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Padang Besar vs Grants Pass

Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.

Perlis, Malaysia
View Padang Besar profile
#16 in Malaysia
81
Overall Score
VS
Oregon, USA
View Grants Pass profile
#584 in USA
45
Overall Score
Padang Besar scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Padang Besar
Grants Pass
Livability
74
70
Affordability
92
65
Business
62
60
Growth
65
62

Cost of Living

Padang Besar is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about 73% lower than in Grants Pass. Housing costs are a major driver: Padang Besar's average rent is 81% lower than Grants Pass's.
MetricPadang BesarGrants PassDiff
Average Rent
$280$1,450-81%
Groceries
$220$450-51%
Utilities
$55$400-86%
Transport
$75$120-38%
Healthcare
$60$150-60%
Monthly Total
$690$2,570-73%
Cost Index
42112out of 100

Salary & Income

Grants Pass offers 89% lower average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Grants Pass delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Padang Besar is estimated at $6,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
MetricPadang BesarGrants Pass
Average Salary
$7,200$64,331
Salary Needed
$6,000$58,000
Purchasing Power
17,143 idx57,438 idx
Household Income
$11,500$59,646

Climate Comparison

Padang Besar runs warmer on average — a 81.7°F difference year-round. For sunshine, Padang Besar comes out ahead with 125 more sunny days per year, which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle. Winter severity differs too — Padang Besar sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
MetricPadang BesarGrants Pass
Avg Temp
81.70°F°F
Summer High
88.10°F°F
Winter Low
73.70°F°F
Rainfall
104.30 in in
Snowfall
0.00 in in
Sunny Days
125
Humidity
82.00%74.00%

Commute & Transport

Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other. Padang Besar scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Padang Besar leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricPadang BesarGrants Pass
Commute Time
18 min18 min
Transit Score
38.0/10027.0/100
Walkability
52.0/10040.0/100
Traffic Index
28.00
Car Dependency
HighHigh

Economy & Demographics

Grants Pass is the larger city — approximately 0.6x the population of Padang Besar. From a growth perspective, Grants Pass is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Padang Besar has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricPadang BesarGrants Pass
Population
25,00040,051
Pop. Growth
0.80%0.90%
Median Age
37.040.8
Unemployment
3.60%5.60%
GDP
——

Pros & Cons

Padang Besar
Advantages
Significantly lower cost of living and housing expenses compared to major Malaysian urban centers
Unique cross-border cultural experience with direct access to Thailand and duty-free shopping
Extremely low crime rate and secure, tight-knit community atmosphere
Abundant access to affordable, high-quality local cuisine and fresh regional produce
Strategic location as a key international rail and transport gateway
Drawbacks
Limited high-paying corporate job opportunities and restricted local economic diversification
Absence of advanced medical facilities locally, requiring travel to larger cities for specialized care
Very limited public transit infrastructure, necessitating car or motorcycle ownership
Hot and humid tropical climate year-round with heavy seasonal rainfall
Scarcity of large-scale entertainment, nightlife, and modern cultural amenities
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.

Dive Deeper

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

Padang Besar
#16
Perlis, Malaysia
80.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$280
Avg Salary
$7,200
Cost Index
42
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
125/yr
Avg Temp
81.70°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.60%
Livability
74
Business
62
View Full Profile
Grants Pass
#584
Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
View Full Profile

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