Side-by-side city decision # Iloilo City vs Ashgabat. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link Iloilo CityPhilippines5 VS AshgabatTurkmenistan1 $800Iloilo City monthly budget $1,320Ashgabat monthly budget 25 MbpsIloilo City internet 5 MbpsAshgabat internet Decision summary Iloilo City Iloilo City leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Iloilo City Speed Fastest internet Iloilo City Vibe Best nomad vibe Iloilo City Safety Highest safety Ashgabat Air Cleanest air Iloilo City Walk Most walkable Iloilo City Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [Iloilo City](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/philippines/iloilo-city.md) Philippines 5/6 Budget$800 Internet25 Mbps Vibe7/10 [Ashgabat](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/turkmenistan/ashgabat.md) Turkmenistan 1/6 Budget$1,320 Internet5 Mbps Vibe2/10 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 Total estimated budget $800 $1,320 1-bed center rent $350 $800 Coworking desk $100 $300 Local meal $3.5 $10 Cappuccino $2.5 $5 Gym membership $30 $50 Transport budget $20 $20 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals Internet speed 25 Mbps 5 Mbps Nomad vibe 7/10 2/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals Safety index 72/100 80/100 Air quality 62/100 60/100 Walkability 6/10 3/10 Female safety 7/10 5/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 7/10 1/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals Healthcare quality Average Poor English proficiency Good Basic Climate type Tropical monsoon Semi-arid continental Best time to visit Dec - Apr Mar - May 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. [Iloilo City](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/philippines/iloilo-city.md) Philippines → ### Strengths * Very low cost of living compared to Manila * Friendly and English-speaking locals * Delicious and affordable street food * Slow, relaxed pace of life * Improving internet infrastructure * Relatively safe city with low crime ### Trade-offs * Traffic congestion during peak hours * Limited nightlife options outside weekends * Frequent power outages in some areas * High humidity and heat year-round * Public transport is basic and crowded * Healthcare facilities are not world-class ### Common visa routes * 30-day visa-free * Balikbayan visa * 9A tourist visa extension * SRRV special investor [Ashgabat](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/turkmenistan/ashgabat.md) Turkmenistan → ### Strengths * Very low crime rate * Unique architecture and marble buildings * Inexpensive public transport * Rich cultural heritage * Low air pollution compared to regional capitals * Limited crowds and tourism ### Trade-offs * Extremely restricted internet and censorship * Almost no coworking spaces * High rent relative to local income * Language barrier with Turkmen/Russian * Repressive government surveillance * Limited variety of imported goods ### Common visa routes * Tourist visa (letter of invitation required) * Transit visa (max 5 days) * Business visa 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.