Performance
Score Breakdown
Alexandria
Montes Claros
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Montes Claros is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
130% higher compared to Alexandria.
Housing costs are a major driver: Alexandria's average rent is
220% higher than Montes Claros's.
| Metric | Alexandria | Montes Claros | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $974 | $304 | +220% |
| Groceries | $395 | $344 | +15% |
| Utilities | $226 | $67 | +237% |
| Transport | $120 | $52 | +131% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $75 | +193% |
| Monthly Total | $1,935 | $842 | +130% |
| Cost Index | 92 | 63 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Alexandria offers 12242% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Alexandria delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Alexandria is estimated at
$38,952 vs $10,200 in Montes Claros.
| Metric | Alexandria | Montes Claros |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $50,107 | $406 |
| Salary Needed | $38,952 | $10,200 |
| Purchasing Power | 54,464 idx | 644 idx |
| Household Income | $47,113 | $4,872 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Alexandria | Montes Claros |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 73.00% | 75.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Montes Claros has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
8,500 minutes (142 hours) per year compared to Alexandria.
| Metric | Alexandria | Montes Claros |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | min |
| Transit Score | 0.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Walkability | 0.0/10 | 0.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | ||
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Montes Claros is the larger city
— approximately 0.1x the population of Alexandria.
From a growth perspective, Montes Claros is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Montes Claros has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Alexandria | Montes Claros |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,060 | 443,380 |
| Pop. Growth | % | 1.32% |
| Median Age | 37.6 | |
| Unemployment | 4.30% | 3.80% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $2.6B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Alexandria
Advantages
The overall cost of living in Alexandria is 8% lower than the national average, primarily due to significantly lower housing expenses.
Housing costs are 26% lower than the national average, with a median home price of $175,000 in May 2026.
The average commute time is relatively short at 17.4 minutes, contributing to a better work-life balance.
Alexandria is a regional healthcare hub with at least four major hospitals, and healthcare costs are 11% lower than the national average.
The city's economy is diverse, with a 3.32% job growth rate between 2023 and 2024.
Drawbacks
Alexandria has a very high violent crime rate, 671% above the national average, resulting in an 'F' safety grade.
The city's population is projected to decline by 1.3% annually, indicating a negative growth trend.
Summers are consistently hot, humid, and often described as oppressive.
A significant portion of the population, 27%, lives below the poverty line as of 2024.
The city exhibits high car dependency, with 77.7% of residents driving alone to work.
Montes Claros
Advantages
Montes Claros is classified as the 5th city in Minas Gerais with the best quality of life, scoring 68.79 in the IPS Brasil 2024 index.
The city's cost of living is approximately 37% lower than the global median, making it highly affordable.
The pharmaceutical industry is a strong growth sector, attracting significant investments and creating jobs.
Montes Claros has a robust entrepreneurial climate, ranking among the top cities in Brazil for business due to high diversification and growth.
The city is a regional healthcare hub with major hospitals, including Santa Casa Montes Claros, recognized for its quality.
Drawbacks
Despite a decrease in violent crimes and homicides, robberies in Montes Claros increased by 20% between 2019 and 2024.
The average monthly net salary in Montes Claros is relatively low at $406, which is below the national GDP per capita.
The city faces challenges in business survival and density, indicating potential difficulties for new enterprises.
Montes Claros experienced difficulties with pediatric bed availability in 2024, highlighting a strain on healthcare resources.
Specific data on median age and comprehensive public transit/walkability scores are not readily available for recent years.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Alexandria
#130Louisiana, USA
55.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$974
Avg Salary
$50,107
Cost Index
92
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
50
Business
60
Montes Claros
#4Minas Gerais, Brazil
70.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$304
Avg Salary
$406
Cost Index
63
Commute
min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.32%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
69
Business
75
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