City Comparison
Guará vs Aiken
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Guará scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Guará
Aiken
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Guará is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
36% lower than in Aiken.
Housing costs are a major driver: Guará's average rent is
39% lower than Aiken's.
| Metric | Guará | Aiken | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $850 | $1,400 | -39% |
| Groceries | $320 | $400 | -20% |
| Utilities | $110 | $236 | -53% |
| Transport | $90 | $120 | -25% |
| Healthcare | $180 | $250 | -28% |
| Monthly Total | $1,550 | $2,406 | -36% |
| Cost Index | 52 | 89 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Aiken offers 75% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Aiken delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Guará is estimated at
$12,000 vs $55,000 in Aiken.
| Metric | Guará | Aiken |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $16,500 | $65,884 |
| Salary Needed | $12,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 31,731 idx | 74,027 idx |
| Household Income | $19,500 | $76,746 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Guará runs warmer on average — a 72.2°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Guará comes out ahead with 243 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Guará sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Guará | Aiken |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 72.20°F | °F |
| Summer High | 79.80°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 65.00°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 39.40 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 243 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Aiken has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Guará.
Guará scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Guará leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Guará | Aiken |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 32 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 62.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 70.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 54.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Guará is the larger city
— approximately 4.4x the population of Aiken.
From a growth perspective, Guará is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Aiken has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Guará | Aiken |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 147,000 | 33,306 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.50% | 1.20% |
| Median Age | 38.0 | 46.6 |
| Unemployment | 6.20% | 3.40% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Guará
Advantages
Over 60% of adult residents hold a complete university degree, reflecting an exceptionally educated local community per IPEDF Codeplan data.
Strategic location between the Plano Piloto and major western regions provides exceptional commuting access and transit connectivity.
Abundant green spaces and recreational areas, including the Ezequias Heringer Ecological Park, enhance day-to-day livability.
Robust public and private healthcare infrastructure anchored by the Regional Hospital of Guará.
High average household income and strong economic stability compared to national Brazilian urban averages.
Drawbacks
Rapid population growth and vertical real estate expansion have strained local parking and traffic infrastructure during peak hours.
Housing and rental costs have risen significantly, placing pressure on younger residents and middle-income renters.
Periodic congestion on major arterial roadways connecting to central Brasília during morning and evening rush hours.
Limited availability of large-scale industrial employment within the immediate administrative region.
Infrastructure maintenance challenges in newly developed residential expansion sectors.
Aiken
Advantages
The cost of living in Aiken is approximately 11% lower than the national average.
Aiken boasts a higher homeownership rate of 68.1% as of 2024.
The city offers a mild climate with ample opportunities for outdoor activities and a vibrant downtown.
Aiken County's unemployment rate of 3.4% in April 2026 is lower than the national average.
The average commute time of 24 minutes is considered manageable.
Drawbacks
Aiken's transportation system is largely car-dependent, with limited public transit options.
The city's safety index of 30 suggests a higher crime rate compared to national benchmarks.
Aiken County's poverty rate of 14.3% is higher than the national average of 12.5%.
While the downtown is walkable, the city overall has a lower walkability score due to car dependency.
Some utility costs are reported to be slightly higher than the national average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Guará
#20Federal District, Brazil
78.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$850
Avg Salary
$16,500
Cost Index
52
Commute
32 min
Transit Score
62.0/100
Walkability
70.0/100
Sunny Days
243/yr
Avg Temp
72.20°F
Pop. Growth
1.50%
Unemployment
6.20%
Livability
80
Business
72
Aiken
#322South Carolina, USA
60.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,400
Avg Salary
$65,884
Cost Index
89
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
55.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.20%
Unemployment
3.40%
Livability
72
Business
65
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