City Comparison
Arau vs Grants Pass
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Arau scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Arau
Grants Pass
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Arau is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
68% lower than in Grants Pass.
Housing costs are a major driver: Arau's average rent is
76% lower than Grants Pass's.
| Metric | Arau | Grants Pass | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $350 | $1,450 | -76% |
| Groceries | $220 | $450 | -51% |
| Utilities | $85 | $400 | -79% |
| Transport | $70 | $120 | -42% |
| Healthcare | $90 | $150 | -40% |
| Monthly Total | $815 | $2,570 | -68% |
| Cost Index | 48 | 112 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Grants Pass offers 85% 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 Arau is estimated at
$8,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
| Metric | Arau | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $9,500 | $64,331 |
| Salary Needed | $8,000 | $58,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 19,792 idx | 57,438 idx |
| Household Income | $11,500 | $59,646 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Arau runs warmer on average — a 81.9°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Arau comes out ahead with 120 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Arau sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Arau | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 81.90°F | °F |
| Summer High | 88.50°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 74.00°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 93.70 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 120 | |
| Humidity | 82.00% | 74.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Arau scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Arau leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Arau | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 18 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 28.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Arau is the larger city
— approximately 2.4x the population of Grants Pass.
From a growth perspective, Arau is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Arau has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Arau | Grants Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,332 | 40,051 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.05% | 0.90% |
| Median Age | 29.0 | 40.8 |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 5.60% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Arau
Advantages
Average monthly rent for apartments in Arau is roughly 60% lower than the national urban average per DOSM and local listings.
Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) drives a vibrant, highly educated community environment with robust technical training programs.
Extremely low cost of daily living, particularly regarding local food, fresh produce, and household utilities.
Strategic rail connectivity via the Arau KTM ETS station providing direct links to major cities like Kuala Lumpur and Hat Yai.
Very low crime rates and peaceful suburban and rural neighborhoods ideal for families and students.
Drawbacks
Limited high-paying corporate job opportunities outside of education, public administration, and agriculture.
High dependence on personal motor vehicles due to limited municipal public transit coverage within residential tracts.
Warm and humid tropical climate year-round with pronounced wet seasons limiting outdoor activities.
Scarcity of large-scale entertainment complexes, shopping malls, and metropolitan nightlife options locally.
Narrower range of specialized medical specialist hospitals directly within town limits, requiring trips to Kangar.
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.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Arau
#23Perlis, Malaysia
79.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$350
Avg Salary
$9,500
Cost Index
48
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
52.0/100
Sunny Days
120/yr
Avg Temp
81.90°F
Pop. Growth
1.05%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
76
Business
62
Grants Pass
#584Oregon, 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
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