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Santa Catarina vs Grants Pass

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

Nuevo León, Mexico
View Santa Catarina profile
#8 in Mexico
81
Overall Score
VS
Oregon, USA
View Grants Pass profile
#584 in USA
45
Overall Score
Santa Catarina scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Santa Catarina
Grants Pass
Livability
72
70
Affordability
75
65
Business
76
60
Growth
78
62

Cost of Living

Santa Catarina is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about 53% lower than in Grants Pass. Housing costs are a major driver: Santa Catarina's average rent is 55% lower than Grants Pass's.
MetricSanta CatarinaGrants PassDiff
Average Rent
$650$1,450-55%
Groceries
$300$450-33%
Utilities
$90$400-78%
Transport
$70$120-42%
Healthcare
$100$150-33%
Monthly Total
$1,210$2,570-53%
Cost Index
45112out of 100

Salary & Income

Grants Pass offers 81% lower average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Grants Pass delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Santa Catarina is estimated at $10,000 vs $58,000 in Grants Pass.
MetricSanta CatarinaGrants Pass
Average Salary
$12,500$64,331
Salary Needed
$10,000$58,000
Purchasing Power
27,778 idx57,438 idx
Household Income
$15,000$59,646

Climate Comparison

Santa Catarina runs warmer on average — a 72.1°F difference year-round. For sunshine, Santa Catarina comes out ahead with 276 more sunny days per year, which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle. Winter severity differs too — Santa Catarina sees 0.2 more inches of snowfall annually.
MetricSanta CatarinaGrants Pass
Avg Temp
72.10°F°F
Summer High
91.50°F°F
Winter Low
47.90°F°F
Rainfall
16.10 in in
Snowfall
0.20 in in
Sunny Days
276
Humidity
55.00%74.00%

Commute & Transport

Grants Pass has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 7,000 minutes (117 hours) per year compared to Santa Catarina. Santa Catarina scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Santa Catarina leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricSanta CatarinaGrants Pass
Commute Time
32 min18 min
Transit Score
50.0/10027.0/100
Walkability
55.0/10040.0/100
Traffic Index
58.00
Car Dependency
HighHigh

Economy & Demographics

Santa Catarina is the larger city — approximately 7.6x the population of Grants Pass. From a growth perspective, Santa Catarina is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Santa Catarina has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricSanta CatarinaGrants Pass
Population
306,32240,051
Pop. Growth
1.80%0.90%
Median Age
29.040.8
Unemployment
3.20%5.60%
GDP
——

Pros & Cons

Santa Catarina
Advantages
Proximity to world-class outdoor recreation and rock climbing at La Huasteca National Park.
Strong local economy driven by manufacturing, logistics, and the ongoing nearshoring boom.
Strategic location within the Monterrey Metropolitan Area with direct highway access to Saltillo and the US border.
Growing commercial infrastructure, shopping centers, and modern residential developments.
Access to the advanced healthcare network and educational institutions of greater Monterrey.
Drawbacks
Traffic congestion along major industrial corridors during peak commuting hours.
Higher housing and rental costs in upscale residential zones near the mountain foothills.
Semi-arid climate experiences intense summer heat waves and occasional water scarcity issues.
Air quality can be impacted by regional industrial activity and vehicular emissions in the valley.
Public transit options within certain residential neighborhoods can be limited compared to central Monterrey.
Grants Pass
Advantages
Access to world-class outdoor recreation on the Rogue River, including rafting and fishing.
More sunny days and a warmer, drier climate compared to much of western Oregon.
Housing is comparatively more affordable than larger West Coast cities and some other Oregon metros.
A growing arts and food scene in a walkable, historic downtown.
Friendly community atmosphere appealing to families and retirees.
Drawbacks
Overall crime rate is significantly higher than the national average, particularly due to property crime.
Limited high-wage job opportunities compared to larger economic centers.
Air quality can be impacted by wildfire smoke during certain seasons.
Presence of a significant homeless population in the downtown core.
High car dependency due to minimal public transportation options.

Dive Deeper

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

Santa Catarina
#8
Nuevo León, Mexico
80.8 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$650
Avg Salary
$12,500
Cost Index
45
Commute
32 min
Transit Score
50.0/100
Walkability
55.0/100
Sunny Days
276/yr
Avg Temp
72.10°F
Pop. Growth
1.80%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
72
Business
76
View Full Profile
Grants Pass
#584
Oregon, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,450
Avg Salary
$64,331
Cost Index
112
Commute
18 min
Transit Score
27.0/100
Walkability
40.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
5.60%
Livability
70
Business
60
View Full Profile

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