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 $1,955 per month in Elmira, NY vs $871 in Lapu-Lapu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,741 per month in Elmira, NY vs $1,325 in Lapu-Lapu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,527 per month in Elmira, NY vs $1,779 in Lapu-Lapu, rent included.

Elmira, NY costs about 125% more than Lapu-Lapu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Elmira, NY sits 46% above the global median, while Lapu-Lapu is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.38 $8.38

$4.39 ₱271

90.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$86.0 $86.0

$17.85 ₱1,100

381.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.96 $11.96

$4.40 ₱271

171.82%

Cappuccino

$5.03 $5.03

$2.60 ₱160

93.46%

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

$2.41 $2.41

$0.80 ₱49.56

201.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 $1.52

$0.45 ₱27.90

237.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.95 $3.95

$1.51 ₱93.3

161.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 $4.89

$2.11 ₱130

131.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 $0.82

$1.65 ₱102

-50.30%

White Bread (500g)

$2.55 $2.55

$1.44 ₱88.6

77.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.92 $4.92

$1.07 ₱66.0

359.81%

Eggs

$2.81 $2.81

$2.30 ₱142

22.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.15 $13.15

$12.15 ₱749

8.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.54 $8.54

$5.29 ₱326

61.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.12 $12.12

$7.60 ₱469

59.47%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 $3.90

$3.24 ₱200

20.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 $1.57

$1.38 ₱85.2

13.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$5.52 $5.52

$2.43 ₱150

127.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.04 $5.04

$2.19 ₱135

130.14%

Potato (1kg)

$2.49 $2.49

$2.25 ₱139

10.67%

Onion (1kg)

$3.60 $3.60

$1.85 ₱114

94.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.40 $2.40

$0.91 ₱56.4

163.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$0.83 ₱51.5

201.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.15 $13.15

$1.79 ₱110

634.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.01 $18.01

$3.42 ₱211

426.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 $1.71

$1.03 ₱63.6

66.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 $3.41

$2.27 ₱140

50.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 $1.96

$0.28 ₱17.27

600.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.15 $5.15

$0.83 ₱51.1

520.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.29 $2.29

$0.23 ₱14.17

895.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$44.33 $44.33

$2.59 ₱160

1611.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 $0.83

$1.10 ₱68.1

-24.55%

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

$32.4K $32.4K

$24.6K ₱1.5M

31.51%

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

$24.0K $24.0K

$32.6K ₱2.0M

-26.33%

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

$151 $151

$98.3 ₱6,059

53.78%

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

$46.00 $46.00

$26.52 ₱1,636

73.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$61.9 $61.9

$29.66 ₱1,829

108.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.69 $42.69

$43.48 ₱2,681

-1.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.81 ₱112

Cinema Ticket

$11.89 $11.89

$5.83 ₱359

103.95%

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

$884 $884

$125 ₱7,727

605.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$28.7K $28.7K

$1,743 ₱107.5K

1544.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.71 $37.71

$46.92 ₱2,893

-19.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.90 $46.90

$23.05 ₱1,421

103.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 $81.9

$76.7 ₱4,729

6.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$116 $116

$56.2 ₱3,467

105.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,191 $1,191

$337 ₱20.8K

253.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$872 $872

$243 ₱15.0K

258.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,514 $1,514

$842 ₱51.9K

79.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,081 $1,081

$504 ₱31.1K

114.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,103 $1,103

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,079 $1,079

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,256 $8,256

$216 ₱13.3K

3720.79%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lapu-Lapu: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,191 in Elmira, NY versus $337 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 3721% 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 $86.0 in Elmira, NY versus $18.00 in Lapu-Lapu. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $365 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: $1,955 in Elmira, NY, $871 in Lapu-Lapu – roughly 125% apart. Elmira, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,933 per month in Elmira, NY and $1,306 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 $86.0 in Elmira, NY and $18.00 in Lapu-Lapu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 69% 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 $871, than in Elmira, NY at $1,955. 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.