2.36
PARMESAN CHEESE $2.89 $3.49
SAUSAGE $2.86 $2.74
GASOLINE $2.82 $2.71
ORANGE JUICE $2.64 $2.12
HAMBURGER SANDWICH $2.45 $2.44
TOOTHPASTE $2.36 $2.77
GROUND BEEF $2.33 $1.84
FROZEN MEAL $2.15 $3.02
HALF GAL MILK $2.04 $1.92
KLEENEX $1.71 $1.84
SUGAR $1.58 $1.79
PEACHES $1.47 $1.55
BREAD $1.33 $0.74
LETTUCE $1.32 $1.24
COKE $1.24 $1.32
FROZEN CORN $1.04 $1.09
SHAMPOO $1.02 $0.98
FRIED CHICKEN $0.88 $0.91
DOZ EGGS $0.84 $1.39
SWEET PEAS $0.84 $0.79
MARGARINE $0.80 $1.29
TUNA $0.67 $0.64
BANANAS $0.46 $0.45
Mortgage (%) 5.9% 6.19% -0.29

Don't have the figure for maintaining a reef tank.

[oz]

Ability to drive all day and still not leave the state. Priceless.

BTW, you know they are more longhorns, cattle and steer than they are people in the state. :)

[Hunter21]

I know when I was living in SA, it didn't seem much different on cost of maintaining the reef tank, compared to living here, which I've only lived here in ohio for a yr. and a half now. The only difference I noticed was livestock prices which was more expensive to buy in texas than here in ohio. but not sure how orlando fares with texas prices like oz said! lol :)

Erin