💡 How Much Apartment Can I Afford in My New Career City? (Aggie Grad Perspective)
Howdy y’all! 👋 As a brand-new Texas A&M grad stepping into my first career city, one of the biggest (and scariest) questions I had was:
👉 How much apartment can I actually afford without eating ramen every night or living paycheck-to-paycheck?
I’ll break it down Aggie-style—straightforward, practical, and with lessons I wish someone had told me earlier.
🎓 Starting Fresh After College
When I moved out of College Station, I was super excited about the independence of having my own place. But once I started looking, reality hit me: rent prices in cities like Dallas, Houston, and Austin don’t play around.
My first step was understanding the golden rule of renting:
Keep your rent around 30% of your monthly income.
So if you’re starting your career making $55,000 a year (about $4,583/month before taxes), your rent sweet spot is around $1,200–$1,400/month.
💰 Budget Beyond Just Rent
Rent isn’t the only thing you’ll pay. Here’s what I learned the hard way:
Utilities: $100–$200/month (water, electricity, trash, internet).
Fees: Application fees, deposits, parking fees (sometimes $50–$150/month).
Furniture/Setup Costs: Even IKEA adds up fast when you’re filling a whole apartment!
Renter’s Insurance: Usually $15–$25/month but required almost everywhere.
At first, I only budgeted for rent, and then my “move-in month” nearly drained my savings with all the extras.
🏡 Roommate or No Roommate?
This was the biggest decision for me. If you’re cool with sharing space, splitting a $2,000 apartment into $1,000 each means you can live in a nicer area.
On the flip side, living solo means peace and privacy—but you’ll sacrifice square footage or location unless your salary is higher.
I decided on a roommate for my first year in the city, and it gave me more breathing room in my budget and introduced me to new friends.
📍 City Differences (What I’ve Noticed)
Dallas: Uptown and Deep Ellum are pricey, but The Village or Addison give you better deals.
Houston: The Heights and Post Oak are hot spots for young professionals, but they aren’t cheap. Look slightly outside for savings.
Austin: East Austin and Riverside are more affordable than downtown or South Congress.
No matter the city, location = money. Decide if a short commute is worth the premium rent.
✅ My Aggie Grad Takeaway
Your first apartment doesn’t have to be your dream apartment—it just has to fit your budget and lifestyle.
Start with 30% of your income as your rent cap.
Don’t forget utilities and fees.
Decide if a roommate helps you afford better location or peace of mind.
Remember: your career and income will grow. Your apartment can too!
🐴 As an Aggie fresh out of College Station, I’ve realized apartment hunting is less about “what looks coolest on Instagram” and more about “what keeps me financially steady while I grow in my career.”
If you’re another Aggie moving to a big Texas city (or beyond), hopefully this gives you a clearer picture before signing that lease.
👍 Gig ’em and good luck out there, fellow grads!
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Aggies—find your perfect apartment in your new city for FREE with Howdy Apartments! We’ll guide you on the best areas, recommend the right places, and even set up your tours. 100% free and Aggie-focused.
👉 Sign up here: howdyapartments.com/start
📲 Call or text me anytime: Grant – 214-492-9791
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