🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $691 in Changzhou versus $699 in Iloilo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,158 in Changzhou versus $1,062 in Iloilo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,625 in Changzhou versus $1,425 in Iloilo.
🌍Living in Changzhou costs roughly 1% less than in Iloilo, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Changzhou48% lower, Iloilo48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.84¥19.18
$2.73₱168
4.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.06¥176
$21.10₱1,301
23.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.23¥28.60
$3.64₱224
16.21%
Cappuccino
$2.93¥19.79
$1.98₱122
47.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48¥3.24
$0.53₱32.60
-9.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25¥1.67
$0.30₱18.21
-16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.68¥4.56
$0.96₱59.0
-29.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41¥9.55
$1.73₱107
-18.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00¥13.53
$1.80₱111
11.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.27¥8.61
$1.26₱77.4
0.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99¥6.68
$0.89₱54.7
11.24%
Eggs
$1.79¥12.11
$2.26₱139
-20.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.94¥46.86
$5.85₱361
18.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.53¥17.12
$4.36₱269
-41.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.77¥66.0
$7.00₱432
39.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.73¥11.71
$3.56₱220
-51.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80¥12.19
$1.14₱70.1
57.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65¥11.14
$3.41₱211
-51.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.03¥6.94
$1.59₱98.2
-35.22%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73¥4.91
$2.65₱163
-72.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97¥6.56
$3.00₱185
-67.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.37¥2.47
$1.70₱105
-78.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53¥3.59
$0.93₱57.2
-43.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03¥20.48
$3.15₱194
-3.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.37¥70.1
$5.73₱353
80.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71¥4.77
$1.33₱81.9
-46.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64¥11.05
$1.40₱86.2
17.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32¥2.17
$0.25₱15.52
28.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.14¥88.8
$5.17₱319
154.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41¥9.54
$0.68₱42.04
107.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28¥1.90
$0.29₱17.87
-3.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.82¥19.06
$2.69₱166
4.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10¥7.43
$1.10₱67.7
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.2K¥103.0K
$24.3K₱1.5M
-37.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K¥113.0K
$19.2K₱1.2M
-13.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.32¥306
$66.2₱4,083
-31.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.57¥78.2
$30.98₱1,911
-62.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.30¥124
$30.56₱1,885
-40.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.05¥257
$26.79₱1,652
42.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.73¥92.8
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.44¥43.50
$5.43₱335
18.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$234¥1,584
$35.86₱2,211
553.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7K¥92.6K
$4,353₱268.4K
214.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.12¥305
$43.56₱2,686
3.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.35¥178
$23.27₱1,435
13.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.4¥462
$62.4₱3,848
9.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.1¥473
$27.07₱1,669
158.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282¥1,903
$241₱14.9K
16.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$205¥1,387
$177₱10.9K
15.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$850¥5,747
$360₱22.2K
136.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$462¥3,125
$286₱17.6K
61.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,987¥20.2K
$3,729₱230.0K
-19.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,642¥11.1K
$1,059₱65.3K
54.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,040¥7,029
$208₱12.9K
398.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.35
8
-58.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Changzhou: July 13, 2026
Last update for Iloilo: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Changzhou and $241 in Iloilo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Changzhou pays 399% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Changzhou vs $21.00 in Iloilo. Groceries flip the comparison at $177 vs $203, with Changzhou cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Changzhou vs Iloilo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Iloilo cheaper than Changzhou?
Changzhou is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Changzhou or Iloilo?
Average pay runs 399% higher in Changzhou, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Changzhou and Iloilo?
Rent for a central apartment: $282 in Changzhou versus $241 in Iloilo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Changzhou and in Iloilo?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Iloilo. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Changzhou or in Iloilo?
Dining out is cheaper in Changzhou – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $21.00 in Iloilo. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Changzhou or Iloilo?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Changzhou gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Changzhou or Iloilo more family-friendly?
For families, Changzhou is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Iloilo, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Changzhou or Iloilo?
Safety-wise, Changzhou and Iloilo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Changzhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Iloilo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.