City Comparison
Kidapawan vs Swartz Creek
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Kidapawan scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Kidapawan
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Kidapawan is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
71% lower than in Swartz Creek.
Housing costs are a major driver: Kidapawan's average rent is
82% lower than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Kidapawan | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $220 | $1,250 | -82% |
| Groceries | $200 | $380 | -47% |
| Utilities | $75 | $175 | -57% |
| Transport | $50 | $110 | -55% |
| Healthcare | $80 | $230 | -65% |
| Monthly Total | $625 | $2,145 | -71% |
| Cost Index | 38 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 99% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Swartz Creek delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Kidapawan is estimated at
$350 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Kidapawan | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $420 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $350 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 1,105 idx | 67,391 idx |
| Household Income | $5,200 | $64,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Swartz Creek runs warmer on average — a 48.7°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Swartz Creek comes out ahead with 251 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Swartz Creek sees 33.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Kidapawan | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | °F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 251 | |
| Humidity | 78.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Kidapawan scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Kidapawan leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Kidapawan | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 50.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 62.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 35.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | Low | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Kidapawan is the larger city
— approximately 28.2x the population of Swartz Creek.
From a growth perspective, Kidapawan is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Kidapawan has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Kidapawan | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 160,864 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.20% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 27.0 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.20% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Kidapawan
Advantages
The 2024 Census of Population recorded Kidapawan's population at 160,864, reflecting a stable and manageable community size per the Philippine Statistics Authority.
Housing and rental costs are exceptionally affordable compared to national metro benchmarks, lowering the cost of living.
Proximity to Mount Apo and abundant natural hot springs provides unmatched access to eco-tourism and outdoor recreation.
The local economy thrives as a primary agricultural trading hub, ensuring a steady, low-cost supply of fresh local produce and fruits.
Presence of accredited tertiary hospitals like Kidapawan Doctors Hospital ensures reliable access to advanced healthcare services.
Drawbacks
Regional vulnerability to seismic activity and weather disruptions requires ongoing disaster preparedness and infrastructure reinforcement.
Public transport heavily depends on tricycles and local utility vehicles, which can limit rapid long-distance commuting within rural expanses.
Higher-paying corporate and specialized tech job opportunities are limited locally compared to major hubs like Metro Manila or Davao.
Summer months can experience intense tropical heat and humidity, increasing energy demands for cooling.
Road infrastructure outside the main urban barangays can experience maintenance challenges during heavy monsoon seasons.
Swartz Creek
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living remain significantly below the national average per US Census Bureau data.
Consistently low crime rates provide an exceptionally safe environment for families and retirees.
Highly rated local school district offering robust academic and extracurricular programs.
Convenient geographic location with direct access to I-69, facilitating easy commutes to Flint and Lansing.
Active community parks and recreational programming that foster strong local engagement.
Drawbacks
High reliance on personal automobiles due to limited public transportation infrastructure.
Fewer high-paying local corporate headquarters within city limits, requiring outbound commuting for certain professional sectors.
Limited nightlife and entertainment venues directly within the city center.
Winters bring heavy snowfall averaging over 33 inches, requiring consistent snow removal efforts.
Modest pace of new commercial development compared to larger surrounding suburbs.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Kidapawan
#5Mindanao, Philippines
77.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$220
Avg Salary
$420
Cost Index
38
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
50.0/100
Walkability
62.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.20%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
75
Business
68
Swartz Creek
#146Michigan, USA
65.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
251/yr
Avg Temp
48.70°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
78
Business
68
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