City Comparison
Arau vs Toledo
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Arau scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Arau
Toledo
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Arau is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
59% lower than in Toledo.
Housing costs are a major driver: Arau's average rent is
63% lower than Toledo's.
| Metric | Arau | Toledo | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $350 | $950 | -63% |
| Groceries | $220 | $342 | -36% |
| Utilities | $85 | $295 | -71% |
| Transport | $70 | $180 | -61% |
| Healthcare | $90 | $200 | -55% |
| Monthly Total | $815 | $1,967 | -59% |
| Cost Index | 48 | 95 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Toledo offers 87% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Toledo delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Arau is estimated at
$8,000 vs $52,000 in Toledo.
| Metric | Arau | Toledo |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $9,500 | $71,000 |
| Salary Needed | $8,000 | $52,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 19,792 idx | 74,737 idx |
| Household Income | $11,500 | $49,724 |
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 | Toledo |
|---|---|---|
| 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% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 2 minutes of each other.
Toledo 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 | Toledo |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | 20 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 45.0/100 |
| Walkability | 52.0/100 | 46.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 28.00 | 50.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Toledo is the larger city
— approximately 0.4x the population of Arau.
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 | Toledo |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 97,332 | 267,463 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.05% | — |
| Median Age | 29.0 | 35.8 |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 4.40% |
| 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.
Toledo
Advantages
Toledo offers a significantly affordable cost of living, approximately 5% lower than the national average.
The city boasts a thriving arts and cultural scene, highlighted by the world-class Toledo Museum of Art.
Residents have excellent access to nature and outdoor recreation through the extensive Metroparks system, the Maumee River, and Lake Erie.
Toledo has seen significant economic development and business investment, ranking among the top 10 nationally in 2024.
The average commute time in Toledo is relatively short at 19.8 minutes, easing daily travel for residents.
Drawbacks
Toledo has a high violent crime rate, which is significantly above the national average.
The city experiences harsh winters with cold temperatures and notable snowfall.
Toledo's infrastructure, particularly its roads, is often cited as being in poor condition.
Job opportunities in some high-growth sectors may be limited compared to larger metropolitan areas.
Public transportation options in Toledo are considered limited, leading to high car dependency for most errands.
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
Toledo
#590Ohio, USA
43.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$71,000
Cost Index
95
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
46.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.40%
Livability
68
Business
75
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