City Comparison
Portage la Prairie vs Bessemer
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Alabama, USA
View Bessemer profile
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Portage la Prairie scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Portage la Prairie
Bessemer
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
| Metric | Portage la Prairie | Bessemer | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $900 | $0 | 0% |
| Groceries | $400 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $160 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $110 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $200 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $1,770 | $0 | 0% |
| Cost Index | 82 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Portage la Prairie offers similar average salaries.
| Metric | Portage la Prairie | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $52,000 | $0 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $0 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Portage la Prairie runs warmer on average — a 39.8°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Portage la Prairie comes out ahead with 278 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Portage la Prairie sees 25.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Portage la Prairie | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 39.80°F | °F |
| Summer High | 75.10°F | °F |
| Winter Low | -4.10°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 20.80 in | in |
| Snowfall | 25.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 278 | |
| Humidity | 65.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Bessemer has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
8,500 minutes (142 hours) per year compared to Portage la Prairie.
Portage la Prairie scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Portage la Prairie leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Portage la Prairie | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | min |
| Transit Score | 40.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | — |
| Traffic Index | 35.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Portage la Prairie is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Portage la Prairie is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Bessemer has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Portage la Prairie | Bessemer |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,500 | 0 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.10% | — |
| Median Age | 38.5 | |
| Unemployment | 5.40% | % |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Portage la Prairie
Advantages
Affordable housing market with home prices significantly below the national average per Statistics Canada data.
Major industrial expansions by companies like Roquette and J.R. Simplot drive local job growth.
Abundant outdoor recreation centered around Island Park and Crescent Lake.
Strategic location along the Trans-Canada Highway providing easy access to Winnipeg.
Strong sense of community with numerous local festivals and family-oriented events.
Drawbacks
High reliance on personal vehicles due to limited public transit infrastructure.
Winters feature severe cold temperatures and significant frost conditions.
Property crime rates slightly exceed national averages for small cities.
Limited high-end dining and entertainment options within city limits.
Healthcare sector faces occasional staffing pressures typical of rural regional centers.
Bessemer
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Portage la Prairie
#29British Columbia, Canada
65.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$900
Avg Salary
$52,000
Cost Index
82
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
40.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
278/yr
Avg Temp
39.80°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
5.40%
Livability
73
Business
69
Bessemer
Alabama, USA
0.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$0
Avg Salary
$0
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
%
Livability
0
Business
0
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