Cost of Living Comparison Between Elmira, NY and Lapu-Lapu Cost of Living Comparison Between Elmira, NY and Lapu-Lapu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,974 per month in Elmira, NY vs $853 in Lapu-Lapu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,776 per month in Elmira, NY vs $1,208 in Lapu-Lapu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,577 per month in Elmira, NY vs $1,563 in Lapu-Lapu, rent included.

Elmira, NY costs about 131% more than Lapu-Lapu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Elmira, NY sits 44% above the global median, while Lapu-Lapu is 38% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.55 $8.55

$2.99 ₱187

185.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$94.6 $94.6

$15.95 ₱997

492.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.03 $12.03

$4.07 ₱254

195.58%

Cappuccino

$5.01 $5.01

$2.47 ₱154

102.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.36 $2.36

$0.58 ₱35.98

306.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 $1.46

$0.35 ₱22.03

317.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.01 $4.01

$1.25 ₱78.5

220.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.14 $5.14

$2.30 ₱144

123.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$1.72 ₱108

-55.81%

White Bread (500g)

$2.46 $2.46

$1.40 ₱87.4

75.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.61 $5.61

$0.98 ₱61.5

472.45%

Eggs

$2.70 $2.70

$2.05 ₱128

31.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.21 $13.21

$5.56 ₱347

137.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.80 $9.80

$4.55 ₱285

115.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.39 $13.39

$7.58 ₱474

76.65%

Apples (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$3.38 ₱211

45.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 $1.11

$1.42 ₱88.6

-21.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.47 $4.47

$2.41 ₱151

85.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.06 $5.06

$1.50 ₱94.0

237.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 $2.68

$2.39 ₱149

12.13%

Onion (1kg)

$3.04 $3.04

$1.92 ₱120

58.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.24 ₱77.6

91.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.47 $2.47

$0.66 ₱41.57

274.24%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.93 $12.93

$1.59 ₱99.2

713.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.35 $18.35

$3.90 ₱244

370.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 $2.12

$1.04 ₱65.1

103.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.10 $4.10

$1.52 ₱94.8

169.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 ₱14.38

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.36 $5.36

$0.81 ₱50.5

561.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.21 $2.21

$0.23 ₱14.39

860.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.75 $45.75

$3.76 ₱235

1116.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 $0.94

$1.28 ₱80.0

-26.56%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.6K $35.6K

$21.6K ₱1.4M

64.45%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.9K $24.9K

$19.5K ₱1.2M

27.96%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$150 $150

$124 ₱7,732

21.12%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$53.2 $53.2

$14.71 ₱920

261.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.3 $66.3

$28.39 ₱1,775

133.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.41 $25.41

$13.06 ₱817

94.56%

Cinema Ticket

$10.19 $10.19

$5.59 ₱350

82.29%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,495 $1,495

$104 ₱6,528

1331.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$32.0K $32.0K

$7,983 ₱499.2K

300.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.23 $32.23

$48.30 ₱3,020

-33.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.02 $45.02

$25.03 ₱1,565

79.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 $76.9

$24.07 ₱1,505

219.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$111 $111

$58.7 ₱3,673

89.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,203 $1,203

$434 ₱27.2K

176.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$911 $911

$314 ₱19.7K

190.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,514 $1,514

$1,266 ₱79.2K

19.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,094 $1,094

$482 ₱30.2K

126.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,091 $1,091

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,080 $1,080

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,465 $8,465

$230 ₱14.4K

3586.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.07

7.2

-15.69%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Elmira, NY: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lapu-Lapu: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,203 in Elmira, NY versus $434 in Lapu-Lapu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3587% higher in Elmira, NY, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Elmira, NY versus $16.00 in Lapu-Lapu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $377 vs $188 – making Lapu-Lapu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Elmira, NY vs Lapu-Lapu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,974 in Elmira, NY, $853 in Lapu-Lapu – roughly 131% apart. Elmira, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,962 per month in Elmira, NY and $1,280 in Lapu-Lapu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lapu-Lapu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $95.0 in Elmira, NY and $16.00 in Lapu-Lapu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 101% more in Elmira, NY, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Lapu-Lapu, where all-in costs run around $853, than in Elmira, NY at $1,974. In Lapu-Lapu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Elmira, NY it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lapu-Lapu – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Lapu-Lapu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elmira, NY makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.