City Comparison
Butterworth vs Açailândia
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Açailândia scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Butterworth
Açailândia
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Butterworth | Açailândia | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $220 | $0 | 0% |
| Groceries | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $95 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $50 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $85 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $630 | $0 | 0% |
| Cost Index | 42 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Açailândia offers 26% lower average salaries.
| Metric | Butterworth | Açailândia |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $5,400 | $7,306 |
| Salary Needed | $4,800 | $0 |
| Household Income | $6,100 | $10,960 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Butterworth runs warmer on average — a 64.9°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Butterworth comes out ahead with 251 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Butterworth sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Butterworth | Açailândia |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 64.90°F | °F |
| Summer High | 69.60°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 61.30°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 34.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 251 | |
| Humidity | 72.00% | 75.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Açailândia has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
9,000 minutes (150 hours) per year compared to Butterworth.
Butterworth scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Butterworth leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Butterworth | Açailândia |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 18 min | min |
| Transit Score | 38.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 28.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Açailândia is the larger city
— approximately 0.5x the population of Butterworth.
From a growth perspective, Açailândia is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Açailândia has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Butterworth | Açailândia |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 52,380 | 110,611 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.70% | 1.25% |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 29.0 |
| Unemployment | 38.20% | 6.90% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Butterworth
Advantages
Extremely affordable cost of living and housing market compared to South African national urban averages
Strategic location along the N2 highway providing key transport links between East London and Mthatha
Rich cultural heritage and a strong, tight-knit community atmosphere characteristic of the Eastern Cape
Low traffic congestion and high walkability within the central commercial business district
Temperate regional climate with over 250 sunny days per year supporting an outdoor lifestyle
Drawbacks
High regional unemployment rate mirroring broader provincial economic challenges
Limited local career diversification outside of public administration, education, and retail
Property crime and petty theft require residents to maintain active private security measures
Occasional infrastructural challenges regarding municipal service delivery and utility reliability
Limited specialized healthcare and entertainment amenities requiring travel to larger urban centers
Açailândia
Advantages
Strong industrial base, particularly in steel and agribusiness, driving the local economy.
High new business growth rate of 9.4% in 2024, indicating a dynamic entrepreneurial environment.
Ranked among the top 4 cities in Maranhão for business, with an entrepreneurial climate score of 73 points.
Strategic geographical location, intersected by major federal highways BR-222 and BR-010, facilitating trade and logistics.
Relatively young population structure, suggesting a vibrant and active workforce.
Drawbacks
Negative job growth in early 2026, with more dismissals than admissions.
Concerns regarding public safety, particularly 'strong waves of nocturnal thefts' in rural areas, prompting calls for increased security measures.
Challenges in public transportation quality and accessibility, with a history of issues in organization and infrastructure.
Lack of recent, comprehensive, and granular cost of living data for accurate financial planning.
Some local sentiment suggests the commerce sector is struggling and the city's economic past was more prosperous.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Butterworth
#47Eastern Cape, South Africa
54.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$220
Avg Salary
$5,400
Cost Index
42
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
38.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
251/yr
Avg Temp
64.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.70%
Unemployment
38.20%
Livability
53
Business
44
Açailândia
#218Maranhão, Brazil
58.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$7,306
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.25%
Unemployment
6.90%
Livability
60
Business
70
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