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Old 08-04-2009, 01:17 PM
 
13 posts, read 33,760 times
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I was just offered a lowball starting salary of 45,000/yr. to work in downtown Austin. I currently live in Dallas and do not have a job, but was making ~65k up until the end of April. I am single and 26 years old. Is 45,000 enough to make it in Austin???? Honesty, please!
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Old 08-04-2009, 01:19 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
15,269 posts, read 35,630,016 times
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Hell, most of the state workers get by on less than that. You won't live downtown on that (at least in a nice place), but I got by for years on a fraction of that an I owned a house. You just won't be living the big life .
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Old 08-04-2009, 01:59 PM
 
Location: 78747
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Net paychecks would be about ~1400 every two weeks. You can maybe find a one bedroom downtown for around 1000 in some places. If you live outside of central Austin, you'll have even more breathing room. Live outside central Austin, add a roomate, and you can afford the high life.

I don't know your other bills, though. Do you drive a Hummer? Will you have a live-in girlfriend that likes $10 apple martinis? etc.

Those factors are the big ones.
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Old 08-04-2009, 02:03 PM
 
Location: San Antonio, TX, USA
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Try the Salary.com calculators or the cost of living one on Bankrate.com and see what kind of numbers you come up with.
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Old 08-04-2009, 02:03 PM
 
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45K is plenty for a single person living in Austin.
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Old 08-04-2009, 02:04 PM
 
13 posts, read 33,760 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jobert View Post
Net paychecks would be about ~1400 every two weeks. You can find a one bedroom downtown for around 1000 in some places. If you live outside of central Austin, you'll have even more breathing room. Live outside central Austin, add a roomate, and you can afford the high life.

I don't know your other bills, though. Do you drive a Hummer? Will you have a live-in girlfriend that likes $10 apple martinis? etc.

Those factors are the big ones.
What exactly is central Austin? I am guessing downtown... ??
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Old 08-04-2009, 02:28 PM
 
Location: 78747
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ajf05 View Post
What exactly is central Austin? I am guessing downtown... ??
That's debatable: http://www.city-data.com/forum/austi...-austin-3.html

I would just assume within 4 miles of downtown is "central Austin" for simplicity's sake. It generally gets more expensive the further west you go.
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Old 08-04-2009, 02:35 PM
 
Location: 78747
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There are exceptions, but that's why I say "generally".
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Old 08-04-2009, 02:45 PM
 
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Single and with no huge existing debts, $45K is enough to live pretty well in Austin.
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Old 08-04-2009, 02:51 PM
 
8,231 posts, read 17,316,631 times
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This is such a personal question, it totally depends on who you are and what you like. For me, absolutely not- I would prefer to not live on $45K/year, but I could.
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