Tour by Alexa, @apartmentsbyalexa, May 2025
Cala
Slaughter Lane / Southpark Meadows (Ralph Ablanedo & S 1st St) · Austin 78748 · built 2025 · 404 homes
- $1,226
- base rent, lowest plan
- 6 wks free
- move-in special
- $1,133
- a month all in, after the special and fees
Rents and special checked Oct 24, 2026 on the property's own site.
I'm Alex, a licensed apartment locator with Relive Realty. Send me Cala and I'll text back today's price on a real unit plus two or three similar places, free. The tour is from Alexa, my colleague at Relive Realty.
Cala rents
Base rent by floor plan, checked Oct 24, 2026 on the property's own site
| Plan | Size | Base rent | After special |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio1 bath · 458–538 sq ft | 458–538 sq ft | $1,226–$1,261 | $1,085 |
| 1 bed1 bath · 714–968 sq ft | 714–968 sq ft | $1,284–$1,634 | $1,136 |
| 2 bed2 bath · 1,064–1,237 sq ft | 1,064–1,237 sq ft | $1,888–$2,008 | $1,670 |
Special: UP TO 6 WEEKS FREE! Restrictions apply.
"After special" spreads 6 weeks free over a 12-month lease. Longer leases change the math; the calculator below handles that.
On top of rent every month: $48 a month: $30 valet trash, $16 trash removal, $2 pest control
Want Cala, or something like it?
Takes 20 seconds. I text back today's price on an available unit and two or three similar places nearby.
What you'd really pay
Free weeks are usually credited in the first month or two, but compare buildings on what they are worth spread over the lease. Slide the special and the lease length to see that number.
$1,184
a month, all in, for the 1 bed over 12 months
- Base rent
- $1,284
- 6 weeks free is worth
- $1,778
- Rent after the special
- $1,136
- Plus required fees
- $48
Rents checked Oct 24, 2026. Fees preset to $48, the property's required monthly charges. Specials usually apply to select homes and lease terms; I confirm the exact unit before you apply.
My take on Cala
Near Slaughter Lane and South 1st Street, a few minutes from Southpark Meadows, Cala is a 2025 Fairfield community with 404 homes in four-story buildings. The tour shows limestone and gray siding outside, a moss wall behind the leasing desk, a game room with arcade cabinets and a pool table, a pool with glass railings and Adirondack chairs, and a dog wash with a cowboy-hat mural. Homes get quartz, plank floors in the living areas and a full-size washer and dryer. There is also a 2-acre park on site.
Studios start at $1,226, one-bedrooms at $1,284 and two-bedrooms at $1,888. Up to 6 weeks free puts a $1,284 one-bedroom at about $1,136 a month on a 12-month lease. Fixed monthly fees are low here, $48 for valet trash, trash removal and pest control, so that one-bedroom lands near $1,184 before electric, gas, water and renters insurance. Up front, budget the $81 application, a $225 admin fee and $125 per access card.
Southpark Meadows has H-E-B and Target about 6 minutes away, I-35 is about 7 and MoPac about 10. Downtown is about 20 minutes and the Domain about 30, so this works best if your days are south. You will need a car, and carports are $65 a month. Tip: compare a one-bed-plus-den, the A6D or A9D, against a two-bedroom, because the den can get you a home office for less.
- Worth a look if
- you want brand-new construction with two pools, a 2-acre park and full-size W/D at some of the lowest new-build rents in South Austin, near Southpark Meadows
- Look elsewhere if
- you want a walkable neighborhood or a short commute to central Austin or the Domain
- The catch
- Far South Austin location means a 20+ minute drive to downtown and a car for most errands, and the required fees plus usage-based utilities and renters insurance add to the base rent; a $125 access-card fee and $225 admin fee are due up front.
Fees, deposits and pets
What it costs to move in, and what gets added to rent each month.
| Application | $81 |
|---|---|
| Admin fee | $225 |
| Deposit | $250 studio / $300 1-bed / $400 2-bed refundable (additional $250-$400 possible based on screening) |
| Monthly add-ons | $48 a month: $30 valet trash, $16 trash removal, $2 pest control |
| Parking | Open parking; carport $65/vehicle/mo optional |
| Pets | $400 one-time, $30/mo pet rent |
| Pet limits | Ask |
| Income needed | Usually 3x rent; ask |
Inside and around
In the homes
- polished quartz countertops with tile backsplash
- full-size in-home washer and dryer
- wood-style plank flooring in living areas, carpet in bedrooms
- stainless steel ENERGY STAR appliances with ice maker and microwave
- 1-bed + den layouts (A6D, A9D)
- built-in desks and kitchen islands in select homes
- private balconies/patios in select homes
- smoke-free community
In the building
- two swimming pools with sun deck
- fitness center with yoga studio
- 2-acre park
- dog park and dog spa
- coworking/business center and event room
- rideshare waiting lounge
- bike room and rentable storage rooms ($20-$85/mo)
- game room and TV lounge
- communal grills and picnic areas
- gated entrance and covered carports
Where it is
211 Ralph Ablanedo Dr, Austin 78748
Slaughter Lane / Southpark Meadows (Ralph Ablanedo & S 1st St), South Austin. Drive times are typical off-peak estimates.
Close by
- Southpark Meadows (H-E-B, Target, restaurants)6 min drive
- Slaughter Lane / S 1st St retail3 min drive
- I-35 at Slaughter Ln7 min drive
- MoPac / Loop 1 at Slaughter Ln10 min drive
Drive to
- Downtown20 min
- The Domain30 min
- UT Austin22 min
- Airport22 min
Cala questions
Does Cala have one-bedroom plus den floor plans?
Yes. The A6D and A9D plans add a den, and some homes have built-in desks. I check which ones are open and what they cost against a regular two-bedroom.
Is there covered parking at Cala?
Open parking is free. Covered carports are $65 per vehicle a month, and the entrance is gated. Rentable storage rooms run $20 to $85 a month if you need extra space.
How much is rent at Cala?
Base rents on Oct 24, 2026: studios from $1,226, 1 beds from $1,284, 2 beds from $1,888. Prices move with the unit, floor and lease length, so I check the live number before you apply.
Does Cala have a move-in special?
On Oct 24, 2026 the special was "UP TO 6 WEEKS FREE! Restrictions apply.". On a $1,284 home that works out to about $1,136 a month over a 12-month lease. Specials change often and usually apply to select homes.
Is Cala pet friendly?
Yes: $400 one-time pet fee, $30 a month pet rent. Confirm the current policy and fees for your pet when we book the tour.
What fees does Cala charge?
Up front: application $81, admin $225, deposit $250 studio / $300 1-bed / $400 2-bed refundable (additional $250-$400 possible based on screening). Every month on top of rent: $48 a month: $30 valet trash, $16 trash removal, $2 pest control.
Also worth touring
Nearby and close in price, each with its own tour.
The NelsonSouthpark Meadows / Slaughter Lane at I-35 · built 2024 · studio/1BR/2BR/3BRfrom $1,174No posted special
SOFI at 6311South First / Sweetbriar (78745) · built 2025 · studio/1BR/2BRfrom $1,24510 weeks freeabout $1,006 a month after the special
MatadorSouth Congress (SoCo) / St. Elmo · built 2025 · 1BR/2BR · income-restrictedfrom $1,210No posted special
StrataBluff Springs / Onion Creek (near Southpark Meadows) · built 2024 · studio/1BR/2BRfrom $1,10910 weeks freeabout $896 a month after the special
Cala is on these lists
Tour Cala with me
I'll confirm today's price and special on the unit you want, and line up two or three similar places for the same afternoon. Touring on your own? Tell the leasing office Alexander with Relive Realty sent you, before your first visit, so my help stays free.