Iloilo vs Roxas: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Roxas costs roughly 4.1x less than Iloilo. Beyond cost, the two cities are closely matched — lifestyle fit and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Iloilo is approximately 2% less expensive than Roxas based on cost of living including rent. This makes Iloilo a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Iloilo has a FIRE Score of 78/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 60, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Iloilo is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Philippines
Retirees on fixed incomes near the $1,500/mo SRRV minimum get the best deal here: rent outside the center runs under $200 and English is widely spoken, easing daily friction. But that low cost sits against a -1.1 political stability score and only medium expat safety ratings, so this suits people who can tolerate some instability for cash savings. Bad fit: anyone needing top-tier healthcare or a guaranteed path to citizenship.
$2,491/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Roxas
Roxas is a cheap place to live, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $319/mo and a single adult's budget tier at $750/mo, but the average local net salary of $574/mo means most residents are not the ones renting those center apartments. The overall expat score of 82/100 and FIRE score of 84/100 look strong on paper, yet a retiree score of 57/100 and limited English proficiency suggest this is not a soft landing for everyone. Digital nomads get a workable 50 Mbps and a $22/mo internet bill, but the SEZ Remote Work Visa ties you to a PEZA zone, which is a real constraint. Come for the $3 restaurant meals and the 3 m elevation, not for the healthcare, which is only fair.
About Philippines
Retirees on fixed incomes near the $1,500/mo SRRV minimum get the best deal here: rent outside the center runs under $200 and English is widely spoken, easing daily friction. But that low cost sits against a -1.1 political stability score and only medium expat safety ratings, so this suits people who can tolerate some instability for cash savings. Bad fit: anyone needing top-tier healthcare or a guaranteed path to citizenship.
$1,950/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
Compare income thresholds, fees and residency paths for routes in these countries.
Compare visa routes in this countryBattle of Lifestyles
Scroll to compare
| Metric | Iloilo | Roxas |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $312.16 | $318.8 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $250.26 | $220 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $1199.48 | $520 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $430.38 | $350 |
| Safety Index | 60 | 70 |
| Internet Speed | 18Mbps | 50Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Iloilo | Roxas |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $534/mo | $476/mo |
| Excluding rent | $284/mo | $256/mo |
| Rent | $250/mo | $220/mo |
| Groceries | $107/mo | $103/mo |
| Dining out | $28.00/mo | $28.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $44.00/mo | $32.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $100/mo | $93.00/mo |
| Transport | $5.00/mo | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
Planning a move to Roxas? Make sure you have the right visa.
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized visa match in under 2 minutes.
Find my visa →Compare any two visa routes.
Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths, side by side. Search by country, including Philippines and Philippines.
Compare visas →Explore Philippines
Iloilo vs Roxas -- Frequently Asked Questions
Click any question to expand the answer.
Resources for Moving to Roxas
Find hotels in Roxas
Search and compare hotel prices across hundreds of booking sites.
Search hotels →Short-term rentals in Roxas
Browse vacation rentals while you scout neighborhoods for a long-term lease.
Browse rentals →Tours and activities in Roxas
Discover top attractions, day trips, and unique experiences.
Explore activities →eSIM for Roxas
Get connected the moment you land. No physical SIM needed.
Get eSIM →VPN for secure browsing in Roxas
Protect your data and access geo-restricted content while traveling.
Get NordVPN →