Side-by-side city decision # Taiyuan vs Iloilo City. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link TaiyuanChina3/6 VS Iloilo CityPhilippines3/6 $688Taiyuan monthly budget $675Iloilo City monthly budget 180 MbpsTaiyuan internet 85 MbpsIloilo City internet Decision summary No universal winner The result is balanced. Your priorities should decide the better fit. Cost Best budget Iloilo City Speed Fastest internet Taiyuan Vibe Best nomad vibe Iloilo City Safety Highest safety Taiyuan Air Cleanest air Iloilo City Walk Most walkable Taiyuan Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [Taiyuan](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/china/taiyuan.md) China 3/6 Budget$688 Internet180 Mbps Vibe5/10 [Iloilo City](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/philippines/iloilo-city.md) Philippines 3/6 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 MetricTaiyuanIloilo City Total estimated budget $688 $675 1-bed center rent $310 $300 Coworking desk $115 $110 Local meal $3.2 $2.7 Cappuccino $3.1 $2.5 Gym membership $35 $32 Transport budget $28 $45 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals MetricTaiyuanIloilo City Internet speed 180 Mbps 85 Mbps Nomad vibe 5/10 7/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals MetricTaiyuanIloilo City Safety index 76/100 68/100 Air quality 48/100 73/100 Walkability 7/10 6/10 Female safety 7/10 7/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 3/10 6/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals MetricTaiyuanIloilo City Healthcare quality Good Good English proficiency Basic Excellent Climate type Continental monsoon Tropical monsoon Best time to visit Apr - 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. [Taiyuan](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/china/taiyuan.md) China → ### Strengths * Very affordable housing and everyday meals * Extensive, inexpensive metro and bus network * Fast domestic mobile and fiber internet * Low violent-crime levels and generally safe streets * Deep Shanxi history, temples, and nearby heritage sites * Convenient cashless payments through Alipay and WeChat Pay ### Trade-offs * Air pollution can be significant, especially in winter * English is limited outside major hotels and universities * International websites and apps require compliant connectivity planning * Winters are cold, dry, and affected by heating-season smog * Small international and digital-nomad community * No dedicated Chinese digital-nomad visa ### Common visa routes * China L visa (tourist visa) * China M visa (business visa) * China work or residence permit [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.