Austin
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. With a population of 961,855 at the 2020 census, it is the 13th-most populous city in the U.S., fifth-most populous city in Texas, and second-most populous U.S. state capital, while the Austin metro area with an estimated 2.55 million residents is the 25th-largest metropolitan area in the nation. Austin is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, with portions extending into Hays and Williamson counties. Incorporated on December 27, 1839, it has been one of the fastest-growing large cities in the United States since 2010.
Should you base here?
What this city's own numbers say about who it fits, how long you can realistically stay, and what to weigh before committing.
A good base for
- Heavy remote work — median internet is fast enough for calls and uploads
- Working out of cafés and coworking — there's a real scene here
- People sensitive to air quality — the air reads clean
- Year-round comfort — the annual average temperature is mild
Less ideal for
- Tight budgets — this is a premium-priced base
- Treating it as a permanent base without tax planning — there's a residency-day threshold to watch
How long can you stay?
We don't have the visa window for this country on file yet — check the official source below before planning.
Stay past about 183 days in a year and you may become a tax resident here — get advice before you do.
What to weigh first
- BudgetPlan around it Monthly costs land around $3,500 — this is an expensive base.
- Tax residencyWorth a look Stay past about 183 days in a year and you may trigger local tax residency — plan before you do.
Before you commit
This is a starting point, not legal or tax advice. Rules change — always confirm with official government sources before making plans.
Want this as a shareable brief — the trade-offs, a stay-length plan, and the checks to run? Generate a Decision Report (Pro).
Decision Report
A one-page brief for this city — your Fit Score, monthly cost, visa difficulty, tax-residency risk, best months, and the caveats to check first.
| Metric | Value | Score | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Speed | 160 Mbps | 8/10 | Estimated | |
| Cost of Living | $3,500 /mo | 3/10 | Estimated | |
| Rent 1BR | $1,700 /mo | 5/10 | Estimated | |
| Safety Score | 6.5 /10 | 7/10 | Estimated | |
| Coworking | 60 spaces | 10/10 | ||
| Avg Temperature | 21.7°C | 10/10 |
Rent: 1BR city-centre estimate (USD/mo) compiled from NomadList, Expatistan and public nomad guides. Not officially sourced — use as a comparison signal, not a quote.
Cost breakdown
Assumes a central, single-occupancy lifestyle with moderate eating out. The total includes rent; non-rent items are estimated from regional patterns.
| Item | Detail | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | Central 1BR apartment | $1,700 | 49% |
| Food | Groceries + moderate dining out | $810 | 23% |
| Transport & comms | Local transit + mobile / internet | $450 | 13% |
| Other | Leisure, essentials, buffer | $540 | 15% |
| Total | Monthly estimate | $3,500 | 100% |
Rent is a published estimate (actual figure); other items are an estimated split of the total.
Climate Overview
Monthly temperature averaged from 2015–2024 (Open-Meteo archive). Humidity is an estimate from annual average.
| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Avg temperature | 21.7°C | 2015–2024 average |
| Warmest month | 35.47°C | Aug |
| Coldest month | 5.69°C | Jan |
| Humidity (annual) | 65% | Comfort range 40–60% |
| Sunshine | 3,282 h | Annual total |
| Precipitation | 1,237 mm | Annual total |
Air Quality
GoodObserved: 2026-07-28 08:00
Visa Information
| N/A |
Tax Overview
| Income Tax | The US uses the "Substantial Presence Test" which counts all days in current year + 1/3 of prior year + 1/6 of year before that (must total ≥183). US citizens are taxed on worldwide income regardless of residency. |
|---|---|
| Residency | 183 days |
Next Actions
Everything you need to move here.
| Find a stay | Hotels & apartments via Booking.com | Browse stays → |
|---|---|---|
| Nomad insurance | Global health coverage from SafetyWing | Get insured → |
| Get an eSIM | Stay connected on arrival with Airalo | View eSIM plans → |
| Move money | Low-fee international transfers with Wise | Open account → |
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