City Comparison
Arau vs Akron
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Arau scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Arau
Akron
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Arau is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
68% lower than in Akron.
Housing costs are a major driver: Arau's average rent is
69% lower than Akron's.
| Metric | Arau | Akron | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $350 | $1,123 | -69% |
| Groceries | $220 | $742 | -70% |
| Utilities | $85 | $234 | -64% |
| Transport | $70 | $357 | -80% |
| Healthcare | $90 | $130 | -31% |
| Monthly Total | $815 | $2,586 | -68% |
| Cost Index | 48 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Akron offers 87% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Akron delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Arau is estimated at
$8,000 vs $66,000 in Akron.
| Metric | Arau | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $9,500 | $73,000 |
| Salary Needed | $8,000 | $66,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 19,792 idx | 85,882 idx |
| Household Income | $11,500 | $48,076 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Arau runs warmer on average — a 81.9°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Arau comes out ahead with 120 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Arau sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Arau | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 81.90°F | °F |
| Summer High | 88.50°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 74.00°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 93.70 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 120 | |
| Humidity | 82.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Arau has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Akron.
Arau scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Arau leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Arau | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 28.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Akron is the larger city
— approximately 0.5x the population of Arau.
From a growth perspective, Arau is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Arau | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,332 | 189,664 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.05% | — |
| Median Age | 29.0 | 36.9 |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 3.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Arau
Advantages
Average monthly rent for apartments in Arau is roughly 60% lower than the national urban average per DOSM and local listings.
Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) drives a vibrant, highly educated community environment with robust technical training programs.
Extremely low cost of daily living, particularly regarding local food, fresh produce, and household utilities.
Strategic rail connectivity via the Arau KTM ETS station providing direct links to major cities like Kuala Lumpur and Hat Yai.
Very low crime rates and peaceful suburban and rural neighborhoods ideal for families and students.
Drawbacks
Limited high-paying corporate job opportunities outside of education, public administration, and agriculture.
High dependence on personal motor vehicles due to limited municipal public transit coverage within residential tracts.
Warm and humid tropical climate year-round with pronounced wet seasons limiting outdoor activities.
Scarcity of large-scale entertainment complexes, shopping malls, and metropolitan nightlife options locally.
Narrower range of specialized medical specialist hospitals directly within town limits, requiring trips to Kangar.
Akron
Advantages
The overall cost of living in Akron is 15% lower than the national average, making it a highly affordable city.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the national average, with average monthly rent at $1,123 and median home prices around $153,000.
Akron has a diverse economy with strong industries including healthcare, manufacturing, and the polymer sector.
The city offers a public transportation system (METRO RTA) with affordable monthly passes at $50.
Healthcare costs in Akron are approximately 14% lower than the national average.
Drawbacks
Akron has a high crime rate, with an overall crime rate 50% above the national average and a safety grade of C-.
The city is experiencing a projected population decline of -0.9% annually.
Akron has a negative job growth rate, with a 0.461% decline in employed population in 2024.
The lifestyle in Akron is largely car-dependent, with most errands requiring a vehicle and an average Walk Score of 48.
The median household income of $48,076 in 2024 is below the national average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Arau
#23Perlis, Malaysia
79.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$350
Avg Salary
$9,500
Cost Index
48
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
120/yr
Avg Temp
81.90°F
Pop. Growth
1.05%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
76
Business
62
Akron
#575Ohio, USA
46.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,123
Avg Salary
$73,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
65
Business
55
Calculate Your Cost Impact
Estimate the salary you'd need when moving between Arau and Akron.
Open Cost Calculator