City Comparison
Arau vs Tigard
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Arau scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Arau
Tigard
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Arau is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
71% lower than in Tigard.
Housing costs are a major driver: Arau's average rent is
81% lower than Tigard's.
| Metric | Arau | Tigard | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $350 | $1,800 | -81% |
| Groceries | $220 | $450 | -51% |
| Utilities | $85 | $180 | -53% |
| Transport | $70 | $120 | -42% |
| Healthcare | $90 | $250 | -64% |
| Monthly Total | $815 | $2,800 | -71% |
| Cost Index | 48 | 121 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Tigard offers 85% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Tigard delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Arau is estimated at
$8,000 vs $55,000 in Tigard.
| Metric | Arau | Tigard |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $9,500 | $65,000 |
| Salary Needed | $8,000 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 19,792 idx | 53,719 idx |
| Household Income | $11,500 | $108,823 |
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 | Tigard |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | 73.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Arau has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Tigard.
Arau scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Tigard leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Arau | Tigard |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 23 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 40.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 70.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 28.00 | 60.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Arau is the larger city
— approximately 1.7x the population of Tigard.
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 | Tigard |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,332 | 56,011 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.05% | 1.00% |
| Median Age | 29.0 | 39.4 |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 4.20% |
| 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.
Tigard
Advantages
Tigard boasts a strong economy with a high number of local jobs and a short commute to major employment centers like Silicon Forest and downtown Portland.
The city offers an exceptional quality of life, with a livability score of 87 out of 100, ranking in the 99th percentile of all US cities.
Tigard provides abundant green spaces, including over 16 miles of paved trails and nearly 550 acres of parks, such as Cook Park and the Fanno Creek Trail.
Healthcare and utilities costs are lower than in most U.S. cities, contributing to overall affordability despite higher housing costs.
The public schools in Tigard are highly rated, making it a desirable location for families.
Drawbacks
Tigard has a higher overall crime rate compared to the national average, primarily driven by property crime in commercial areas.
The cost of living in Tigard is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to housing expenses.
Traffic congestion on major routes like US 217 and Highway 99W can be very heavy during rush hour.
Despite public transit options, Tigard is largely car-dependent, with limited light rail access in many areas.
Some commercial corridors in Tigard can feel dated, and the city may have a less distinct community identity compared to some other suburbs.
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
Tigard
#505Oregon, USA
52.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,800
Avg Salary
$65,000
Cost Index
121
Commute
23 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
70.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.00%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
87
Business
68
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