What $1,600 rents in Austin right now

Welcome to Curbed Comparisons, a column that explores what one can rent or buy for a set dollar amount in various Austin neighborhoods. We’ve found five rentals within $50 of today’s price, $1,600. Vote for your favorite below.

The jaunty, slightly nautical look of this two-story house in North Austin’s Ridge Oak Park neighborhood is a little puzzling, though not unpleasant, and sort of makes sense when you learn that Lake Austin is visible from the top story. It’s also pleasantly close to Bright Leaf Nature Preserve and on a leafty, green lot while remaining convenient to MoPac and the central city. It has two bedrooms and two bathrooms in 1,540 square feet, along with numerous outdoor living features.

A one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment renting for $1,607/month can be had at Platform, a new complex named, presumably for its location near the Capital MetroRail MLK stop in East Austin’s Chestnut neighborhood. The community features a gym, pool, outdoor grilling areas, and other amenities expected of most contemporary complexes. Cats and dogs are allowed.

With recent updates and all-white finishes, this two-bedroom, one-bathroom, single-family home is certainly the blank slate but looks cute and cozy. Located in the South Manchaca neighborhood north of 997-square-foot house is on a large lot with a fenced backyard featuring a large oak. The interiors finishes, appliances, fixtures, and systems are all new. Pets, including large dogs, are allowed.

Fans of convenience and a bohemian lifestyle will likely appreciate a one-story house in the popular North Loop neighborhood. The 840-square-foot cottage has two bedrooms and one bathroom, original wood floors, a washer and dryer, and a large fenced yard. It’s highly walkable to coffee-shops, restaurants, and retail on North Loop Boulevard and in the nearby Triangle complex.

Renters willing to sacrifice some style for the opportunity to live in Travis Heights (we’re not going to call it South River City), right on/off bustling South Congress Avenue might want to take a look at this compact one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment. The 613-square-foot unit has a balcony, washer/dryer hookups, and stainless-steel appliances and comes with a covered parking spot. Cats and small dogs are allowed.