Essentials
- City
- Iloilo City, Iloilo Province, Western Visayas, Philippines
- Population
- Approximately 480,000 residents
- Internet Speed
- Converge ICT and PLDT Fiber provide speeds up to 200 Mbps; average 45-60 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- Philippine Peso (PHP). 1 USD ≈ 56.20 PHP, 1 EUR ≈ 61.10 PHP
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled or filtered water (approx. 40 PHP per 5-gallon jug)
- Power
- 220V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type A and B sockets (US-style)
- SIM Card
- Globe or Smart/TNT. Available at SM City Iloilo for ~500 PHP/month for 20GB+
- Banking for Expats
- BDO, BPI, and Metrobank; GCash and Maya are essential mobile wallets
- Accommodation
- Condos in Megaworld Iloilo Business Park or Atria Park District
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, widely accepted in malls and hotels via GCash, GrabPay, or Credit Cards
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb options at Avida Towers Atria or Lafayette Parkview (~25,000 - 35,000 PHP/month)
- Budget Accommodation
- Ong Bun Pension House (Ledesma St) starting at 600 PHP/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- City Proper for heritage sites or Mandurriao for nightlife and shopping
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Mandurriao (Iloilo Business Park/Atria) for safety, fiber internet, and walkability
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Bonds Coworking Space (Riverside Boardwalk) - 500 PHP/day pass
- Best Cafe for Work
- Neighbor Coffee (Atria) or Madge Cafe (La Paz Market for a local vibe)
- Networking Events
- Iloilo Tech Startup meetups and events at the Innovate Iloilo hub
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Iloilo Facebook Group; weekly trivia nights at local bars in Smallville
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab (Car and Taxi) is the reliable standard in Iloilo
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Limited; better to buy a second-hand bike for the Iloilo River Esplanade bike lanes
- Best Beach Nearby
- Villa Beach (City Proper) for seafood; Guimaras Island (15-min boat) for white sand
- Top Regional Airline
- Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines flying from Iloilo International Airport (ILO)
- Top International Airline
- AirAsia and Cathay Pacific (via connecting flights to Manila or Cebu)
- Highway Access
- Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue (Diversion Road) connects all major hubs
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Mohon Terminal and Tagbak Terminal for regional buses/jeepneys
- Public Transport Passes
- Traditional Jeepneys (13 PHP minimum) and modernized jeepneys (15 PHP)
- Regional Travel
- OceanJet or FastCat ferries to Bacolod (1-1.5 hours, ~500 PHP)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- The Medical City Iloilo (Molo) or Iloilo Mission Hospital (Jaro)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Hub Iloilo (Mandurriao) - Approx 400 PHP per session
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness (SM Strata) or Gold's Gym (Iloilo Business Park)
- Laundry Services
- Quicklean (Self-service) locations throughout Mandurriao; ~200 PHP per load
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GrabFood and FoodPanda
- Best Local Dish to Try
- La Paz Batchoy at Netong's (La Paz Market) - ~120 PHP
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Monkey Ground Kitchen (Jaro) for plant-based bowls
- Best Dessert Spots
- Roberto's (Queen Siopao) and Margeux Cakes and Pastries
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Iloilo Central Market or Super Market for fresh produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Lazada and Shopee (deliveries take 5-7 days from Manila)
- Grocery Delivery
- MetroMart or SM Markets Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Smallville Complex and Festive Walk Parade
- Local Brewery
- Iloilo Craft Brewery (Smallville) - Pints from 180 PHP
- Wine Bars
- The Continental (Festive Walk) for fine wines and charcuterie
- Street Food Stalls
- Molo Plaza evening stalls for fishballs and 'bibingka'
- Popular International Cuisine
- Akamon (Japanese) or Giuseppe’s (Italian) at the Atria
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Molo Mansion and the Iloilo River Esplanade
- Museums & Art Venues
- ILOMOCA (Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art) - 150 PHP entry
- Historical Sites
- Calle Real (Heritage Street) and Lizares Mansion
- Religious Sites
- Jaro Cathedral (St. Elizabeth of Hungary) and Molo Church (The Feminist Church)
- Annual Events
- Dinagyang Festival (Every 4th Sunday of January)
- Cultural Districts
- Molo and Jaro districts for Spanish colonial heritage
- Theater Venues
- Iloilo Convention Center (ICON) for large scale performances
- Local Markets
- Jaro Thursday Market (Tienda Mayor)
- Music Scene
- Live acoustic bands at Festive Walk Parade
- Street Art
- Murals along the Iloilo Floodway and under Diversion Road bridges
- Cooking Classes
- Occasional workshops at the Iloilo Science and Technology University
- Art Galleries
- Museo Iloilo (next to the Provincial Capitol)
- Historic Buildings
- Customs House (Elizalde Building) and Nelly Garden
- Local Heritage
- The 'Ilonggo' gentleness and the 'Hiligaynon' language
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Bucari, Leon (The Little Baguio of Iloilo) - 2 hours away
- National Parks Nearby
- Bulabog Putian National Park (Dingle) for caves and hiking
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Iloilo River Esplanade (over 8km of continuous paved paths)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Garinfarm (San Joaquin) - Stairway to Heaven viewpoint
- Birdwatching Locations
- Iloilo River Esplanade wetlands during migration season
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Beachfront resorts in Oton or Tigbauan
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- LBC Express or J&T Express for domestic shipping
- Tech Repair Services
- SM City Iloilo Cyberzone (Top Floor)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Iloilo Sports Complex (La Paz)
- Language Classes
- Hiligaynon lessons at West Visayas State University (on request)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Graciano Lopez Jaena Library and Museum
- Community Centers
- Iloilo City Hall Community Programs
- Gaming Lounges
- TNC Cyber Cafe (Jaro) for high-spec e-sports gaming
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Pagcor Club at the Hotel Del Rio
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 135,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 24 m² = 3,240,000 PHP)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 95,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 24 m² = 2,280,000 PHP)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 130,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 35 m² = 4,550,000 PHP)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 85,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 35 m² = 2,975,000 PHP)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 125,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 6,250,000 PHP)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 75,000 PHP per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 3,750,000 PHP)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% (Standard) or 20% for small domestic corporations
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents; 25% for non-resident aliens
- Tax System
- Territorial for non-residents; citizens taxed on worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% for income over 8 million PHP
- VAT
- 12% standard rate
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Philippines has basic anti-avoidance and CFC guidelines
- Property Tax
- Real Property Tax (Amilyar) - approx. 1-2% of assessed value
- Property Transaction Tax
- 6% Capital Gains Tax + 1.5% Documentary Stamp Tax
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa yet; typical 30-day visa waiver extendable up to 3 years