This article was published in February 2021. If you’re looking for more up-to-date data comparing California and Austin please reach out to us via our contact us page.

Austin has seen an influx of California transplants in recent years. Individuals, families, and companies alike are increasingly opting to leave behind their West Coast home in favor of Austin’s favorable living conditions and business environment. One question that we frequently receive from our clients considering this move is “how do office rental rates compare in California vs. Austin?”

Read Next: Why Austin Is a Great Place for Your Business

In this article, we answer that question by looking at office rental rates on a cost-per-square-foot and cost-per-employee basis.

 

California vs. Austin Rental Rate Comparison

Although Austin is definitely not the least expensive city in Texas when it comes to office space, it is still significantly cheaper than San Francisco and Silicon Valley and is competitively priced when compared to Los Angeles and San Diego.

As of 4Q 2020, the average full-service rental rate in Austin was $39.39 per square foot.1 Compare that to average rental rates in San Francisco ($80.88 per square foot) and Silicon Valley ($66.36 per square foot) and it makes sense that information, finance, and professional services jobs saw a 5.8% YOY growth in December 2020, while San Francisco saw a decline of 2.6%. Companies simply cannot justify paying 200% more for their office space.

Read More: How Much Does It Cost to Lease Office Space in Austin, Texas? (Rental Rates, Pricing)

Austin’s average rate also remains competitive with the average rental rates of $43.92 per square foot that tenants in Los Angeles pay, and the $38.16 per square foot seen in San Diego.2 In contrast, tenants in Sacramento pay significantly less, currently averaging only $25.20 per square foot.3

 

California vs. Austin Office Rental Rates

City / Region 4Q 2020 Full Service Rental Rate (SF  / Year)
Austin $39.39
San Francisco $80.88
Silicon Valley $66.36
Los Angeles $43.92
San Diego $38.16
Sacramento $25.20

 

California vs. Austin Office Rental Rates

California Vs. Austin Rental Rates Chart

As you are doing your own research to compare these rates, it’s important to note that most rental rates in Austin will be quoted on a per-square-foot per-year basis, whereas most rates in California will be quoted on a per-square-foot per-month basis. California rates might look cheap on paper, but don’t forget to multiply by 12!

 

California vs. Austin Cost per Employee

When it comes to a company’s bottom line, a more useful comparison to make is expense per employee. Some industries, like tech, are able to fit more employees in a smaller space, while other industries, like law firms, require more space per employee. By analyzing the cost of real estate on a per-employee basis, a company can gain an accurate picture of the true potential cost savings of moving from California to Austin.

Read Next: How Much Office Space Do I Need?

For these comparisons, we’ve assumed an average of 250 square feet per employee and the average rental rates outlined above. To understand these numbers as they relate to your company, use the calculator below.

In Austin, the average real estate cost per employee comes out to $9,848 per year. This means a 10,000-square-foot tenant could likely fit 40 employees in its space and pay roughly $393,900 per year. A similarly sized company in San Francisco would pay double that, averaging $20,220 in real estate expenses per employee and paying a total of $808,800 per year for a 10,000-square-foot space. 

 

Annual Real Estate Cost = Cost per SF x Size of Space

Annual Cost per Employee = Annual Real Estate Cost / Number of Employees

 

Even Sacramento, which is roughly 35% cheaper on a cost-per-square-foot basis compared to Austin, only constitutes a $3,547 savings per employee over Austin. When you account for the relative salaries required based on the cost of living in each city, it’s clear that Austin is still the more affordable city.4


Not sure how many square feet you might need? Use our Square Footage Calculator to find out!

 

Conclusion

Although we didn’t dive into Austin’s cost of living, experienced workforce, and favorable tax structure compared to California in this article, this rental rate comparison should shed light on one of the many reasons that making the move from California to Austin can positively impact a company’s bottom line.

  
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1CBRE 4Q 2020 Austin Office Market Report
2CBRE 4Q 2020 Los Angeles and San Diego Office Market Reports
3CBRE 4Q 2020 Sacramento Office Market Report
4According to the NerdWallet Cost of Living Calculator, a $50,000 annual salary in Austin is equivalent to a $59,496 annual salary in Sacramento. If a company can be expected to pay $9,496 more in salary per employee, the $3,547 per employee cost savings for real estate is negligible.


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