Performance
Score Breakdown
Montes Claros
Hazleton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Montes Claros is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
69% lower compared to Hazleton.
Housing costs are a major driver: Montes Claros's average rent is
77% lower than Hazleton's.
| Metric | Montes Claros | Hazleton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $304 | $1,350 | -77% |
| Groceries | $344 | $400 | -14% |
| Utilities | $67 | $349 | -81% |
| Transport | $52 | $360 | -86% |
| Healthcare | $75 | $293 | -74% |
| Monthly Total | $842 | $2,752 | -69% |
| Cost Index | 63 | 101 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Hazleton offers 99% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Hazleton 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 $45,000 in Hazleton.
| Metric | Montes Claros | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $406 | $49,688 |
| Salary Needed | $10,200 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 644 idx | 49,196 idx |
| Household Income | $4,872 | $46,177 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Montes Claros | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 75.00% | 69.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Montes Claros has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
10,500 minutes (175 hours) per year compared to Hazleton.
Hazleton scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Hazleton leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Montes Claros | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 0.0/10 | 25.0/10 |
| Walkability | 0.0/10 | 30.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Montes Claros is the larger city
— approximately 13.6x the population of Hazleton.
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 | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 443,380 | 32,657 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.32% | 0.31% |
| Median Age | 37.5 | |
| Unemployment | 3.80% | 7.40% |
| GDP | $2.6B | $0.0B |
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.
Hazleton
Advantages
Median home sale price increased by 13.3% year-over-year as of June 2026, indicating a growing housing market.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the national average, making it more affordable to live.
Violent crime rates are below the U.S. average, contributing to a safer community environment.
The city has a positive job growth rate of 2.56% from June 2025 to June 2026.
Pennsylvania ranks among the top states for new business survival, suggesting a supportive entrepreneurial climate.
Drawbacks
Unemployment rate in Hazleton was 7.40% in June 2026, higher than the national average.
Utility prices are estimated to be 15% higher than the national average.
Transportation expenses are 13% higher than the national average, and car dependency is high.
A significant portion of Hazleton families (25.0%) live in poverty.
Conflicting data on cost of living index makes overall affordability assessment challenging.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Montes Claros
#1Minas Gerais, Brazil
70.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$304
Avg Salary
$406
Cost Index
63
Commute
min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.32%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
69
Business
75
Hazleton
#63Pennsylvania, USA
69.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,350
Avg Salary
$49,688
Cost Index
101
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
25.0/10
Walkability
30.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.31%
Unemployment
7.40%
Livability
72
Business
65
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