Coming to Austin for a contract? There’s a lot of work here right now, and finding somewhere to live for a few months is often the hardest part. Apartments want a 12-month lease, hotels add up fast, and a short-term rental for a whole assignment can cost more than you’re earning in per diem.
A furnished room in a shared home is one of the simplest options for a 3- to 12-month assignment. Here’s how it compares with extended-stay hotels, Airbnb, and RV parks, plus drive times from our homes to some of the biggest job sites in the area.
Why is there so much contract work in Austin?
The Austin area has several large construction projects running at once. A few examples:
- Austin-Bergstrom airport is in the middle of an expansion now estimated at close to $5 billion, adding 32 new gates.
- I-35 Capital Express, TxDOT’s rebuild of I-35 through Austin, includes a $4.5 billion central section scheduled through 2033.
- Tesla is seeking more than 5.2 million square feet of new building space at Giga Texas.
- Data centers: nearly 20 projects were underway or planned in the Austin area as of late 2025.
- Samsung’s Taylor campus has been supporting between 6,500 and 10,000 construction jobs.
How does a room compare with a hotel, Airbnb, or an RV park?
| Compare | Monthly cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Room in an Amsoo home | $700 to $1,050, plus about $100 to $150 utilities per room | Private room, shared full kitchen, washer and dryer, furnished common areas, monthly cleaning |
| Budget extended-stay hotel | About $1,000 to $1,800 at weekly rates | Room with kitchenette, Wi-Fi, housekeeping that varies by length of stay |
| Airbnb or short-term rental | About $6,450 at the average nightly rate, before monthly discounts | A whole place, but prices vary widely |
| RV park | From about $599 for the site, plus some utilities | You need your own RV or trailer |
Hotel rates from InTown Suites and Uptown Suites Austin listings, October 2026. Airbnb figure is AirDNA’s August 2026 Austin average of $215 a night times 30. RV rate is Arroyo Valle RV Resort’s starting monthly rate. Amsoo prices are live from our listings; the utilities share varies with usage.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Extended-stay hotels are the easiest to book on short notice, and in Texas, stays of 30 or more consecutive days are exempt from hotel occupancy tax. Tell the hotel in writing up front and the exemption starts right away. But you get a kitchenette, not a full kitchen, and little space to unwind after a long shift.
- Short-term rentals give you a whole place, but at Austin’s average rate, a month costs several times what a room does.
- RV parks are the cheapest if you already travel with an RV, but site rent usually doesn’t cover everything, and many parks require a background check for longer stays.
How far are our homes from the big job sites?
These are door-to-door drive times without traffic:
| Compare | Arborside | Caballo Blanco | Chapala | Mary Lewis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Giga Texas | 27 | 8 | 17 | 32 |
| Samsung Austin Semiconductor | 9 | 20 | 12 | 36 |
| Applied Materials (US 290) | 15 | 17 | 10 | 33 |
| Samsung Taylor campus | 39 | 41 | 28 | 60 |
| Austin-Bergstrom airport (terminal) | 20 | 7 | 20 | 23 |
Drive times are estimates without traffic, door to door from each home.
For details on a specific site, see our guides to Tesla Giga Texas, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, and Applied Materials.
Working in Taylor?
If your contract is at Samsung’s Taylor fab, our home in Manor is about 28 minutes away with no toll road needed, and every bedroom there is furnished. Our Samsung Taylor guide compares living in Taylor, Hutto, Manor, and Austin.
Will my per diem cover a room?
Usually with plenty left over. For Austin, the federal (GSA) lodging rate is $184 a night for October 2026 through September 2027, about $5,520 for 30 nights. If your employer pays a per diem under an accountable plan, the IRS says allowances at or below the federal rate generally aren’t included in your W-2 wages. Every employer handles this differently, so check with yours or a tax professional.
Can I rent a room for my assignment?
Yes. Our minimum lease is 3 months, which covers most construction and engineering assignments. Tell us your start date and how long you expect to be here on the interest form, and we’ll talk through the options. If your contract gets extended, just let us know.
Which rooms are open right now?
Caballo Blanco — Unit B
Private room with private bath
Available October 2026
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
Mary Lewis — Unit D
Private room with shared bath
Available October 2026
How do I rent a room for a contract?
- Fill out the interest form with your job site, start date, and assignment length.
- We’ll set up a short intro call and a tour, or a virtual tour if you’re still out of town.
- 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
What is the cheapest temporary housing for contractors in Austin?
If you already have an RV, an RV park site can start around $599 a month plus some utilities. Without an RV, a room in a shared home is usually cheaper than an extended-stay hotel or a short-term rental for an assignment of 3 months or more.
Do extended-stay hotels in Texas charge hotel tax on long stays?
Stays of 30 or more consecutive days are exempt from Texas hotel occupancy tax. Tell the hotel in writing up front and the exemption starts right away; otherwise you pay tax for the first 30 days.
Do you rent rooms to contractors?
Yes. Our minimum lease is 3 months. Tell us your assignment length on the interest form and we’ll talk through the options.
Are your rooms furnished?
Common areas are furnished in every home, and bedrooms are furnished in some homes. Every bedroom at our Manor home is furnished.
How much is the GSA per diem for Austin?
The federal lodging rate for Austin is $184 a night for October 2026 through September 2027, plus $80 a day for meals and incidentals.