I lived in Austin for 6 years and loved it, but moving to New York City made me realize I’ll never move back to Texas

I visited New York City probably 100 times before moving here.

Growing up in a nearby suburb from ages 2 to 10, my family took me into the big city every month or so. Even then, I knew it was eventually where I wanted to live.

By 2006, we had moved to a Texas suburb outside Dallas, still visiting the Big Apple multiple times each year. In 2013, I moved to Austin for college and remained there until I relocated to NYC in 2019 to pursue a career in media.

Cut to 2025 — my life in New York has been more exciting than I imagined. I’ve found that my new city is a better fit for my lifestyle than Austin was.

I lived in Austin for six years before moving across the country, and I loved it.

Until I moved to New York City, Austin was my favorite place I had ever lived. I was close to my family and had an easy time making friends. Plus, it’s where my perfect pug continues to live with my mom.

The outdoor scene in Austin was inclusive and exciting. With free hiking trails in the hills and paths to stroll next to the Colorado River, there were plenty of things to do in nature.

When I went out at night, the drinks were cheap, and live music was never too hard to find.

But living in New York has made me realize I’ll never move back to Texas, even if the rent is cheaper.

For a studio apartment in Austin in 2016, I paid $850 a month in rent.

I paid the same price for my first apartment in NYC in 2019 — except I lived in a three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment shared with strangers.

Since moving to New York, I’ve lived in five apartments, ranging from $1,650 to $3,000 monthly for one-bedroom units.

According to Zillow, the average rent in Austin is currently $2,050, while the average in NYC is $3,750.

Nowadays, I pay $2,200 for a one-bedroom apartment with a small office in Queens. It costs me half my monthly income after taxes, but it’s worth it to me to live here.

Since moving to New York, I’ve lived in Brooklyn and Queens.

I spent five years living in Brooklyn before moving to Queens in 2024. It’s worth noting that I’ve never lived in Manhattan.

I don’t drive, which makes life in Austin harder and life in New York City easier.

I’m not a fan of cars. The thought of driving a vehicle makes me think about the possibility of hurting myself or someone else, so I never finished learning how.

In NYC, life without a car is no problem. While friends of mine complain about the lack of parking, I commend the city’s public transportation system.

I used to be uncomfortable guiding myself through the underground stations, but taking the train around New York became second nature within weeks of living here because I did it every day.

Taking trains in the city has given me a freedom I didn’t have in Austin, where I would sometimes walk upward of 20 minutes to the nearest bus stop.

I’ve only lived in apartments with rooftop access in New York.

Since moving to New York, I have been exposed to a lot more residential rooftop settings. Beautiful skyline views are a backdrop for typical summer social gatherings.

Three of my five NYC apartments have had rooftop access. It’s a great spot to hang out with friends or watch the sunset when the weather is nice.

Many residents I know have a rooftop setup at their apartment.

There’s always something new to do in New York City.

There’s so much going on in New York that deciding how to spend my free time is often overwhelming.

Virtually whenever I want, I can decide to have an epic day full of learning at places like the Museum of Natural History — or I can sprawl out independently among hundreds of New Yorkers at Prospect Park, where there are often people playing music on the lawn on a sunny day.

Sometimes, I stumble upon dance parties in parks and on rooftops. These gatherings are always a good time, even when I’m not looking for them.

After six years of living here, I’ve found that my preferred weekend activities are local concerts and baseball games.

New York City is full of hidden pockets of history, and I’ve been lucky enough to find some of them.

NYC is more than 200 years older than Austin, as is evidenced by the historic architecture.

Whether it’s million-dollar homes that used to be horse stables or an abandoned Civil War fortress, history lurks around every corner.

New York is my favorite place to be in the fall since the leaves change, bringing vibrant pops of color to natural spaces around the city.

I’m always happy to be in the Northeast when fall rolls around — unlike in Austin, where I missed out on the colorful foliage.

The fast-paced vibe in New York City keeps me motivated and wanting more.

When I leave New York, it feels like my life is moving in slow motion. There’s an energy in this city that is, in my experience, unmatched anywhere else.

Walking around, you’ll see people doing many different things — so much so that if you stop to look around for a minute, you start to feel behind.

This energetic vibe fuels me through my workdays. And being in a city where possibilities feel endless keeps me driven.

Since moving to New York, I’ve been motivated to make my life bigger, and it’s easy for me to believe that I am capable of doing so when I see it all around me.

Living in New York has given me the opportunity to follow my biggest dream.

I’ve been playing music since I was a kid, and I’ll never forget my first show at a local club in Dallas in 2012. It gave me the most unique and invigorating feeling I’d ever experienced. I hopped off stage, shaking and shouting “I’m going to do this forever” on repeat.

The sheer volume of driven musicians and venues in NYC made it possible for me to chase my childhood dream. Since moving here, I’ve been in three bands and played 46 shows around NYC and the East Coast, from Boston to Tampa Bay, Florida.

I may be far from my family, but everyone wants to visit you when you live in New York.

With friends all over the US and family from Texas to Guam, I will miss my loved ones no matter where I live, so I might as well live in one of the coolest places to visit.

Since moving to New York, countless family members and old friends have passed through the city for a day or two. Adding a little love to my week is always a welcome surprise.

No matter where I go, coming home to New York City is always sweet.

When I leave the city for vacation or otherwise, coming home always feels good. Those post-trip blues melt away as soon as I see the skyline from my airplane window.

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