Thames
Waikato, New Zealand
#1 in New Zealand
72
Overall Score
VS
Moscow
Idaho, USA
#16 in USA
75
Overall Score
Moscow scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Thames
Moscow
Livability
74
87
Affordability
65
55
Business
68
65
Growth
70
60

Cost of Living

Moscow is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately 100% higher compared to Thames. Housing costs are a major driver: Thames's average rent is 24% higher than Moscow's.
MetricThamesMoscowDiff
Average Rent
$1,656$1,338+24%
Groceries
$350$00%
Utilities
$325$00%
Transport
$90$00%
Healthcare
$250$00%
Monthly Total
$2,671$1,338+100%
Cost Index
95111out of 100

Salary & Income

Moscow offers 25% lower average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Moscow delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Thames is estimated at $55,000 vs $84,360 in Moscow.
MetricThamesMoscow
Average Salary
$56,880$76,000
Salary Needed
$55,000$84,360
Purchasing Power
59,874 idx68,468 idx
Household Income
$41,200$57,022

Climate Comparison

Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
MetricThamesMoscow
Avg Temp
°F°F
Summer High
°F°F
Winter Low
°F°F
Rainfall
in in
Snowfall
in in
Sunny Days
Humidity
%%

Commute & Transport

Thames has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 7,000 minutes (117 hours) per year compared to Moscow. Thames scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Thames leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricThamesMoscow
Commute Time
min14 min
Transit Score
55.0/1045.0/10
Walkability
60.0/1048.0/10
Traffic Index
45.0040.00
Car Dependency
MediumMedium

Economy & Demographics

Moscow is the larger city — approximately 0.3x the population of Thames. From a growth perspective, Moscow is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Moscow has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricThamesMoscow
Population
7,23026,286
Pop. Growth
%0.80%
Median Age
54.925.7
Unemployment
4.50%3.00%
GDP
$0.0B$0.0B

Pros & Cons

Thames
Advantages
Affordable cost of living compared to major New Zealand cities.
Rich gold mining history and a vibrant arts community.
Relatively safe environment with a lower crime rate than the national average.
Scenic location at the southwestern end of the Coromandel Peninsula.
Moderate car dependency and decent transit/walkability scores.
Drawbacks
Rising unemployment rate, reaching a decade-high in the Thames-Coromandel District.
High average house prices despite recent falls, making homeownership challenging.
Higher median age compared to the national average, potentially indicating an aging population.
Economic conditions can be challenging, with some industries declining.
Crime rate in the wider district has seen an increase.
Moscow
Advantages
High walkability score of 48, making many errands accessible on foot.
Short average commute time of 14.3 minutes, significantly below the national average.
Strong presence of the University of Idaho contributes to a vibrant cultural scene and job market.
Crime rates have seen a significant decrease, with violent crime rates well below the national average.
Rental prices are relatively affordable compared to national averages, despite a higher cost of living than the Idaho average.
Drawbacks
Median household income ($57,022) is below the national average.
Cost of living is 11% higher than the national average.
Limited public transit options contribute to a medium car dependency.
Job growth rate of 0.167% is modest.
Median age of 25.7 is significantly younger than the national average, which may not appeal to all demographics.

Dive Deeper

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

Thames
#1
Waikato, New Zealand
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,656
Avg Salary
$56,880
Cost Index
95
Commute
min
Transit Score
55.0/10
Walkability
60.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
74
Business
68
View Full Profile
Moscow
#16
Idaho, USA
75.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,338
Avg Salary
$76,000
Cost Index
111
Commute
14 min
Transit Score
45.0/10
Walkability
48.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.00%
Livability
87
Business
65
View Full Profile

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