comparison intelligence
Iloilo vs Medan
Iloilo has the stronger overall score, while monthly cost has the lower monthly estimate.
Iloilo wins overall
specialist choice$0/mo gap0.5 score gap
quick decision
Who wins where?
Iloilo
6.9/10
$1,200/month · Philippines
MAYBEpros
- Low estimated monthly cost around $1,200
- English is widely usable
- Strong local food culture
cons
- Not ideal for fast-internet-dependent work
- Nightlife is limited
- Tropical heat and storm disruption matter
Medan
6.4/10
$1,200/month · Indonesia
SKIPpros
- Gateway to Lake Toba — one of Indonesia's greatest natural wonders
- Outstanding food — Batak, Malay, Chinese, and Indian cuisines
- Very affordable living costs
cons
- Chaotic traffic and urban sprawl
- Air pollution and noise levels are high
- Very limited English
cost breakdown
Where the money goes
Rent$525$525
Food$240$240
Transport$85$85
Coworking$120$120
Entertainment$145$145
Utilities$85$85
money / equivalent lifestyle
What your money buys
These cities are close enough on estimated monthly cost that the same budget works similarly in both places.
Based on relative monthly cost estimates in this guide.With $1,500/month
IloiloLeaves about $300Estimated cost: $1,200
MedanLeaves about $300Estimated cost: $1,200
score breakdown
Category-by-category
Money
Cost of living4.74.7tied
Remote work
Internet3.52.8Iloilo
Daily life
Walkability3.42.7Iloilo
Food4.54.5tied
Comfort & safety
Healthcare3.42.9Iloilo
Safety3.73.5Iloilo
Weather3.83.9Medan
Lifestyle
English friendly4.23.1Iloilo
Nightlife3.33.3tied
what changes if you move?
Relocation impact
Moving from Iloilo to Medan gives you no major measurable upgrade at about the same monthly estimate, while trading off English usability and remote-work reliability.
Monthly spending$0
Annual spending$0
Overall scoreSlightly lower
English friendlySignificantly worse (-1.1)
InternetWorse (-0.7)
WalkabilityWorse (-0.7)
HealthcareWorse (-0.5)
SafetySlightly worse (-0.2)
No clear upgrade
English friendly
4.2 → 3.1 · -1.1
Moving from Medan to Iloilo gives you English usability, remote-work reliability and pedestrian convenience at about the same monthly estimate, while trading off few obvious category sacrifices.
Monthly spending$0
Annual spending$0
Overall scoreSlightly higher
English friendlySignificantly better (+1.1)
InternetBetter (+0.7)
WalkabilityBetter (+0.7)
HealthcareBetter (+0.5)
SafetySlightly better (+0.2)
English friendly
3.1 → 4.2 · +1.1
No clear downgrade
Choose Iloilo if...
- You want the stronger overall score without a major monthly cost penalty.
- You prefer easier day-to-day English usability.
- You need a stronger remote-work connection signal.
- You want daily life to feel more pedestrian-friendly.
Choose Medan if...
- You care enough about the stronger categories to accept weaker English usability.
final verdict
So, which one makes more sense?
Iloilo has the stronger overall score, while neither city has the clearer budget advantage. Iloilo is measurably stronger on English usability.