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Pengerang vs Swartz Creek

Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.

Johor, Malaysia
View Pengerang profile
#71 in Malaysia
66
Overall Score
VS
Michigan, USA
View Swartz Creek profile
#146 in USA
65
Overall Score
Pengerang scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Pengerang
Swartz Creek
Livability
65
78
Affordability
70
80
Business
70
68
Growth
75
69

Cost of Living

Pengerang is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about 33% lower than in Swartz Creek. Housing costs are a major driver: Pengerang's average rent is 65% lower than Swartz Creek's.
MetricPengerangSwartz CreekDiff
Average Rent
$441$1,250-65%
Groceries
$450$380+18%
Utilities
$180$175+3%
Transport
$120$110+9%
Healthcare
$250$230+9%
Monthly Total
$1,441$2,145-33%
Cost Index
9592out of 100

Salary & Income

Swartz Creek offers 74% 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 Pengerang is estimated at $55,000 vs $48,000 in Swartz Creek.
MetricPengerangSwartz Creek
Average Salary
$15,880$62,000
Salary Needed
$55,000$48,000
Purchasing Power
16,716 idx67,391 idx

Climate Comparison

Pengerang runs warmer on average — a 33.3°F difference year-round. For sunshine, Swartz Creek comes out ahead with 130 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.
MetricPengerangSwartz Creek
Avg Temp
82.00°F48.70°F
Summer High
88.20°F80.20°F
Winter Low
75.70°F16.50°F
Rainfall
82.30 in30.20 in
Snowfall
0.00 in33.60 in
Sunny Days
121251
Humidity
80.00%68.00%

Commute & Transport

Pengerang 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.
MetricPengerangSwartz Creek
Commute Time
min24 min
Transit Score
30.0/10035.0/100
Walkability
40.0/10048.0/100
Traffic Index
38.00
Car Dependency
HighHigh

Economy & Demographics

Pengerang is the larger city — approximately 12.4x the population of Swartz Creek. From a growth perspective, Swartz Creek is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Pengerang has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricPengerangSwartz Creek
Population
70,8315,700
Pop. Growth
—0.50%
Median Age
28.741.2
Unemployment
2.70%4.30%
GDP
——

Pros & Cons

Pengerang
Advantages
Pengerang is a major industrial hub, driven by the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC), offering significant employment opportunities in the petrochemical and energy sectors [17, 29, 41, 42].
The municipality benefits from a strategic location near Singapore, facilitating trade and potential collaboration within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) [17, 38].
There is a growing focus on developing green energy and biorefinery projects, positioning Pengerang for future sustainable industrial growth [17, 37].
A new medical specialist hospital is proposed to address current healthcare gaps and serve the growing population and industrial workforce [25, 31].
The cost of living, particularly rental prices, appears to be relatively moderate compared to major urban centers, making it an affordable place to live for many [cite: N/A].
Drawbacks
Public transportation options in Pengerang are very limited, making car ownership almost essential for daily commuting and travel [3, 22].
The nearest government hospital is located approximately 70 km away, indicating a significant deficit in local advanced healthcare facilities [31].
Specific, up-to-date data for key metrics such as median household income, average salary, and detailed cost of living breakdowns are scarce, making comprehensive analysis challenging [cite: N/A].
Mega-projects like PIPC can sometimes lead to controversial issues among local people regarding the distribution of benefits [30].
The median age is relatively low (28.7 years), which, while indicating a young workforce, might also suggest a less developed infrastructure for older demographics or a transient population due to industrial work.
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.

Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

Pengerang
#71
Johor, Malaysia
65.7 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$441
Avg Salary
$15,880
Cost Index
95
Commute
min
Transit Score
30.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
121/yr
Avg Temp
82.00°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
2.70%
Livability
65
Business
70
View Full Profile
Swartz Creek
#146
Michigan, 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
View Full Profile

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