The Hidden Costs of Moving to Austin (That No One Warns You About)

I grew up in Utah. I didn’t pick that… my parents did. HA. At 19, I moved to Southern California to chase a dream in the music industry. And honestly, I did it—I got to experience more than I ever thought I would. But after my first daughter was born, I realized the grind wasn’t the life I wanted long term. We needed a change.

So we flew to Austin to visit some friends, and I knew almost instantly—this was it. The second we stepped off the plane, it just felt right. Even the airport vendors felt like my kind of people. It didn’t take long before we made the leap, packed everything up, and moved our family to Texas.

And while there were a lot of great surprises… there were also a few that caught us completely off guard.

One of the first was utilities. Everyone talks about how much cheaper Texas is compared to places like California, but setting up utilities here came with some unexpected upfront costs. Most providers required fairly large deposits, which surprised me given how much less expensive housing was at the time. It wasn’t a dealbreaker, but it was definitely something we hadn’t planned for.

Then came property taxes. Once we bought a home, our homeowner’s insurance was actually very reasonable—but that first property tax bill? Not so much. What a lot of people don’t realize is that when you buy a home, the previous owner’s homestead exemption and tax benefits reset. The county reassesses the property, and you don’t get those savings until you file and lock in your own homestead exemption. That gap can lead to a noticeably higher tax bill in year one.

But the biggest surprise—and still the biggest ongoing cost for us—is utilities. Between electricity (which is no joke in Texas summers), gas, water, trash, and recycling, we’re close to $600 a month to run a two-story home. And that number has climbed significantly over the years. Our utility costs have roughly doubled since we first moved here in 2012.

None of this is to say Austin isn’t worth it—it absolutely is. But if you’re planning a move here, it’s important to understand the full picture. The cost of living may be lower in some areas, but there are hidden expenses that can catch you off guard if you’re not prepared.

The more you know going in, the smoother the transition will be.