Where to live with no car (Houston, Dallas: apartment, for rent, find a job)

[NawfalKulam]

I’m going to graduate with an accounting degree. I want to move to a city that is warm, cheap, and livable with no car. Is dallas good?
I plan to walk, use a bicycle, use public transportation.
I plan on having groceries delivered.
Assuming i find a job with an acceptable commute, would Dallas/houston/austin/SA be livable with no car?
PS: I don’t drive, so please no zipcar suggestions

[C24L]

what is your budget for apartment?

[NawfalKulam]

Perhaps $900 max. Is that doable?

[centralaustinite]

Probably the warmest city that is actually livable without a car is DC.

Texas is very car-dependent, cities are large and spawly, you would need to find a job on a transit line and then find an apartment also on a transit line AND with a max budget of $900?! this is very hard to do. Plus Texas is very hot 90+ for months, 4-5 months for Dallas, 5-6 months for Austin, SA, and Houston. And it can rain here like you wouldn't believe -- a wall of water. Biking, walking, and taking the bus/train (on highly limited routes) involves some discomfort and sacrifice.

[C24L]

I think you will have a hard time being car free here in Texas cuz we are addicted to the automobile,OP.

[Campeador]

It can be done. Where there's a will there's a way. It's just not common here in what is likely the most automobile-obssessed state in the union, so most will tell you it's impossible.

Austin would likely be your best bet in TX, though it is feasible in other cities if you commit to living close to work.

If I were you, I'd open the search up to consider more bike-friendly cities like Tucson... or with a dense (walkable/bikeable) urban core, like New Orleans.

Also, regarding groceries: look into panniers.

[lotophage]

If you worked in Downtown or Med Center, and if you lived along the Red Line rail, it would be easy in Houston. But I'm not sure about $900 for rent there. All standard public transportation has bike space, so bike + bus will work really anyplace in central Houston.

[ragnarkar]

Here's a case study of living carless in Austin:

https://www.nateliason.com/why-go-carless/

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by ragnarkar

Here's a case study of living carless in Austin:

https://www.nateliason.com/why-go-carless/

Yeah, but she lives downtown! No way is she paying $900 a month for rent! If you can live a half mile from work, then yes, go carless. BUT that is a hard hard thing to do in most of Texas. Especially if the budget is limited.

[War Beagle]

It is not at all convenient to be carless anywhere in TX. Possible, of course, but everything is possible with enough money. Without a car, many things are going to be a significant hassle or very expensive. And a housing budget of $900 in Austin does not suggest there will be a whole lot of extra money available.

The truth is the Sunbelt in general is extremely vehicle dependent.