Kuala Nerus
Terengganu, Malaysia
#1 in Malaysia
72
Overall Score
VS
Springfield
Ohio, USA
#116 in USA
65
Overall Score
Kuala Nerus scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Kuala Nerus
Springfield
Livability
74
70
Affordability
65
85
Business
68
60
Growth
70
60

Cost of Living

Kuala Nerus is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately 79% lower compared to Springfield. Housing costs are a major driver: Kuala Nerus's average rent is 100% lower than Springfield's.
MetricKuala NerusSpringfieldDiff
Average Rent
$0$950-100%
Groceries
$400$4000%
Utilities
$0$180-100%
Transport
$0$120-100%
Healthcare
$0$250-100%
Monthly Total
$400$1,900-79%
Cost Index
85out of 100

Salary & Income

Springfield offers 100% lower average salaries.
MetricKuala NerusSpringfield
Average Salary
$0$49,276
Salary Needed
$0$33,240

Climate Comparison

Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
MetricKuala NerusSpringfield
Avg Temp
°F°F
Summer High
°F°F
Winter Low
°F°F
Rainfall
in in
Snowfall
in in
Sunny Days
Humidity
85.00%65.00%

Commute & Transport

Kuala Nerus has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 10,500 minutes (175 hours) per year compared to Springfield. Springfield scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Springfield leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricKuala NerusSpringfield
Commute Time
min21 min
Transit Score
0.0/1013.0/10
Walkability
0.0/106.0/10
Traffic Index
45.00
Car Dependency
MediumHigh

Economy & Demographics

Kuala Nerus is the larger city — approximately 2.8x the population of Springfield. 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 NerusSpringfield
Population
161,13458,190
Pop. Growth
1.67%%
Median Age
22.437.9
Unemployment
2.80%4.00%
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.
Springfield
Advantages
Cost of living is approximately 15% below the national average, with housing costs running about 46% below the national norm. [25]
Median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is approximately $920 per month, significantly lower than the national average of $1,430. [25]
The median home value in Springfield is $102,100, which is 64% below the national average. [41]
Springfield has a lower rent-to-income ratio compared to other small metros in Ohio, indicating better rental affordability. [14]
The city is actively working on downtown revitalization, with new residential housing and entertainment venues. [30]
Drawbacks
Springfield has a high crime rate, significantly above both state and national averages, with a concerning trend in violent and property crimes. [9, 26]
The violent crime rate in Springfield is 1371.1 per 100,000 residents, which is substantially higher than the national average. [9]
Springfield has one of the highest crime rates in America, with a chance of becoming a victim of crime being one in 17. [26]
The city's walkability score is very low, indicating a high dependency on cars for transportation. [22, 38]
The median household income of $47,143 is below the national average, and the poverty rate is 23.1%, higher than the national average. [3, 39]

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
Springfield
#116
Ohio, USA
65.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$49,276
Cost Index
85
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
13.0/10
Walkability
6.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
70
Business
60
View Full Profile

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