City Comparison
Montes Claros vs Swartz Creek
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Swartz Creek scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Montes Claros
Swartz Creek
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Montes Claros is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
61% lower than in Swartz Creek.
Housing costs are a major driver: Montes Claros's average rent is
76% lower than Swartz Creek's.
| Metric | Montes Claros | Swartz Creek | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $304 | $1,250 | -76% |
| Groceries | $344 | $380 | -9% |
| Utilities | $67 | $175 | -62% |
| Transport | $52 | $110 | -53% |
| Healthcare | $75 | $230 | -67% |
| Monthly Total | $842 | $2,145 | -61% |
| Cost Index | 63 | 92 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Swartz Creek offers 99% 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 Montes Claros is estimated at
$10,200 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
| Metric | Montes Claros | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $406 | $62,000 |
| Salary Needed | $10,200 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 644 idx | 67,391 idx |
| Household Income | $4,872 | $64,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Swartz Creek runs warmer on average — a 48.7°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Swartz Creek comes out ahead with 251 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 | Montes Claros | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | 48.70°F |
| Summer High | °F | 80.20°F |
| Winter Low | °F | 16.50°F |
| Rainfall | in | 30.20 in |
| Snowfall | in | 33.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 251 | |
| Humidity | 75.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Montes Claros has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
12,000 minutes (200 hours) per year compared to Swartz Creek.
Swartz Creek scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Swartz Creek leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Montes Claros | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | — | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Montes Claros is the larger city
— approximately 77.8x the population of Swartz Creek.
From a growth perspective, Montes Claros is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Montes Claros has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Montes Claros | Swartz Creek |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 443,380 | 5,700 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.32% | 0.50% |
| Median Age | 41.2 | |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 4.30% |
| GDP | $2.6B | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Montes Claros
Advantages
Montes Claros is classified as the 5th city in Minas Gerais with the best quality of life, scoring 68.79 in the IPS Brasil 2024 index.
The city's cost of living is approximately 37% lower than the global median, making it highly affordable.
The pharmaceutical industry is a strong growth sector, attracting significant investments and creating jobs.
Montes Claros has a robust entrepreneurial climate, ranking among the top cities in Brazil for business due to high diversification and growth.
The city is a regional healthcare hub with major hospitals, including Santa Casa Montes Claros, recognized for its quality.
Drawbacks
Despite a decrease in violent crimes and homicides, robberies in Montes Claros increased by 20% between 2019 and 2024.
The average monthly net salary in Montes Claros is relatively low at $406, which is below the national GDP per capita.
The city faces challenges in business survival and density, indicating potential difficulties for new enterprises.
Montes Claros experienced difficulties with pediatric bed availability in 2024, highlighting a strain on healthcare resources.
Specific data on median age and comprehensive public transit/walkability scores are not readily available for recent years.
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.
Montes Claros
#200Minas Gerais, Brazil
61.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$304
Avg Salary
$406
Cost Index
63
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.32%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
69
Business
75
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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