🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $849 in Cazin versus $853 in Lapu-Lapu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,299 in Cazin versus $1,208 in Lapu-Lapu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,750 in Cazin versus $1,563 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: Cazin38% lower, Lapu-Lapu38% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.78BAM 8.07
$2.99₱187
59.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.76BAM 40.06
$15.95₱997
48.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.12BAM 15.38
$4.07₱254
124.08%
Cappuccino
$1.16BAM 1.95
$2.47₱154
-53.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85BAM 3.13
$0.58₱35.98
218.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26BAM 2.12
$0.35₱22.03
260.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.66BAM 2.79
$1.25₱78.5
32.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63BAM 4.44
$2.30₱144
14.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29BAM 2.17
$1.72₱108
-25.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19BAM 2.00
$1.40₱87.4
-15.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.28BAM 3.84
$0.98₱61.5
132.65%
Eggs
$2.22BAM 3.74
$2.05₱128
8.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.40BAM 17.53
$5.56₱347
87.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.38BAM 12.45
$4.55₱285
62.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.85BAM 25.04
$7.58₱474
95.91%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50BAM 2.53
$3.38₱211
-55.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76BAM 2.98
$1.42₱88.6
23.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73BAM 2.92
$2.41₱151
-28.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.68BAM 2.84
$1.50₱94.0
12.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99BAM 1.68
$2.39₱149
-58.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.20BAM 2.02
$1.92₱120
-37.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16BAM 1.96
$1.24₱77.6
-6.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70BAM 1.19
$0.66₱41.57
6.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06BAM 6.84
$1.59₱99.2
155.35%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.32BAM 14.03
$3.90₱244
113.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90BAM 1.51
$1.04₱65.1
-13.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15BAM 1.94
$1.52₱94.8
-24.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.77BAM 2.98
$0.23₱14.38
669.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.72BAM 63.6
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.76BAM 2.96
$0.81₱50.5
117.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00BAM 1.68
$0.23₱14.39
334.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.64BAM 14.57
$3.76₱235
129.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.64BAM 2.77
$1.28₱80.0
28.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KBAM 41.7K
$21.6K₱1.4M
14.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2KBAM 40.8K
$19.5K₱1.2M
24.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118BAM 199
$124₱7,732
-4.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.53BAM 24.51
$14.71₱920
-1.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.29BAM 49.40
$28.39₱1,775
3.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.35BAM 42.75
$13.06₱817
94.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.21BAM 49.27
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.41BAM 7.44
$5.59₱350
-21.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$217BAM 367
$104₱6,528
108.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,971BAM 6,698
$7,983₱499.2K
-50.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.35BAM 71.4
$48.30₱3,020
-12.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.90BAM 50.4
$25.03₱1,565
19.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.4BAM 84.9
$24.07₱1,505
109.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4BAM 136
$58.7₱3,673
36.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$239BAM 403
$434₱27.2K
-45.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180BAM 304
$314₱19.7K
-42.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$376BAM 634
$1,266₱79.2K
-70.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$281BAM 474
$482₱30.2K
-41.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,338BAM 2,257
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,149BAM 1,939
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cazin
Lapu-Lapu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$724BAM 1,221
$230₱14.4K
215.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.08
7.2
-43.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cazin: August 31, 2026
Last update for Lapu-Lapu: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Cazin and $434 in Lapu-Lapu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cazin pays 215% 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 $16.00 in Lapu-Lapu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $231 vs $188 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 in Lapu-Lapu?
Cazin and Lapu-Lapu differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($849 vs $853 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?
Average pay runs 215% higher in Cazin, 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 in Lapu-Lapu?
Rent for a central apartment: $239 in Cazin versus $434 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 23% 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 $849 per month in Cazin versus $853 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 compared to 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.