What $775/month rents you in Austin

Welcome to Curbed Comparisons, a column that explores what one can rent for a set dollar amount in various Austin neighborhoods. Is one person's studio another person's townhouse? Let's find out! Today's price: $775.

Let’s be honest. While $775/month is a perfectly reasonable and mostly doable rent rate for your average wage-earner, it puts pretty strict limits on housing possibilities. For instance, we’re going to find mostly apartment listings in our search. Basic, perfectly fine, not-bad apartments that are probably nicer than they look, because the owner didn’t bother to hire a photographer for their listing (we’re also in the land of watermarked photos, which, why?).

We did find a single-family house on Craigslist, but we are not sure it really exists because it seems like a deal too good to be true.

The other issue with a low price point is that, other than in West Campus (where you really only want to live if you’re a student, trust us), there are not a lot of housing options in the central city, and none that we could find downtown.

Nevertheless, we managed to find some pretty sweet-looking places within city limits. Check ‘em out below.

↑ 9200 North Plaza, one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, 574 square feet, $769/month. This apartment in the North Austin’s Heritage Hills neighborhood looks basic but updated and in good shape. There are tons of community amenities listed, and pets are okay.

↑ MLK area, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house, 1,272 square feet, $775/month. We are a little skeptical about the existence of this house in the East MLK-183 neighborhood. It’s on Craigslist and has an undisclosed address. It advertises wood floors, and open kitchen, new appliances, and a laundry room, as well as a private backyard. Caveat emptor, but pretty sweet deal if it’s real.

↑ 400 Kenniston Drive, studio apartment, 400 square feet, $795/month. This studio in Highland is convenient to Austin Community College’s Highland location (obviously) in what looks like a fairly small complex, built in 1974. Cats are allowed.

White metal building with glass doors to office

↑ Waterloo East, 2520 Elmont Drive, studio apartment, 388 square feet, 7$85/month. We’ve featured this East Riverside apartment complex in Curbed Comparisons before, but its price and curb appeal stand out enough to warrant another mention. It’s two blocks from the lake, and pets are allowed.

↑ The Pointe at Ben White, 6934 East Ben White Boulevard, one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, 850 square feet, $776/month. A relatively roomy unit in a mid-sized Montopolis complex, this place offers good views, laundry facilities, and a patio or balcony. There are community amenities including a workout room and a playground, and pets are allowed.