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.
CODEBLOCK0
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 - INLINECODE48 — General travel planning
- INLINECODE49 — Career and productivity
Feedback
- - If useful: INLINECODE50
- Stay updated: INLINECODE51
设置
首次使用时，请阅读 setup.md 了解集成指南。
使用时机
用户出于任何目的询问关于德克萨斯州奥斯汀的信息：旅游、搬迁、科技行业工作、创业，或体验音乐与美食文化。助手应提供基于当前数据的实用指导。
架构
记忆文件存储在 ~/.austin/ 目录下。请参阅 memory-template.md 了解结构。
~/.austin/
└── memory.md # 用户背景与偏好
快速参考
visitor-attractions.md |
| 行程规划（1/3/7天） | visitor-itineraries.md |
| 住宿推荐 | visitor-lodging.md |
| 实用贴士与一日游 | visitor-tips.md |
|
社区指南 | |
| 快速对比 | neighborhoods-index.md |
| 奥斯汀中心区（市中心、东区、南国会） | neighborhoods-central.md |
| 北奥斯汀（Domain、Arboretum、Cedar Park） | neighborhoods-north.md |
| 南奥斯汀（Zilker、Barton Hills、Bouldin） | neighborhoods-south.md |
| 东区与东南区（Mueller、Manor、Del Valle） | neighborhoods-east.md |
| 西区与丘陵地带（Westlake、Lakeway、Bee Cave） | neighborhoods-west.md |
| 选择指南 | neighborhoods-choosing.md |
|
美食指南 | |
| 概览与餐饮文化 | food-overview.md |
| 烧烤（终极指南） | food-bbq.md |
| 德州墨西哥菜与墨西哥菜 | food-mexican.md |
| 餐车与拖车美食 | food-trucks.md |
| 高级餐厅与国际美食 | food-international.md |
| 最佳餐饮区域 | food-areas.md |
| 实用贴士（小费、饮食限制、营业时间） | food-practical.md |
|
音乐与娱乐 | |
| 现场音乐文化 | music-live.md |
| SXSW指南 | music-sxsw.md |
| ACL音乐节与其他节日 | music-festivals.md |
| 按音乐类型分类的演出场地 | music-venues.md |
|
实用信息 | |
| 搬家与定居 | resident.md |
| 交通（汽车文化 vs 其他选择） | transport.md |
| 生活成本 | cost.md |
| 安全与法律 | safety.md |
| 天气与季节贴士 | climate.md |
| 本地服务（水电、车管所、税务） | local.md |
|
职业发展 | |
| 科技行业与薪资 | tech.md |
| 创业与德州有限责任公司 | business.md |
| 工作签证与担保 | visas.md |
| 初创企业与风投环境 | startup.md |
|
生活方式 | |
| 文化与习俗 | culture.md |
| 医疗与保险 | healthcare.md |
| 学校与德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校 | education.md |
| 户外生活方式 | outdoors.md |
| 驾驶与汽车拥有 | driving.md |
核心规则
1. 首先明确用户背景
- - 角色：游客、搬迁者、科技从业者、远程工作者、创业者、学生
- 时间线：短期访问、计划搬迁、已在此地、考虑奥斯汀与其他城市对比
- 加载相关辅助文件获取详细信息
2. 科技移民中心
奥斯汀已转变为美国最热门的科技目的地。关键因素：
- - 无州所得税：对高收入者极具吸引力（加州移民可节省10-13%）
- 主要总部迁入：特斯拉、甲骨文、嘉信理财、COTA
- 大型科技园区：苹果（10亿美元）、谷歌、Meta、亚马逊、戴尔总部
- 初创企业生态：全美第八大，风投资源雄厚
- 远程办公友好：许多加州/纽约公司在奥斯汀设有办公室
详见 tech.md 了解行业详情，visas.md 了解工作授权信息。
3. 文化背景
奥斯汀是德克萨斯州的自由派岛屿，但本质上仍是德州城市：
- - 保持奥斯汀怪异：支持独立企业的本地口号
- 音乐身份：世界现场音乐之都——名副其实
- 德州墨西哥菜是信仰：早餐玉米卷是日常仪式
- 户外文化：跑步、骑行、皮划艇是生活常态
- 休闲着装：科技休闲风无处不在；西装罕见且引人注目
详见 culture.md 获取详细指南。
4. 天气实况
- - 亚热带气候：冬季温和，夏季酷热
- 最佳季节：春季（3-5月）和秋季（10-11月）——20-28°C，气候宜人
- 夏季（6-9月）：极端高温（38-42°C），所有人转向室内活动
- 冬季（12-2月）：温和（5-18°C），但偶有冰暴
- 过敏之都：雪松热（12-2月）、橡树花粉（3-4月）严重
详见 climate.md 了解月度分解和生存贴士。
5. 当前数据（2026年2月）
| 项目 | 范围 |
|---|
| 一居室租金（市中心） | 1,800-2,500美元/月 |
| 一居室租金（郊区） |
1,300-1,800美元/月 |
| 房价中位数 | 55万美元以上 |
| 高级软件工程师年薪 | 18万-28万美元/年 |
| 初级软件工程师年薪 | 9万-13万美元/年 |
| 汽油价格 | 2.80-3.20美元/加仑 |
| 烧烤套餐 | 18-28美元 |
| 早餐玉米卷 | 3-5美元 |
| 打车到机场 | 25-40美元 |
6. 成本实况
奥斯汀已不再便宜——科技繁荣改变了一切：
- - 住房：五年内翻倍；竞争白热化
- 无所得税：被高房产税抵消（约为房屋价值的2.1%）
- 餐饮与娱乐：对于科技中心而言价格合理
- 汽车必需品：公共交通存在但汽车几乎必不可少
- 医疗：需要私人保险；费用差异巨大
- 与加州相比的储蓄：仍有显著优势，但差距正在缩小
7. 交通实况
与沿海城市不同，奥斯汀以汽车为中心：
- - 汽车：对大多数生活方式而言几乎必不可少
- CapMetro公交车：存在但覆盖范围有限
- MetroRail轻轨：一条线路，以通勤为主，运营时间有限
- 网约车：Uber/Lyft广泛可用
- 骑行：基础设施正在发展，中心区域条件良好
- 电动滑板车：市中心随处可见，适合短途出行
- I-35高速公路交通：臭名昭著。要么提前规划，要么忍受拥堵。
详见 transport.md 获取完整指南。
8. 社区匹配
| 人群画像 | 最佳区域 |
|---|
| 年轻科技从业者 | 东奥斯汀、市中心、南拉马尔 |
| 家庭 |
Circle C、Steiner Ranch、Cedar Park |
| 远程工作者 | 南国会、Zilker、Mueller |
| 预算有限者 | Round Rock、Pflugerville、Manor |
| 追求奢华者 | Westlake、Tarrytown、Lake Austin |
| 音乐爱好者 | 东6街、红河、南国会 |
| 户外爱好者 | Barton Hills、Zilker、Bee Cave |
| 学生/年轻专业人士 | 西校区、North Loop、Hyde Park |
奥斯汀的转型
理解奥斯汀需要了解其近期历史：
- - 2010年前：经济实惠的大学城，音乐氛围浓厚
- 2010-2015年：科技企业增多，硅谷丘陵绰号确立
- 2015-2020年：F1赛事入驻（COTA），增长加速，物价上涨
- 2020-2021年：疫情导致加州人口外迁；特斯拉、甲骨文宣布搬迁
- 2021-2023年：房价翻倍，交通恶化，老奥斯汀被怀念
- 2023年至今：增长略有放缓，可负担性危机，基础设施面临挑战
你今天看到的这座城市与五年前相比已截然不同。
奥斯汀特有的陷阱
