Kuala Nerus
Terengganu, Malaysia
#1 in Malaysia
72
Overall Score
VS
Akron
Ohio, USA
#128 in USA
60
Overall Score
Kuala Nerus scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Kuala Nerus
Akron
Livability
74
65
Affordability
65
100
Business
68
55
Growth
70
40

Cost of Living

Kuala Nerus is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately 85% lower compared to Akron. Housing costs are a major driver: Kuala Nerus's average rent is 100% lower than Akron's.
MetricKuala NerusAkronDiff
Average Rent
$0$1,123-100%
Groceries
$400$742-46%
Utilities
$0$234-100%
Transport
$0$357-100%
Healthcare
$0$130-100%
Monthly Total
$400$2,586-85%
Cost Index
85out of 100

Salary & Income

Akron offers 100% lower average salaries.
MetricKuala NerusAkron
Average Salary
$0$73,000
Salary Needed
$0$66,000

Climate Comparison

Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
MetricKuala NerusAkron
Avg Temp
°F°F
Summer High
°F°F
Winter Low
°F°F
Rainfall
in in
Snowfall
in in
Sunny Days
Humidity
85.00%68.00%

Commute & Transport

Kuala Nerus has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 11,000 minutes (183 hours) per year compared to Akron. For walkability, Akron leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricKuala NerusAkron
Commute Time
min22 min
Transit Score
0.0/100.0/10
Walkability
0.0/1048.0/10
Traffic Index
Car Dependency
MediumHigh

Economy & Demographics

Akron is the larger city — approximately 0.8x the population of Kuala Nerus. From a growth perspective, Kuala Nerus is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Kuala Nerus has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricKuala NerusAkron
Population
161,134189,664
Pop. Growth
1.67%%
Median Age
22.436.9
Unemployment
2.80%3.80%
GDP
$0.0B$0.0B

Pros & Cons

Kuala Nerus
Advantages
Kuala Nerus recorded no murder or armed robbery cases for two consecutive years (2024-2025), indicating a high level of safety.
The median transacted property price in Kuala Nerus has decreased by 1.8% in the last 12 months (ending May 2026), potentially offering more affordable housing options.
Terengganu, including Kuala Nerus, recorded the highest population growth rate in Malaysia at 1.2% in 2026, suggesting a dynamic and expanding community.
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) boasts a 94.8% graduate employment rate in 2025, indicating strong educational and career prospects for students.
The cost of living, particularly for food and dining, is significantly lower than in major Malaysian cities, making daily expenses manageable.
Drawbacks
Commercial crime, especially online scams, increased by 53.25% in Terengganu from 2024 to 2025, posing a risk to residents.
Rape cases in Malaysia increased by 12.1% in 2024, with a notable surge in cases without force, indicating a concerning trend in sexual offenses.
While overall theft cases declined, it remains the highest contributor to crime in Terengganu.
The median age in Kuala Nerus was 22.4 years as of 2025, which is considerably lower than the national median age of 31.7 years in 2026, potentially indicating a younger workforce or a brain drain of older, more experienced workers.
Specific data on public transit infrastructure and walkability scores for Kuala Nerus are not readily available, suggesting a potential reliance on private transportation.
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.

Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

Kuala Nerus
#1
Terengganu, Malaysia
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.67%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
74
Business
68
View Full Profile
Akron
#128
Ohio, USA
60.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,123
Avg Salary
$73,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
48.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
65
Business
55
View Full Profile

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