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 $1,906 per month in Elmira, NY vs $842 in Lapu-Lapu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,700 per month in Elmira, NY vs $1,328 in Lapu-Lapu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,494 per month in Elmira, NY vs $1,813 in Lapu-Lapu, rent included.

Elmira, NY costs about 126% more than Lapu-Lapu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Elmira, NY sits 43% above the global median, while Lapu-Lapu is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.27 $8.27

$4.53 ₱279

82.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.5 $84.5

$17.50 ₱1,077

382.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.93 $11.93

$4.45 ₱274

168.09%

Cappuccino

$4.79 $4.79

$2.57 ₱158

86.38%

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

$2.30 $2.30

$0.79 ₱48.73

191.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 $1.51

$0.45 ₱27.73

235.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 $3.90

$1.53 ₱94.4

154.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.95 $4.95

$2.16 ₱133

129.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 $0.81

$1.64 ₱101

-50.61%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 $2.47

$1.38 ₱84.8

78.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.89 $4.89

$1.03 ₱63.5

374.76%

Eggs

$2.67 $2.67

$2.33 ₱143

14.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.11 $13.11

$12.13 ₱747

8.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.35 $8.35

$5.32 ₱328

56.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.92 $11.92

$7.81 ₱481

52.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.01 $4.01

$3.24 ₱200

23.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 $1.63

$1.38 ₱84.8

18.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.26 $5.26

$2.47 ₱152

112.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.87 $4.87

$2.19 ₱135

122.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.47 $2.47

$2.30 ₱142

7.39%

Onion (1kg)

$3.52 $3.52

$1.83 ₱112

92.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.48 $2.48

$0.94 ₱57.7

163.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.54 $2.54

$0.84 ₱51.6

202.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$12.86 $12.86

$1.79 ₱110

618.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.80 $17.80

$3.43 ₱211

418.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 $1.69

$1.08 ₱66.4

56.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.26 $3.26

$2.27 ₱140

43.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.28 ₱17.41

625.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 $5.28

$0.86 ₱53.2

513.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.20 $2.20

$0.23 ₱14.04

856.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$45.74 $45.74

$2.65 ₱163

1626.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 $0.88

$1.11 ₱68.3

-20.72%

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

$32.6K $32.6K

$24.9K ₱1.5M

30.75%

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

$24.1K $24.1K

$32.5K ₱2.0M

-26.01%

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

$152 $152

$95.8 ₱5,899

58.28%

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

$46.22 $46.22

$26.78 ₱1,649

72.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.8 $61.8

$30.20 ₱1,859

104.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.33 $42.33

$45.06 ₱2,774

-6.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.79 ₱110

Cinema Ticket

$11.84 $11.84

$6.04 ₱372

96.03%

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

$914 $914

$124 ₱7,629

638.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.9K $28.9K

$1,779 ₱109.6K

1524.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.51 $38.51

$47.16 ₱2,903

-18.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.98 $46.98

$22.64 ₱1,394

107.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 $83.1

$75.4 ₱4,639

10.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$113 $113

$55.8 ₱3,436

102.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 $1,197

$335 ₱20.6K

257.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$880 $880

$239 ₱14.7K

268.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,513 $1,513

$825 ₱50.8K

83.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,085 $1,085

$508 ₱31.3K

113.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,096 $1,096

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,109 $1,109

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,247 $8,247

$235 ₱14.5K

3402.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

-18.37%

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

Last update for Elmira, NY: July 12, 2026

Last update for Lapu-Lapu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,197 in Elmira, NY versus $335 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 3403% 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 $84.0 in Elmira, NY versus $17.00 in Lapu-Lapu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $361 vs $216 – 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: $1,906 in Elmira, NY, $842 in Lapu-Lapu – roughly 126% apart. Elmira, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,859 per month in Elmira, NY and $1,263 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 $84.0 in Elmira, NY and $17.00 in Lapu-Lapu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 67% 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 $842, than in Elmira, NY at $1,906. 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.