Austin, U.S.A.
Living in Downtown Austin, Austin
The heart of Austin. Sixth Street entertainment, live music venues, and Lady Bird Lake trails.
A one-bedroom in Downtown Austin rents for about $2,000 - $2,300/month — a safe area (safety 4/5), roughly 5 minutes from Austin center by walk.
Commute to Center
5 min
walk
Safety Rating
4/5
SafeVibe
nightlifemusicurban
Rent in Downtown Austin
Monthly rent in USD ($). First-hand contracts come straight from the landlord or housing company. Second-hand contracts are sublets, and they usually cost more.
| Apartment Size | First-Hand Rent | Second-Hand Rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Bedroom | $1,800 - $2,000/mo | $2,000 - $2,300/mo |
| 2 Bedrooms | $2,200 - $2,500/mo | $2,500 - $2,900/mo |
| 3 Bedrooms | $2,800 - $3,200/mo | $3,200 - $3,700/mo |
How Downtown Austin compares in Austin
Within AffordWhere's Austin dataset, a one-bedroom here averages about $2,150/month — roughly 8% above the city median, and among the pricier of the 9 areas we track. Two-bedrooms run $2,500 - $2,900/month and three-bedrooms $3,200 - $3,700/month on second-hand contracts. At 5 minutes to the center by walk, it sits closer to the center than most Austin areas in the set. On safety it rates 4/5, among the lower-rated in the city. Based on its rent, commute, and the nightlife, music, urban tags, it may suit renters who want to be close to the center.
Weighing options? For cheaper rent, see Round Rock.
Rent figures reflect official statistics compiled January 2026. See data sources.
Getting around & nearby amenities
OpenStreetMap maps Austin as the nearest rail stop, Republic Square as nearby green space and Trader Joe's as the nearest supermarket around the Downtown Austin reference point. A school and a pharmacy are also mapped within walking distance. It also shows a large number of cafés and restaurants mapped within about 700m of that point.
Amenity data from OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). The extracted amenity dataset is published under the same license.
Questions people actually ask
- How much is rent in Downtown Austin, Austin?
- A 1-bedroom apartment in Downtown Austin costs $2,000 - $2,300/month (second-hand contract) or $1,800 - $2,000/month (first-hand). A 2-bedroom ranges from $2,500 - $2,900/month, and a 3-bedroom from $3,200 - $3,700/month.
- Is Downtown Austin safe for expats?
- Downtown Austin has a safety rating of 4/5 (Safe) on our scale. That is one of the higher ratings on the 1-5 scale; as always, check specific streets and visit at different times before signing a lease.
- How long is the commute from Downtown Austin to Austin center?
- The commute from Downtown Austin to Austin city center takes approximately 5 minutes by walk.
- What is Downtown Austin like to live in?
- The heart of Austin. Sixth Street entertainment, live music venues, and Lady Bird Lake trails. In our data it is tagged as nightlife, music, urban.
Other neighborhoods in Austin
South Congress (SoCo)
10 min bus to center
1BR from $1,900/mo
eclectictrendyfoodie
East Austin
10 min bus to center
1BR from $1,700/mo
artsydiverseup-and-coming
Mueller
15 min bus to center
1BR from $1,800/mo
family-friendlywalkablemodern
The Domain
25 min car to center
1BR from $1,800/mo
upscaletechshopping
North Loop
15 min bus to center
1BR from $1,700/mo
vintagetrendywalkable
Clarksville
10 min walk to center
1BR from $2,000/mo
historiccharmingcentral
Hyde Park
12 min bus to center
1BR from $1,600/mo
historicresidentialstudent-friendly
Round Rock
35 min car to center
1BR from $1,500/mo
suburbanfamily-friendlyaffordable
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