😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $733 in Changzhou versus $663 in Iloilo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,214 in Changzhou versus $1,033 in Iloilo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,695 in Changzhou versus $1,404 in Iloilo.
🌍Living in Changzhou is roughly 11% more expensive than in Iloilo, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Changzhou47% lower, Iloilo52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.01¥20.18
$2.84₱178
5.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.60¥192
$19.33₱1,209
47.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.56¥30.62
$3.27₱205
39.45%
Cappuccino
$2.11¥14.19
$1.97₱123
7.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38¥2.57
$0.65₱40.43
-41.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23¥1.54
$0.34₱21.51
-32.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.57¥3.84
$1.09₱68.4
-47.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45¥9.75
$1.74₱109
-16.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.93¥12.94
$1.63₱102
18.40%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28¥8.57
$1.20₱75.2
6.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.96¥6.43
$0.89₱55.8
7.87%
Eggs
$1.63¥10.91
$2.04₱128
-20.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53¥50.5
$5.86₱366
28.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.88¥19.36
$4.10₱256
-29.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.37¥83.0
$6.32₱395
95.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.11¥14.16
$3.29₱206
-35.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73¥11.59
$1.09₱68.2
58.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05¥13.74
$3.10₱194
-33.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09¥7.30
$1.44₱90.1
-24.31%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87¥5.83
$2.30₱144
-62.17%
Onion(1kg)
$0.93¥6.23
$2.81₱176
-66.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42¥2.79
$1.42₱89.0
-70.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68¥4.59
$0.82₱51.1
-17.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.26¥21.84
$3.09₱193
5.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.49¥70.4
$6.56₱411
59.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93¥6.26
$1.10₱68.7
-15.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59¥10.67
$1.31₱82.2
21.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35¥2.32
$0.24₱15.07
45.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.09¥94.5
$4.60₱287
206.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.47¥9.83
$0.74₱46.04
98.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31¥2.09
$0.33₱20.90
-6.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.86¥19.17
$2.43₱152
17.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.26¥8.47
$1.10₱68.6
14.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.3K¥115.9K
$21.4K₱1.3M
-19.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$13.9K¥93.5K
$19.5K₱1.2M
-28.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.2¥424
$63.0₱3,941
0.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.63¥57.9
$9.60₱600
-10.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.42¥69.9
$27.04₱1,691
-61.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.42¥271
$9.36₱585
331.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.00¥101
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.55¥30.55
$4.67₱292
-2.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$252¥1,691
$32.35₱2,023
678.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.9K¥99.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.92¥328
$24.00₱1,501
103.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.76¥186
$17.31₱1,082
60.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.1¥491
$57.0₱3,564
28.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1¥504
$24.08₱1,506
211.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$284¥1,906
$291₱18.2K
-2.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$232¥1,555
$224₱14.0K
3.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$918¥6,158
$1,293₱80.8K
-29.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$503¥3,378
$434₱27.1K
16.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,950¥19.8K
$3,759₱235.1K
-21.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,603¥10.8K
$1,048₱65.5K
53.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Changzhou
Iloilo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067¥7,157
$205₱12.8K
419.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.35
7.33
-54.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Changzhou: August 29, 2026
Last update for Iloilo: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $284 in Changzhou and $291 in Iloilo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Changzhou pays 420% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $29.00 in Changzhou vs $19.00 in Iloilo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 vs $189 per month, with Iloilo cheaper across the board.
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?
Iloilo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Changzhou or Iloilo?
Average pay runs 420% 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: $284 in Changzhou versus $291 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 3% higher in Changzhou. 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 Iloilo – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $29.00 in Changzhou. 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 Iloilo 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, Iloilo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Changzhou, 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 Iloilo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Changzhou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.