City Comparison
Iligan vs Aiken
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Iligan scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Iligan
Aiken
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Iligan is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
75% lower than in Aiken.
Housing costs are a major driver: Iligan's average rent is
84% lower than Aiken's.
| Metric | Iligan | Aiken | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $220 | $1,400 | -84% |
| Groceries | $180 | $400 | -55% |
| Utilities | $95 | $236 | -60% |
| Transport | $50 | $120 | -58% |
| Healthcare | $60 | $250 | -76% |
| Monthly Total | $605 | $2,406 | -75% |
| Cost Index | 34 | 89 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Aiken offers 99% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Aiken delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Iligan is estimated at
$320 vs $55,000 in Aiken.
| Metric | Iligan | Aiken |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $380 | $65,884 |
| Salary Needed | $320 | $55,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 1,118 idx | 74,027 idx |
| Household Income | $5,200 | $76,746 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Iligan runs warmer on average — a 81.3°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Iligan comes out ahead with 86 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Iligan sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Iligan | Aiken |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 81.30°F | °F |
| Summer High | 88.60°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 74.40°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 103.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 86 | |
| Humidity | 82.00% | 70.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 0 minutes of each other.
Iligan scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Iligan leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Iligan | Aiken |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 24 min | 24 min |
| Transit Score | 52.0/100 | 35.0/100 |
| Walkability | 58.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 42.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Iligan is the larger city
— approximately 10.9x the population of Aiken.
From a growth perspective, Iligan is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Aiken has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Iligan | Aiken |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 363,736 | 33,306 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.40% | 1.20% |
| Median Age | 25.0 | 46.6 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 3.40% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Iligan
Advantages
Abundant and reliable hydroelectric power keeps local utility costs lower than non-industrialized regions.
Strategic location along Iligan Bay supports robust trade, manufacturing, and industrial employment.
Significantly lower cost of living and housing expenses compared to major national hubs like Manila.
Proportionately rich natural environment featuring multiple world-class waterfalls and eco-tourism sites.
Strong educational foundation anchored by major universities fostering a highly literate workforce.
Drawbacks
Vulnerability to regional weather events and tropical storm impacts common across Mindanao.
Heavy reliance on traditional manufacturing sectors leaves parts of the economy exposed to supply chain shifts.
Traffic congestion along primary arterial roads during peak commuting hours.
Limited availability of highly specialized medical care requiring transit to larger neighboring cities.
Economic disparity between urbanized commercial zones and peripheral rural barangays.
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.
Iligan
#9Mindanao, Philippines
75.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$220
Avg Salary
$380
Cost Index
34
Commute
24 min
Transit Score
52.0/100
Walkability
58.0/100
Sunny Days
86/yr
Avg Temp
81.30°F
Pop. Growth
1.40%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
72
Business
67
Aiken
#322South Carolina, USA
60.6 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,400
Avg Salary
$65,884
Cost Index
89
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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