Congrats on the new job, or the new contract, at Samsung’s Taylor campus! If you’re coming from out of town, the first question is where to live. Taylor is a small city northeast of Austin, and the campus sits on about 1,200 acres of former farmland just south of town, so your options look different from a typical Austin job.
You can live in Taylor or Hutto and be close to the site, or live closer to Austin and drive a bit farther. Finding a rental right by the campus can be tough, and if you’re here for an internship or a contract, a lease that fits your timeline is even harder to find. Below is an honest look at your options, including our home in Manor, about 28 minutes away.
What’s happening at Samsung’s Taylor campus?
Samsung began limited operations at the Taylor plant in early 2026, with several hundred employees working on the still-under-construction site since late 2025, and the company has said it expects to start manufacturing chips there by the end of 2026. Samsung also signed a $16.5 billion agreement to make Tesla’s next-generation AI chips there through 2033.
The site is set to have about 1,800 permanent jobs once it’s fully running, and the buildout has been supporting thousands of construction jobs. Samsung has also said it plans to start building a second Taylor fab by the end of 2026, so construction work there isn’t winding down soon.
Should I live in Taylor, Hutto, Manor, or Austin?
It depends on what you want outside of work. Here’s how the options compare:
| Compare | Drive to campus | 1-bedroom apartment | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor | About 8 min | From about $1,130, few listings | Shortest commute; small-town life |
| Hutto | About 14 min | About $1,312 | Close to campus with more shopping |
| Manor | About 27 min | About $1,295 | Between Samsung’s two campuses, closer to Austin |
| Downtown Austin | About 44 min | About $1,421 | City life, but a long daily drive |
Drive times without traffic from each town’s downtown. One-bedroom rents: RentCafe averages for Hutto and Manor (October 2026) and Austin (August 2026), which cover larger complexes; Taylor has too few for RentCafe, so its figure is Apartment List’s starting price from about 10 listings (October 2026). Utilities and fees are extra; a room in a shared home costs less.
Taylor gives you the shortest commute, but it’s a small city with a limited rental supply. When we checked in October 2026, Apartment List showed only about 10 rentals available in Taylor, with one-bedrooms starting around $1,130. Most of Taylor’s rentals are whole houses, which typically cost more. On the plus side, it has real small-town character, including Louie Mueller Barbecue, which has been serving barbecue in Taylor since 1949.
Hutto is about 14 minutes from the campus and has more everyday conveniences, like a large H-E-B plus at Gattis School Road and State Highway 130.
Manor and Austin trade a longer drive for more housing choices and more to do. Manor sits between Samsung’s Austin and Taylor campuses and is about 20 minutes from downtown Austin. Living in Austin itself means a drive of about 44 minutes each way without traffic.
What is Chapala like for Samsung Taylor employees?
Chapala is a newer 5-bedroom, 4-bathroom house in the Lagos neighborhood of Manor. The drive to the Taylor campus is about 28 minutes door to door, mostly on US 290 and FM 973, with no toll road needed. It’s also about 12 minutes from Samsung’s Austin campus, which helps if you split time between the two sites or switch locations later.
We think of Chapala as the sweet spot between Austin and Taylor. You get a reasonable drive to the Taylor campus without giving up Austin: the restaurants, the shopping, and everything to do on the weekends are about 20 minutes away. And because every bedroom at Chapala is furnished, it works especially well for contractors who need a ready-to-live-in place for the length of an assignment.
The common areas and bedrooms are furnished, so you can arrive with a suitcase and not much else. Housemates share an open living room and kitchen, a dining area, and a large covered back patio. Utilities, internet, and monthly cleaning of shared spaces are set up for you and split evenly, and everyone in the house is a screened, working adult. You can walk to Manor’s historic downtown, and H-E-B and Walmart are a short drive away.
Which rooms are open near Samsung Taylor right now?
These are our open rooms, closest to the Taylor campus first. Prices, bathroom setup, and move-in dates are on each room’s page.
Chapala — Unit B
Furnished private room with private bath
Available October 2026
Chapala — Unit C
Furnished private room with private bath
Available October 2026
Chapala — Unit E
Furnished private room with shared bath
Available October 2026
Caballo Blanco — Unit B
Private room with private bath
Available October 2026
Mary Lewis — Unit D
Private room with shared bath
Available October 2026
Can I rent a room for a Samsung internship or a contract?
Yes. Our minimum lease is 3 months, which covers a summer internship. If you’re at Taylor on a contract, tell us how long your assignment is when you fill out the interest form and we’ll talk through the options. If your internship is a bit shorter than 3 months, reach out and we’ll see what we can do.
Why rent a room instead of an apartment near Samsung Taylor?
The reasons we hear most from new hires, interns, and contractors:
- It costs less. You pay for your room plus an even share of utilities, not a full apartment’s rent and the fees that come with it.
- There’s nothing to set up. Furnished rooms, utilities, internet, and cleaning are handled, so you can start work the week you arrive.
- You’re not alone in a new place. A shared home gives you people to talk to after long shifts.
For the full numbers, see Renting a Room vs an Apartment in Austin, and for more on the town, see Rooms for Rent in Manor, TX.
How do I rent a room near Samsung Taylor?
- Fill out the interest form with your start date and how long you’ll be here.
- We’ll set up a short intro call and a tour. Virtual tours are available if you’re moving from out of state.
- Complete the application and background check.
- Sign the lease and pay the deposit and first month’s rent to reserve the room.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Manor from Samsung’s Taylor campus?
About 27 to 28 minutes by car without traffic, mostly on US 290 and FM 973, with no toll road needed.
How long is the drive from downtown Austin to Samsung Taylor?
About 30 miles, or roughly 44 minutes without traffic. Rush hour takes longer.
Is it hard to find a rental in Taylor?
It can be. When we checked in October 2026, Apartment List showed only about 10 rentals available in Taylor. Most of the town’s rentals are whole houses rather than apartments.
When will Samsung’s Taylor fab start production?
Samsung began limited operations in early 2026 and has said it expects to start manufacturing chips there by the end of 2026.
Do you offer leases for contractors at Samsung Taylor?
Our minimum lease is 3 months. Tell us your assignment length on the interest form and we’ll talk through the options.