First Time Apartment Renter Tips
Make your first apartment living experience a great one. Follow these first-time renter tips so you can enjoy (and find your way through) all the aspects of being a renter!
The University of Texas at Austin is among the most respected institutions in the country, offering a superb academic climate in one of America’s most vibrant and exciting cities. Longhorns games at Texas Memorial Stadium and the Frank Erwin Center always offer a wild time with thousands of your closest friends. Free activities on campus like movies at the Texas Union ensure that you’ll always have something to do even if cash is a little tight. Guadalupe Street along the western edge of campus is packed with great bars, venues, and restaurants (prepare to fall in love with Torchy’s Tacos); this area is also where you’ll find the most affordable and abundant apartments, condos, and houses within walking distance of the main campus. Downtown Austin is only a few blocks away, putting the best of Austin at your fingertips – between the 6th Street nightlife and the live music basically everywhere, there’s no limit to the possibilities for your after-hours adventures. When you’re feeling adventurous, head over to the Shoal Creek Greenbelt or Ladybird Lake for outdoor fun in the heart of the city.
Bevo, the Longhorns mascot
A beautiful view of the UT campus
Aerial view of the UT campus
Texas Memorial Stadium, home of the Longhorns
As of May 2026, the average apartment rent in Austin, TX is $1,206 for a studio, $1,388 for one bedroom, $1,813 for two bedrooms, and $2,402 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Austin has decreased by -3.9% in the past year.
Studio
469 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,206/month
Average Rent
1 BR
713 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,388/month
Average Rent
2 BR
1,065 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$1,813/month
Average Rent
3 BR
1,382 sq ft
Average Sq Ft
$2,402/month
Average Rent
First Time Apartment Renter Tips
Make your first apartment living experience a great one. Follow these first-time renter tips so you can enjoy (and find your way through) all the aspects of being a renter!
Is a Build-to-Rent Community Right for You?
A yard, a garage, no mortgage—build-to-rent offers suburban living with renter flexibility.
Office-to-Residential Conversions: A Co-Living Housing Solution
Empty offices are becoming affordable apartments—and co-living makes them cheaper than you’d think.
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly University of Texas at Austin Austin Campus - Austin, TX (University) is for everyday living.
Very Walkable
Walkability
Strong Public Transit
Transit
Moderately Drivable
Drivability
Moderately Bikeable
Bikeability
University of Texas at Austin Austin Campus - Austin, TX (University) offers all daily essentials, but they’re limited to a few main areas.
Supermarket Within a 10 Minute Walk
Groceries
Great Restaurant Variety Nearby
Restaurants
Good Café Variety Nearby
Cafes
Good Variety of Shops Nearby
Shopping
University of Texas at Austin Austin Campus - Austin, TX (University) provides green space and wellness resources in certain areas.
Very Large Amount of Park Space Nearby
Parks
Good Wellness Amenity Variety Nearby
Wellness
Get a sense of what it’s like to live in University of Texas at Austin Austin Campus - Austin, TX (University) from everyday activity to noise and nightlife.
Vibrant Atmosphere
Vibrancy
Good Nightlife Variety Nearby
Nightlife
Somewhat Noisy
Quiet Score
Patsy Sommer Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
982 Students
Elsa England Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
960 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
776 Students
Laurel Mountain Elementary School
Public
Grades PK-5
702 Students
Public
Grades PK-5
526 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,370 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,370 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
975 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
975 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
896 Students
Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA)
Public
Grades 9-12
1,432 Students
Public
Grades K-12
372 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,820 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
2,782 Students
Harmony School of Endeavor Austin
Public
Grades PK-12
896 Students
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
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3,502
Communities
963,654
Units
892
Cities
709
Communities
196,250
Units
336
Cities
651
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180,207
Units
259
Cities
607
Communities
121,784
Units
242
Cities
568
Communities
126,686
Units
219
Cities
452
Communities
107,739
Units
226
Cities
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.