Austin

Navigate Austin as visitor, relocator, tech worker, or entrepreneur with neighborhoods, transport, costs, visas, and Texas-specific insights.

Iván@ivangdavila

Install

openclaw skills install @ivangdavila/austin

Setup

On first use, read setup.md for integration guidelines.

When to Use

User asks about Austin, Texas for any purpose: visiting, relocating, working in tech, starting a business, or experiencing the music and food scene. Agent provides practical guidance with current data.

Architecture

Memory lives in ~/.austin/. See memory-template.md for structure.

text

~/.austin/
└── memory.md     # User context and preferences

Quick Reference

Topic	File
Visitors
Attractions (must-see vs skip)	`visitor-attractions.md`
Itineraries (1/3/7 days)	`visitor-itineraries.md`
Where to stay	`visitor-lodging.md`
Tips & day trips	`visitor-tips.md`
Neighborhoods
Quick comparison	`neighborhoods-index.md`
Central Austin (Downtown, East Side, South Congress)	`neighborhoods-central.md`
North Austin (Domain, Arboretum, Cedar Park)	`neighborhoods-north.md`
South Austin (Zilker, Barton Hills, Bouldin)	`neighborhoods-south.md`
East & Southeast (Mueller, Manor, Del Valle)	`neighborhoods-east.md`
West & Hill Country (Westlake, Lakeway, Bee Cave)	`neighborhoods-west.md`
Choosing guide	`neighborhoods-choosing.md`
Food
Overview & dining scene	`food-overview.md`
BBQ (the definitive guide)	`food-bbq.md`
Tex-Mex & Mexican	`food-mexican.md`
Food trucks & trailers	`food-trucks.md`
Fine dining & international	`food-international.md`
Best areas for dining	`food-areas.md`
Practical (tipping, dietary, hours)	`food-practical.md`
Music & Entertainment
Live music scene	`music-live.md`
SXSW guide	`music-sxsw.md`
ACL & festivals	`music-festivals.md`
Venues by genre	`music-venues.md`
Practical
Moving & settling	`resident.md`
Transport (car culture vs alternatives)	`transport.md`
Cost of living	`cost.md`
Safety & laws	`safety.md`
Weather & seasonal tips	`climate.md`
Local services (utilities, DMV, taxes)	`local.md`
Career
Tech industry & salaries	`tech.md`
Business setup & Texas LLC	`business.md`
Work visas & sponsorship	`visas.md`
Startups & VC scene	`startup.md`
Lifestyle
Culture & customs	`culture.md`
Healthcare & insurance	`healthcare.md`
Schools & UT Austin	`education.md`
Outdoor lifestyle	`outdoors.md`
Driving & car ownership	`driving.md`

Core Rules

1. Identify User Context First

Role: Tourist, relocator, tech worker, remote worker, entrepreneur, student
Timeline: Short visit, planning to move, already there, considering Austin vs other cities
Load relevant auxiliary file for details

2. The Tech Migration Hub

Austin has transformed into America's hottest tech destination. Key factors:

No state income tax: Massive draw for high earners (CA refugees save 10-13%)
Major HQs relocated: Tesla, Oracle, Charles Schwab, COTA
Big Tech campuses: Apple ($1B), Google, Meta, Amazon, Dell HQ
Startup ecosystem: 8th largest in US, strong VC presence
Remote work friendly: Many California/NYC companies have Austin offices See tech.md for industry details and visas.md for work authorization.

3. Cultural Context

Austin is Texas's liberal island but still fundamentally Texan:

Keep Austin Weird: Local slogan supporting indie businesses
Music identity: "Live Music Capital of the World" — taken seriously
Tex-Mex is religion: Breakfast tacos are a daily ritual
Outdoor culture: Running, biking, kayaking are lifestyle defaults
Casual dress: Tech casual everywhere; suits are rare and suspicious See culture.md for detailed guidance.

4. Weather Reality

Subtropical climate: Mild winters, brutally hot summers
Best seasons: Spring (Mar-May) and Fall (Oct-Nov) — 20-28C, gorgeous
Summer (Jun-Sep): Extreme heat (38-42C), everyone moves indoors
Winter (Dec-Feb): Mild (5-18C) but occasional ice storms
"Allergy capital": Cedar fever (Dec-Feb), oak (Mar-Apr) are severe See climate.md for monthly breakdown and survival tips.

5. Current Data (Feb 2026)

Item	Range
1BR rent (central)	$1,800-2,500/month
1BR rent (suburbs)	$1,300-1,800/month
Median home price	$550,000+
Senior SWE salary	$180,000-280,000/year
Junior SWE salary	$90,000-130,000/year
Gas price	$2.80-3.20/gallon
BBQ plate	$18-28
Breakfast taco	$3-5
Rideshare to airport	$25-40

6. Cost Reality

Austin is no longer cheap — the tech boom changed everything:

Housing: Doubled in 5 years; crisis-level competition
No income tax: Offset by high property taxes (~2.1% of home value)
Food & entertainment: Reasonable for a tech hub
Car required: Transit exists but car is near-essential
Healthcare: Private insurance required; costs vary wildly
Savings vs CA: Still significant, but gap narrowing

7. Transit Reality

Unlike coastal cities, Austin is car-centric:

Car: Near-essential for most lifestyles
CapMetro buses: Exist but limited coverage
MetroRail: One line, commuter-focused, limited hours
Rideshare: Uber/Lyft widely available
Biking: Growing infrastructure, good in central areas
E-scooters: Everywhere downtown, useful for short trips
I-35 traffic: Legendary. Plan around it or suffer. See transport.md for complete guide.

8. Neighborhood Matching

Profile	Best Areas
Young tech workers	East Austin, Downtown, South Lamar
Families	Circle C, Steiner Ranch, Cedar Park
Remote workers	South Congress, Zilker, Mueller
Budget-conscious	Round Rock, Pflugerville, Manor
Luxury seekers	Westlake, Tarrytown, Lake Austin
Music lovers	East 6th, Red River, South Congress
Outdoor enthusiasts	Barton Hills, Zilker, Bee Cave
Students/young professionals	West Campus, North Loop, Hyde Park

The Austin Transformation

Understanding Austin requires knowing its recent history:

Pre-2010: Affordable college town with great music scene
2010-2015: Tech presence grows, "Silicon Hills" nickname sticks
2015-2020: F1 arrives (COTA), growth accelerates, prices rise
2020-2021: Pandemic exodus from CA; Tesla, Oracle announce moves
2021-2023: Housing prices double, traffic worsens, "old Austin" mourned
2023-present: Growth slows slightly, affordability crisis, infrastructure struggles

The city you'll find today is dramatically different from even 5 years ago.

Austin-Specific Traps

Summer underestimation — 40C+ heat is dangerous. Plan indoor activities Jun-Sep.
Franklin BBQ line — 3-4 hour waits. Go at 8am or order ahead. Other BBQ is also great.
SXSW chaos — Avoid downtown mid-March unless attending. Hotels 3x price.
Cedar fever — Not a cold. Dec-Feb allergies devastate newcomers. Get tested.
"Central Austin" rent — Listings say central, mean 20 min from downtown.
I-35 commute — Never underestimate. 10 miles can be 45+ minutes at rush hour.
No zoning myths — Austin has zoning, just different than CA/NY.
"Austin's changed" locals — Yes, it has. They're not wrong. Be humble.
Property tax shock — Calculate it: ~2.1% of assessed value annually.
Water restrictions — Summer droughts mean strict watering rules.

Legal Awareness

Key laws visitors/residents must know:

Marijuana: Still illegal in Texas. Not decriminalized. Real arrests happen.
Open carry: Legal for handguns (21+, no permit required as of 2021).
Alcohol: Bars close at 2am. No public drinking. Some areas dry on Sundays.
Employment: At-will state. Non-competes enforceable but limited.
Tenant rights: Landlord-friendly state. Lease terms are usually final.
Vehicle inspection: Annual requirement. Registration separate.
No state income tax: But property and sales taxes are high.

See safety.md for comprehensive legal guidance.

The Housing Reality (2026)

This deserves special attention:

Price explosion: Median home from $300K (2019) to $550K+ (2026)
Competition: Multiple offers, cash buyers, waived inspections common
Rent increases: 30-50% in past 3 years in desirable areas
California factor: Remote workers with CA salaries outbid locals
Local sentiment: Significant resentment toward newcomers raising prices
As a newcomer: Be aware you're part of a controversial dynamic. Don't lead with "I'm from California."

Language & Communication

English dominant: Minimal language barrier
Spanish useful: ~35% Hispanic population, appreciated in many contexts
Texas phrases: "Y'all" is standard, "Bless your heart" is not always kind
Direct communication: Texans are friendly but direct
Small talk culture: Strangers talk to you. It's normal.

Related Skills

Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:

dubai — Another major expat destination
travel — General travel planning
work — Career and productivity

Feedback

If useful: clawhub star austin
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