🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $860 in Cazin versus $871 in Lapu-Lapu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,261 in Cazin versus $1,325 in Lapu-Lapu.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,662 in Cazin versus $1,779 in Lapu-Lapu.
🙂Living in Cazin costs roughly 1% less than in Lapu-Lapu, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cazin36% lower, Lapu-Lapu35% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.85BAM 8.14
$4.39₱271
10.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.62BAM 39.69
$17.85₱1,100
32.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.75BAM 14.69
$4.40₱271
98.86%
Cappuccino
$1.20BAM 2.02
$2.60₱160
-53.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86BAM 3.12
$0.80₱49.56
132.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31BAM 2.21
$0.45₱27.90
191.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.66BAM 2.79
$1.51₱93.3
9.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40BAM 4.03
$2.11₱130
13.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.26BAM 2.12
$1.65₱102
-23.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14BAM 1.91
$1.44₱88.6
-20.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15BAM 3.60
$1.07₱66.0
100.93%
Eggs
$2.14BAM 3.60
$2.30₱142
-6.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.53BAM 17.69
$12.15₱749
-13.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.42BAM 12.46
$5.29₱326
40.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.12BAM 22.04
$7.60₱469
72.63%
Apples(1kg)
$1.54BAM 2.58
$3.24₱200
-52.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81BAM 3.04
$1.38₱85.2
31.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68BAM 2.82
$2.43₱150
-30.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.76BAM 2.95
$2.19₱135
-19.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13BAM 1.90
$2.25₱139
-49.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16BAM 1.95
$1.85₱114
-37.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21BAM 2.04
$0.91₱56.4
32.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80BAM 1.35
$0.83₱51.5
-3.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57BAM 6.00
$1.79₱110
99.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.32BAM 13.98
$3.42₱211
143.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10BAM 1.85
$1.03₱63.6
6.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11BAM 1.86
$2.27₱140
-51.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.80BAM 3.02
$0.28₱17.27
542.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.39BAM 61.1
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.49BAM 2.50
$0.83₱51.1
79.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84BAM 1.41
$0.23₱14.17
265.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.97BAM 15.07
$2.59₱160
246.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50BAM 2.52
$1.10₱68.1
36.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KBAM 40.9K
$24.6K₱1.5M
-1.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0KBAM 43.6K
$32.6K₱2.0M
-20.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117BAM 196
$98.3₱6,059
18.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.90BAM 31.75
$26.52₱1,636
-28.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.71BAM 49.92
$29.66₱1,829
0.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.27BAM 42.45
$43.48₱2,681
-41.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.86BAM 18.24
$1.81₱112
500.00%
Cinema Ticket
$4.44BAM 7.46
$5.83₱359
-23.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$252BAM 423
$125₱7,727
100.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,348BAM 5,625
$1,743₱107.5K
92.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.88BAM 70.4
$46.92₱2,893
-10.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.03BAM 48.78
$23.05₱1,421
25.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$49.48BAM 83.1
$76.7₱4,729
-35.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.3BAM 133
$56.2₱3,467
41.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$240BAM 403
$337₱20.8K
-28.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180BAM 302
$243₱15.0K
-26.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$372BAM 625
$842₱51.9K
-55.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$283BAM 475
$504₱31.1K
-43.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,314BAM 2,207
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,176BAM 1,976
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$730BAM 1,226
$216₱13.3K
237.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.8
8
-52.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cazin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lapu-Lapu: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Cazin and $337 in Lapu-Lapu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cazin pays 238% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $24.00 in Cazin vs $18.00 in Lapu-Lapu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $216 per month, with Lapu-Lapu cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Cazin vs Lapu-Lapu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cazin and Lapu-Lapu?
Cazin and Lapu-Lapu differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($860 vs $871 including rent). Cazin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Cazin or Lapu-Lapu?
Cazin pays 238% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Cazin and Lapu-Lapu?
Rent for a central apartment: $240 in Cazin versus $337 in Lapu-Lapu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Lapu-Lapu pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cazin or Lapu-Lapu?
All in, you'll spend $860 per month in Cazin versus $871 in Lapu-Lapu – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Cazin vs Lapu-Lapu?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Cazin gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Cazin and Lapu-Lapu?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Cazin or Lapu-Lapu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Cazin and Lapu-Lapu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Cazin or Lapu-Lapu?
Expats usually find Cazin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Lapu-Lapu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.