If you’re thinking about moving to Austin but aren’t so sure about the high city prices, this list is for you. We ranked 25 Austin suburbs according to cost of living and housing affordability to come up with the 10 most affordable places to live near Austin. Let’s take a look at the winners.
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Thorndale kicks off our list of the most affordable places to live near Austin, with the second lowest cost of living of any place we ranked. Thorndale has plenty of affordable ranch style houses for potential home buyers. Enjoy a meal at inexpensive local restaurant, Schroeder’s Place, get a bite to eat at Downtown Cafe, or grab a drink with friends at neighborhood bar Pancho & Leftys.
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The small town of Florence is a great pick for those who want wide-open spaces, a close-knit community, and a cheap place to live. Affordable ranch style homes on large lots are common in this Austin suburb. Grab a bite to eat at inexpensive local eateries like Florence Diner and Mano’s Mexican Food, or check out a book at the Eula Hunt Beck Florence Public Library.
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Third on our list of affordable Austin suburbs is the small town of Bartlett, where home buyers will find inexpensive single-family homes. Bartlett also had the lowest cost of living of any place we ranked. Affordable local restaurants like Railroad Cafe or Hausgarten Edelweiss are the perfect spots to relax and dine with friends and family.
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Outdoor enthusiasts will love the fourth inexpensive Austin suburb on our list, Liberty Hill, where they’ll find affordable ranch style houses on large lots. Local campsites like the Rio Bonito Cabin and RV Park and Tejas Camp are the perfect spot for an affordable weekend getaway. Liberty Hill also has several inexpensive local restaurants like Hobo Junction and Dahlia Cafe.
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Home buyers in the inexpensive Austin suburb of Luling will find affordable ranch style homes and two story homes with huge private lots. Grab a bite to eat and a beer on draft with friends at affordable local restaurant, Blake’s Cafe, or, enjoy some delicious barbeque ribs at City Market. The historic Zedler Mill is the perfect scenic spot for a picnic.
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With a population of nearly 30,000, Kyle is the largest affordable Austin suburb to make our list, and it has plenty of amenities to match. Home buyers searching in Kyle have a range of options, from modern townhouses and condos to single-family homes. Check out a new book at the local library, grab a bite to eat at one of Kyle’s numerous mom and pop restaurants or chains, or enjoy a stroll along the Blanco River through Five Mile Dam Park.
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Elgin makes our list at number seven with plenty of affordable single-family homes on large lots for home buyers. Grab a bite to eat at local restaurant, The Taco Stop, or hunt for treasures at the Elgin Flea Market Days. Residents also have access to quiet work spaces, computers, and books at the Elgin Public Library.
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Hutto comes in as No. 8 on our list of affordable Austin suburbs. Home buyers will find single-family homes on large lots here. Beautiful Hutto Lake Park is the perfect spot to cool off by the water, have a picnic, or watch the sunset. Local community events, like the free Summer Movie Series, are also a great way to have fun on a budget.
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Conveniently located between Austin and Houston is the city of Smithville. Home buyers in this Austin suburb will find plenty of inexpensive new construction single-family homes. City amenities like the Smithville Recreation Center, which offers classes and programs throughout the year, and the Smithville Public Library are perfect for residents on a budget.
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The Austin suburb of Taylor rounds out our list at number 10 with dozens of great amenities for residents on a budget. Home buyers in this suburb will find affordable single-family homes in a variety of architectural styles. Pick up fresh local produce at the Taylor Farmer’s Market, check out books and e-books through the Taylor Public Library, or grab a bite to eat on Main Street at affordable local restaurants like The Taylor Cafe.
To create this list, we used data from AreaVibes and the U.S. Census to evaluate Austin’s suburbs in terms of the following budget friendly criteria:
We then ranked each Austin suburb in the above categories and then averaged those scores into one overall score. The suburbs with the lowest overall score made up our top 10. To see how other places we ranked measured up, check out the table below. 
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