City Comparison
Matehuala vs Swartz Creek
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Matehuala scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Matehuala
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Matehuala is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
63% lower than in Swartz Creek.
Housing costs are a major driver: Matehuala's average rent is
72% lower than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Matehuala | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $350 | $1,250 | -72% |
| Groceries | $220 | $380 | -42% |
| Utilities | $75 | $175 | -57% |
| Transport | $60 | $110 | -45% |
| Healthcare | $90 | $230 | -61% |
| Monthly Total | $795 | $2,145 | -63% |
| Cost Index | 42 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 88% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Swartz Creek delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Matehuala is estimated at
$6,000 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Matehuala | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $7,200 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $6,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 17,143 idx | 67,391 idx |
| Household Income | $9,500 | $64,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Matehuala runs warmer on average — a 19.8°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Matehuala comes out ahead with 41 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Swartz Creek sees 33.6 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Matehuala | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 68.50°F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | 83.60°F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | 48.30°F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | 16.00 in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 292 | 251 |
| Humidity | 45.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Matehuala has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Swartz Creek.
Matehuala scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Matehuala leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Matehuala | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 20 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 45.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 62.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 35.00 | 38.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Matehuala is the larger city
— approximately 16.7x the population of Swartz Creek.
From a growth perspective, Matehuala is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Matehuala has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Matehuala | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 95,000 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.10% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 41.2 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 4.30% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Matehuala
Advantages
Significantly lower cost of living and housing prices compared to major Mexican metropolitan areas and US averages.
Strategic geographic location along major federal highways connecting central Mexico to northern border states.
Rich cultural heritage, historic architecture, and vibrant community traditions centered around the Altiplano region.
Proximity to unique tourism and outdoor recreation destinations such as the historic mining town of Real de Catorce.
Low traffic congestion and high walkability within the historic downtown core and established neighborhoods.
Drawbacks
Limited local availability of highly specialized healthcare services, requiring travel to larger cities for advanced medical care.
Semi-arid climate with hot summers and low annual rainfall can pose challenges for water resource management.
Fewer high-tech or corporate remote work support ecosystems compared to major tech hubs in Mexico.
Local wage levels are tied to regional economic standards, which are lower than national averages in major industrial corridors.
Limited public transit infrastructure outside of local microbus routes and taxis, creating some car dependency for outer suburbs.
Swartz Creek
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living remain significantly below the national average per US Census Bureau data.
Consistently low crime rates provide an exceptionally safe environment for families and retirees.
Highly rated local school district offering robust academic and extracurricular programs.
Convenient geographic location with direct access to I-69, facilitating easy commutes to Flint and Lansing.
Active community parks and recreational programming that foster strong local engagement.
Drawbacks
High reliance on personal automobiles due to limited public transportation infrastructure.
Fewer high-paying local corporate headquarters within city limits, requiring outbound commuting for certain professional sectors.
Limited nightlife and entertainment venues directly within the city center.
Winters bring heavy snowfall averaging over 33 inches, requiring consistent snow removal efforts.
Modest pace of new commercial development compared to larger surrounding suburbs.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Matehuala
#29San Luis Potosí, Mexico
78.5 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$350
Avg Salary
$7,200
Cost Index
42
Commute
20 min
Transit Score
45.0/100
Walkability
62.0/100
Sunny Days
292/yr
Avg Temp
68.50°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
73
Business
65
Swartz Creek
#146Michigan, USA
65.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,250
Avg Salary
$62,000
Cost Index
92
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
251/yr
Avg Temp
48.70°F
Pop. Growth
0.50%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
78
Business
68
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