Side-by-side city decision # Boise vs Iloilo City. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link BoiseUnited States3/6 VS Iloilo CityPhilippines1/6 $2,340Boise monthly budget $675Iloilo City monthly budget 245 MbpsBoise internet 85 MbpsIloilo City internet Decision summary Boise Boise leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Iloilo City Speed Fastest internet Boise Vibe Best nomad vibe Boise Safety Highest safety Tie Air Cleanest air Boise Walk Most walkable Tie Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [Boise](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/united-states/boise.md) United States 3/6 Budget$2,340 Internet245 Mbps Vibe8/10 [Iloilo City](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/philippines/iloilo-city.md) Philippines 1/6 Budget$675 Internet85 Mbps Vibe7/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals MetricBoiseIloilo City Total estimated budget $2,340 $675 1-bed center rent $1,450 $300 Coworking desk $300 $110 Local meal $18 $2.7 Cappuccino $5.3 $2.5 Gym membership $55 $32 Transport budget $90 $45 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals MetricBoiseIloilo City Internet speed 245 Mbps 85 Mbps Nomad vibe 8/10 7/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals MetricBoiseIloilo City Safety index 68/100 68/100 Air quality 78/100 73/100 Walkability 6/10 6/10 Female safety 7/10 7/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 7/10 6/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals MetricBoiseIloilo City Healthcare quality Excellent Good English proficiency Excellent Excellent Climate type Semi-arid continental Tropical monsoon Best time to visit May - Oct Dec - Apr Beyond the numbers ## What each city asks you to trade Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture. [Boise](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/united-states/boise.md) United States → ### Strengths * Fast, widely available fiber and cable internet * Easy access to foothills, rivers, skiing, and hiking * Clean downtown with a growing remote-work scene * Reliable healthcare and safe municipal tap water * Four distinct seasons with many sunny days * No Idaho state tax on groceries ### Trade-offs * Housing costs have risen sharply in recent years * A car is useful outside central neighborhoods * Winter inversions and wildfire smoke can affect air quality * Public transit coverage is limited for a metro area * Smaller international community than major US hubs * Summer heat and dry conditions can be intense ### Common visa routes * Visa Waiver Program / ESTA for eligible visitors, generally up to 90 days * B-1/B-2 visitor visa for eligible business or tourism travel, often up to six months at entry discretion * O-1 or employer-sponsored work visa for qualifying professionals; the United States has no dedicated digital nomad visa [Iloilo City](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/philippines/iloilo-city.md) Philippines → ### Strengths * Low everyday costs compared with Manila and Cebu * Friendly English-speaking local population * Strong food culture and excellent seafood * Generally relaxed pace with less traffic than major Philippine cities * Good hospitals, malls, and practical city services * Access to Guimaras beaches and regional nature trips ### Trade-offs * No dedicated Philippine digital-nomad visa * Heavy rain, humidity, and occasional storm disruptions * Internet quality varies significantly by building and neighborhood * Limited coworking and international networking scene * Walkability is uneven outside central districts * Tap water is not considered safe for drinking ### Common visa routes * Visa-free entry, typically 30 days for many nationalities * Tourist visa extension through Philippine immigration offices * Special Resident Retiree's Visa for qualifying long-stay residents Reading the result ## Use this as a planning benchmark The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices. Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices. Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity. Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.