I moved from New York to Texas after college because it was cheaper

After graduating with a bachelor's in computer science in 2023, I accepted a software job paying $60,000 a year that required me to move away from Long Island. The company had no office within commuting distance, and rising costs in New York combined with a tough job market left me feeling I had little choice but to relocate to Texas.

I did the math: average rent on the East Coast runs $2,000 to $3,000 a month, roughly $30,000 a year — about half of my salary. New York State income taxes, plus federal tax, meant I would have less than half of my pay left before food, insurance, utilities, and savings, leaving almost nothing for student loans or a down payment on a house.

The company had an office in San Antonio, where rents averaged $1,000 to $1,500 a month and there is no state income tax. I had never been south of Virginia, so I found an apartment remotely using Google Maps, tenant reviews, and crime statistics; I aimed for a short commute and chose a place with a five-minute trip.

United States, San Antonio

new york, texas, long island, san antonio, rent prices, income tax, software job, computer science, student loans, down payment