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City Profile

Iloilo City, Visayas

Philippines · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Compare Iloilo City Custom Comparison
62
Overall Score

Iloilo City, located on the southeastern coast of Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines, boasts a rich history dating back to Spanish colonial times when it was established as the second Spanish center after Cebu. It was once known as the "Queen City of the South" and was the last capital of the Spanish Empire in Asia. Today, Iloilo City is a vibrant and dynamic urban center, serving as the regional hub for trade, commerce, education, healthcare, and culture. Its strategic location, coupled with a growing economy and a commitment to sustainable development, makes it an attractive destination for both residents and investors.

About Visayas

The Visayas, located in the central Philippines, is an island group known for its diverse landscapes, vibrant culture, and relaxed lifestyle. The economy is driven by a mix of agriculture, with products like sugarcane, corn, and rice, and a growing services sector, particularly tourism, IT-BPM, manufacturing, and construction. The climate is tropical, characterized by warm temperatures and high humidity year-round, with distinct wet and dry seasons and susceptibility to typhoons. Living costs in the Visayas are generally lower than in major metropolitan areas like Metro Manila, making it an appealing option for those seeking a more affordable lifestyle.

473,728
Population
$65K
Avg Salary
95
Cost Index
61.5
Quality Score
How this 62/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 72 / 100 72.0 30% 21.6
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 95.0 50.0 25% 12.5
Economy & jobs Median household income: $62,000 Income needed to live here: $55,000 Unemployment rate: 3.8% 59.2 20% 11.8
Growth Population growth rate: 1.2% Job growth rate: 2.1% 58.5 15% 8.8
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 68 / 100 68.0 10% 6.8
Overall score 61.5

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=51, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 29 August 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business
68
Livability
74
Affordability
65
Growth
70

Expenses

Cost of Living

Iloilo City offers a relatively affordable cost of living compared to major metropolitan areas in the Philippines, though it is experiencing growth and development that is gradually increasing prices. The cost of essential goods and services remains manageable, with food and transportation being particularly reasonable. Housing costs, while rising, are still more accessible than in cities like Manila or Cebu. Overall, the city provides a good balance between urban amenities and affordability, making it an attractive option for those seeking a lower cost of living without sacrificing quality of life.

Average Rent
$1,800/mo
Groceries
$450/mo
Transport
$120/mo
Utilities
$180/mo
Healthcare
$250/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$45.00
Cinema ticket
$14.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$22.00
Monthly groceries
$400.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$150.00

Income

Salary Insights

Iloilo City's economy is characterized by robust growth, particularly in the services sector, which accounts for the majority of its economic output. Key industries include Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), professional and business services, healthcare, education, and tourism. The city has a strong job market, with a low unemployment rate and a high job placement rate, indicating a demand for skilled workers. The IT-BPM industry is a significant employer, with numerous companies operating in the city. Iloilo City is also actively promoting entrepreneurship and innovation, with initiatives aimed at supporting startups and developing new industries, such as engineered bamboo.

The average salary in Iloilo City is $65,000 per year. You would need approximately $55,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade +1.50% Education +1.20% Professional and Business Services +2.50% Healthcare and Social Work Activities +1.80% Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM) +2.10%

Weather

Climate

🌡️
Avg Temp
☀️
Summer High
❄️
Winter Low
🌧️
"
Annual Rain
💧
80.00%
Humidity
🌤️
Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Iloilo City is convenient due to its well-developed transportation network. The city has a comprehensive public transport system, including modernized jeepneys and a growing presence of ride-hailing services like Grab. Iloilo City has also been recognized as a leader in sustainable mobility, earning accolades for its bike-friendly infrastructure and pedestrian-friendly environments. The city is actively developing its public transportation network, with plans for bus systems and improved connectivity, aiming for an efficient, safe, and sustainable transit experience.

28 min
Avg Commute
55.00/10
Transit Score
60.00/10
Walkability
Medium
Car Dependency
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At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Iloilo City is recognized as a leader in sustainable mobility, earning the highest distinction at the 2025 Mobility Awards for its transformative efforts in promoting bicycle commuting and pedestrian-friendly environments.
The city boasts a strong and growing economy, with a 7.1% economic growth rate in 2024, making it the fastest-growing economy in Western Visayas.
Iloilo City has a low unemployment rate of 3.8% and a high job placement rate of 92.61%, indicating a robust job market.
The city is known for its cleanliness, safety, and walkability, with well-maintained public spaces like the Iloilo River Esplanade contributing to a high quality of life.
Iloilo City is a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, celebrated for its rich culinary heritage and vibrant food scene.
Drawbacks
While Iloilo City's economy is growing, the economic growth rate slowed to 7.1% in 2024 from 10.4% in 2023, indicating a deceleration that warrants attention.
The agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector in Iloilo City experienced a decline of 9% in 2024, highlighting a need for diversification and support in this area.
Despite economic growth, there is a recognized need for diversification in Iloilo City's economy, as the manufacturing and export sectors remain underrepresented.
Rapid economic growth, if not matched by deliberate planning, can strain infrastructure and potentially inflate living costs, posing a challenge for sustained development.
The city's reliance on the services sector, which accounts for 88.3% of its total output, indicates a potential vulnerability if this sector faces significant downturns.

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Community Q&A

Questions about Iloilo City

What people ask about living in and moving to Iloilo City, Visayas.

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Gathering the most common questions about Iloilo City…

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The consumer market basket tracks everyday necessities, including staple grocery items (such as milk, bread, eggs, and produce), residential energy bills (electricity, gas, and water), public and private transit costs, routine outpatient medical care, and standard consumer goods and services to ensure a representative monthly budget.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Local tax climates significantly shift a city's affordability score by directly affecting disposable income. Urblytica factors in state income tax brackets, local municipal property tax millage rates, and combined sales taxes to measure the true tax drag on median household earnings.

Core economic indexes and consumer price metrics undergo a comprehensive quarterly recalibration. This update cycle integrates the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) releases, municipal utility rate adjustments, and regional housing data feeds to ensure all index comparisons reflect current economic conditions.

Housing is weighted as the single largest component in Urblytica's cost-of-living algorithm, typically accounting for roughly 30% to 35% of the composite score. It incorporates both median monthly gross rent and median single-family home purchase prices relative to local median income levels.

Normalization involves adjusting raw economic inputs against localized purchasing power parities (PPPs) and population-weighted density scales. This ensures fair, apples-to-apples comparisons between dense metropolitan hubs and smaller suburban or rural towns.

Utility indexing applies a rolling annual average that captures seasonal climate variations, such as increased summer air conditioning loads in southern climates or heavier winter heating demands in northern regions, providing a realistic year-round average utility expense.

Remote workers leverage the index to calculate real purchasing power parity when moving from a high-cost-of-living area to a lower-cost region. By comparing index differentials against their fixed salary, users can determine if their net savings and lifestyle quality will improve post-relocation.

While the raw Cost of Living Index measures pure expense levels, it is frequently paired with Urblytica’s local wage index and median household income benchmarks. This combined view highlights whether local salaries keep pace with local consumer goods and housing expenses.

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