City Comparison
Butuan vs Aiken
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Butuan scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Butuan
Aiken
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Weather
Climate Comparison
Butuan runs warmer on average — a 81.9°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Butuan comes out ahead with 94 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Butuan sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Butuan | Aiken |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 81.90°F | °F |
| Summer High | 90.30°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 74.40°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 86.50 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 94 | |
| Humidity | 85.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Butuan has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
12,000 minutes (200 hours) per year compared to Aiken.
Aiken scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Aiken leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Butuan | Aiken |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | — | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 55.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Butuan is the larger city
— approximately 11.6x the population of Aiken.
From a growth perspective, Aiken is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Butuan has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Butuan | Aiken |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 385,530 | 33,306 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.83% | 1.20% |
| Median Age | 46.6 | |
| Unemployment | 2.24% | 3.40% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Butuan
Advantages
Butuan City experienced a significant drop in poverty incidence, falling from 22.6% in 2021 to 12.2% in 2023.
The Caraga Region, with Butuan as its center, was the second fastest-growing economy in the Philippines in both 2024 (6.9% growth) and 2025 (5.7% growth).
The city is actively strengthening its healthcare system, expanding to seven main health centers by September 2026, with plans for more, and partnering with private hospitals.
Butuan boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage, recognized as the "Historic City of the Philippines" due to discoveries like the ancient Balangay boats.
The city offers a diverse and vibrant culinary scene, featuring unique Mindanaoan delicacies, fresh seafood, and various international cuisines.
Drawbacks
Traffic congestion is a notable problem in Butuan City, particularly during rush hours.
Specific, recent (2024 or later) data for key urban metrics such as median household income, average rent, and unemployment rate for Butuan City is not publicly available.
The public transportation system has been undergoing a rationalization process (2022-2025), indicating past inefficiencies and ongoing adjustments.
Butuan City is not primarily known for pristine beaches, requiring travel to other locations for beach-focused activities.
Historically, the city's economy was heavily reliant on the logging industry, which experienced a decline in the early 1980s, necessitating ongoing economic diversification.
Aiken
Advantages
The cost of living in Aiken is approximately 11% lower than the national average.
Aiken boasts a higher homeownership rate of 68.1% as of 2024.
The city offers a mild climate with ample opportunities for outdoor activities and a vibrant downtown.
Aiken County's unemployment rate of 3.4% in April 2026 is lower than the national average.
The average commute time of 24 minutes is considered manageable.
Drawbacks
Aiken's transportation system is largely car-dependent, with limited public transit options.
The city's safety index of 30 suggests a higher crime rate compared to national benchmarks.
Aiken County's poverty rate of 14.3% is higher than the national average of 12.5%.
While the downtown is walkable, the city overall has a lower walkability score due to car dependency.
Some utility costs are reported to be slightly higher than the national average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Butuan
#10Mindanao, Philippines
73.4 / 100 overall
Commute
min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
94/yr
Avg Temp
81.90°F
Pop. Growth
0.83%
Unemployment
2.24%
Livability
68
Business
70
Aiken
#322South Carolina, USA
60.6 / 100 overall
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
35.0/100
Walkability
55.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
1.20%
Unemployment
3.40%
Livability
72
Business
65
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