I landed in Austin in August 2020 with two suitcases a laptop and a number in my head that I thought covered everything. It did not cover everything, by the time I actually slept one night in my first apartment, I had spent more money than I expected, on things I had not even known existed a few weeks earlier. This is the full and honest list of what moving in actually cost me, written the way I wish someone had written it for me before I packed those suitcases.
Jake picked me up from the airport. I want to mention that first because it matters to the story. I had connected with him online through a UT Austin incoming students group a few weeks before my flight, and he offered to grab me since he already had a car and I had nothing yet, not even a way to get from the airport to the apartment we were about to share.
In the car, he asked me how much cash I had ready for move in. I told him a number. He went quiet for a second and said, that might be tight.
He was right. It was tight.
The Application Fee Came Before Any of This
Before I even landed, back when I was still in India applying for the apartment over email, the landlord charged an application fee. It was $75. I paid it without thinking much about it, since it seemed like a small detail compared to everything else I was juggling that month.
I did not know at the time that this fee was non-refundable no matter what happened. It just paid for a background and credit check. Looking back, that was the first of several costs that quietly arrived before I even understood the full list I was about to face.
Then Came the Security Deposit, Which Was Bigger Than I Expected
The security deposit was supposed to be one month’s rent, same as Jake’s. My share of rent was $483 a month, so I expected my deposit to be roughly the same. It was not. The landlord added extra because I had no US credit history at all, not a single line of it. My deposit ended up at $600.
I remember staring at that number on my laptop screen back in India, trying to figure out if it was fair or if I was just being charged more because I was new. Both things were true at once, honestly. It was legal, and it also felt unfair, and I had to just accept it because I needed the apartment.
First Month’s Rent Was the Part I Actually Expected
This one I knew about going in. First month’s rent, due before I got the keys. My share was $483. No surprises here, just the one number I had actually planned for correctly.
The Admin Fee Showed Up Buried in the Lease Document Itself
This was not on the listing. It was not mentioned in any email. It only showed up once I was reading the actual lease paperwork, a $150 charge the landlord called an admin fee for preparing the lease.
Jake spotted it before I did, since he was helping me go through the document since I was still getting used to how American leases were written. He asked the landlord about it. She said it was standard. We paid it, mostly because we did not feel like we had room to argue at that point.
Renters Insurance Was Something I Had Never Heard Of Before This
I genuinely did not know renters insurance existed as a concept before this lease required it. In India, insurance meant your car or your health, not the apartment you were renting. Jake helped me look up options and I picked a basic policy for about $12 a month, which felt small compared to everything else, but it was one more thing I had to figure out in the two days before I moved in.
Then Austin Energy Wanted a Deposit Just to Turn the Lights On
This one actually surprised me more than the security deposit did, somehow. Austin Energy, the electricity company for most of the city, asked for $200 upfront because I had no credit history here either. I thought electricity was just something you turned on. I did not know a company could ask for money before they even gave you power.
Jake did not have to pay this. His credit history meant Austin Energy trusted him already. Mine meant they did not, not yet.
Let Me Add All of This Up, Because I Never Actually Did the Math Cleanly Until Writing This
I paid these costs at different times over about two weeks, so I never sat with the full total in one place back in 2020. I just kept paying things as they came. Let me actually add it now.
Application fee was $75. Security deposit was $600. First month’s rent was $483. Admin fee was $150. Renters insurance first month was $12. Electricity deposit was $200.
Wait, let me check that again, because I want to get this right. $75 plus $600 is $675. Plus $483 brings it to $1,158. Plus $150 is $1,308. Plus $12 is $1,320. Plus $200 lands at $1,520.
$1,520 before I slept a single night in that apartment, and that number does not even include the basic things the empty apartment still needed. No shower curtain. No broom. No kitchen soap. Jake had a few things already from his own life before this, but the third bedroom and most of the common stuff needed buying from scratch.
I think I spent close to another $200 that first week on Amazon and a Target run, just for the basics nobody thinks to budget for until the apartment is sitting there completely empty.
What I Would Tell Myself Packing Those Suitcases in India
If young Peter had known the real number, somewhere closer to $1,700 once you count the first week of basic supplies, he would have packed differently. He would have brought less stuff he did not really need and saved more cash instead.
Nobody handed me this list before I left. I built it after the fact, piece by piece, the same way I am handing it to you now.
FAQ
How much money do I need before moving into my first apartment in Austin?
Plan for around $1,500 to $1,800 just for the move-in costs themselves, covering the application fee, security deposit, first month’s rent, any admin fees, renters insurance, and a utility deposit if you have no US credit history. Add another $150 to $250 for basic supplies once you are actually inside the apartment.
Why was my security deposit higher than my roommate’s?
If you have no US credit history, many landlords charge a higher deposit to protect themselves, since they have no record showing you pay on time. This is common for international students and new arrivals and is legal in Texas.
What is an admin fee on an apartment lease?
It is a one-time charge, often $100 to $200, that some landlords add to cover the cost of preparing the lease paperwork. It is usually not refundable and is often only mentioned inside the lease document itself rather than in the original listing.
Do I really need renters insurance for my first apartment?
Yes, and many leases require it. It typically costs $10 to $15 a month and covers your belongings along with some liability protection if something happens in your apartment. It is one of the cheapest forms of insurance you can buy.
Why did the electricity company ask me for a deposit before turning on service?
If you have no credit history in the US, utility companies often ask for a deposit, commonly around $200, to protect themselves since they have no way to know your payment history yet. This deposit is usually credited back after a year of on-time payments.
Is the application fee refundable if I do not get the apartment?
Almost never. It covers the cost of running a background and credit check on you, and that cost stays with the landlord regardless of whether you get approved or not.
What basic supplies should I budget for beyond the move-in fees?
Plan for another $150 to $250 for things like cleaning supplies, a shower curtain, kitchen basics, and anything else an empty apartment needs on day one. These add up faster than people expect, especially if you are starting completely from scratch with no furniture or supplies from a previous place.
