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🔑 New lease on life
Mueller has 140 acres of green spaces, including the Mueller Lake Park. | Photo by ATXtoday
Ever wondered if a move could help you save some dough? You’ve come to the right place to help you find the next place.
Rent prices in the Capital City tumbled down more than most major metro areas in the last year, according to a recent Redfin study. The decline is due in part to a sizable influx in apartment construction — the Downtown area alone added ~7,000 apartments over the last four years.
Let’s take a look at the (note: approximate) cost of living in Austin neighborhoods.
Renting in Downtown Austin will cost a pretty penny for a relatively small space.
Photo by ATXtoday
Downtown
Average apartment rent: ~$2,685
~54.1% more than the average rent in ATX
Nearby landmarks: the Texas State Capitol, Waterloo Park
East Cesar Chavez
Average apartment rent: ~$2,066
~29.1% more than the average rent in ATX
Nearby landmarks: Cosmic Saltillo, Holey Moley Golf Club
Mueller
Average apartment rent: ~$2,143
~32.7% more than the average rent in ATX
Nearby landmarks: Mueller Lake Park, Pharr Tennis Center
Memorial Day Sale | Thursday, May 22-Monday, May 26 | Times vary | All APA! Thrift stores | Cost of purchase | Take 50% off your purchases for five days in a row leading up to Memorial Day.
An Evening with Chris Guillebeau | 7 p.m. | BookPeople | Free with RSVP | Let the author of “The $100 Startup” help you break the cycle of unanswered emails, incomplete to-do lists, and overstimulation.
Friday, May 23
“The Royal Tenenbaums” | 7:30 p.m. | Hyperreal Film Club | $8 | See this Wes Anderson classic about an extraordinary family on the big screen.
Saturday, May 24
Austin Margarita Fest | 12-7 p.m. | Round Rock Amp, Round Rock | $21+ | The Spazmatics will provide the tunes while you sip your way through margarita vendors + feast on food truck eats.
Sunday, May 25
Home Bartending 101 | 12-2:30 p.m. | The Roosevelt Room | $92+ | Channel your inner mixologist and learn how to make craft cocktails.
Mat Pilates | 9:30 a.m. | Zilker Botanical Garden | $15 | Relax and connect with nature while stretching out in Austin’s beautiful gardens.
More than 100flights were delayed or canceled at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport yesterday after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a ground stop, largely due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. The order, which pauses incoming flights, ended at 9 p.m. (Austin American-Statesman)
Ranked
Leander, Pflugerville, Cedar Park, and Round Rock all took top 10 spots on U.S. News and World’s “Best Places to Live in Texas in 2025-2026” list. The top spot went to Pearland, which is just south of Houston.
Edu
Too cool not to be in school. Austin Community College administrators said direct-to-college enrollment rose by ~40% after the school announced its free tuition pilot program. The new program offers free tuition to high school graduates for three years, or five if they pursue one of its Bachelor programs. (KUT)
Community
McNeil High School, Anderson Mill High School, Cedar Ridge High School, and seven other Round Rock ISD campuses will serve free meals to children under 18 and people with disabilities under 21 during the summer. IDs will not be required to participate in the Texas Summer Meals program. (Community Impact)
Number
3.7 million. That’s how many people AAA expects to be on Texas roadways during Memorial Day weekend from Thursday, May 22 to Monday, May 26. That number is about 3% more than last year, and marks the third year in a row of record-breaking travel for the federal holiday. (Austin American-Statesman)
Answered
Shoutout to the 345 readers who correctly guessed that San Antonio is the oldest major city in Texas. The Alamo City was established in 1718 — a full 127 years before Texas became a US state. Next was Houston in 1837, followed by Austin + Corpus Christi in 1839, then Dallas in 1841.
Sports
The new Texas football roster has exciting newbies on the team, and some of the freshmen may snag starting spots. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Texas Longhorns with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Number
$4,000. That’s how much an ounce of gold is expected to cost in 2026. And since gold thrives in unstable markets, its rally appears far from over.Check out gold IRAs, which let you own physical gold while taking advantage of IRA tax breaks.†*
Editor Morgan and I saw “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” on Tuesday night and were absolutely blown away by the set, the performers, and the comedy. You have until Sunday, May 25 to see the show, and if you’re anything like us, you won’t regret it.
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