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Iligan vs Binghamton

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

Mindanao, Philippines
View Iligan profile
#9 in Philippines
75
Overall Score
VS
New York, USA
View Binghamton profile
#603 in USA
38
Overall Score
Iligan scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Iligan
Binghamton
Livability
72
68
Affordability
85
75
Business
67
60
Growth
69
58

Cost of Living

Iligan is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about 73% lower than in Binghamton. Housing costs are a major driver: Iligan's average rent is 81% lower than Binghamton's.
MetricIliganBinghamtonDiff
Average Rent
$220$1,138-81%
Groceries
$180$404-55%
Utilities
$95$194-51%
Transport
$50$312-84%
Healthcare
$60$226-73%
Monthly Total
$605$2,274-73%
Cost Index
34110out of 100

Salary & Income

Binghamton offers 99% lower average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Binghamton delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Iligan is estimated at $320 vs $45,000 in Binghamton.
MetricIliganBinghamton
Average Salary
$380$55,000
Salary Needed
$320$45,000
Purchasing Power
1,118 idx50,000 idx
Household Income
$5,200$45,578

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.
MetricIliganBinghamton
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%

Commute & Transport

Binghamton has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Iligan. 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.
MetricIliganBinghamton
Commute Time
24 min16 min
Transit Score
52.0/10033.0/100
Walkability
58.0/10055.0/100
Traffic Index
42.0030.00
Car Dependency
MediumMedium

Economy & Demographics

Iligan is the larger city — approximately 7.8x the population of Binghamton. From a growth perspective, Iligan is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Binghamton has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricIliganBinghamton
Population
363,73646,773
Pop. Growth
1.40%0.90%
Median Age
25.035.9
Unemployment
4.50%4.30%
GDP
—$13.0B

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.
Binghamton
Advantages
The average commute time in Binghamton is relatively short at 16 minutes, offering more personal time.
Housing costs are generally lower than the national average, with a median home price of $194,000 as of December 2025.
The presence of Binghamton University provides a vibrant cultural scene and educational opportunities.
The city's economy is diversifying with growth in healthcare, education, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Binghamton offers access to natural landscapes and outdoor recreational activities due to its river confluence and surrounding hills.
Drawbacks
Binghamton has a high crime rate, with total crime being 86% higher than the national average based on 2024 FBI data.
The unemployment rate in Binghamton was 4.3% in 2026, slightly higher than the national average.
Public transportation options are limited, as indicated by a Transit Score of 33 for Downtown Binghamton.
Despite some positive economic indicators, the Binghamton metro area experienced a 2.8% population decrease over a 10-year period leading up to 2024.
Drug-related crime remains a significant concern in the Binghamton area, despite a decrease in overdose rates.

Dive Deeper

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

Iligan
#9
Mindanao, 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
View Full Profile
Binghamton
#603
New York, USA
38.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,138
Avg Salary
$55,000
Cost Index
110
Commute
16 min
Transit Score
33.0/100
Walkability
55.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.90%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
68
Business
60
View Full Profile

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