Cost of Living Comparison Between Lapu-Lapu and Cazin Cost of Living Comparison Between Lapu-Lapu and Cazin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $871 in Lapu-Lapu versus $860 in Cazin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,325 in Lapu-Lapu versus $1,261 in Cazin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,779 in Lapu-Lapu versus $1,662 in Cazin.

Living in Lapu-Lapu is roughly 1% more expensive than Cazin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lapu-Lapu 35% lower, Cazin 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.39 ₱271

$4.85 BAM 8.14

-9.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.85 ₱1,100

$23.62 BAM 39.69

-24.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.40 ₱271

$8.75 BAM 14.69

-49.71%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱160

$1.20 BAM 2.02

116.67%

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

$0.80 ₱49.56

$1.86 BAM 3.12

-56.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.90

$1.31 BAM 2.21

-65.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ₱93.3

$1.66 BAM 2.79

-9.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$2.40 BAM 4.03

-12.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₱102

$1.26 BAM 2.12

30.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.6

$1.14 BAM 1.91

26.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.0

$2.15 BAM 3.60

-50.23%

Eggs

$2.30 ₱142

$2.14 BAM 3.60

7.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.15 ₱749

$10.53 BAM 17.69

15.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.29 ₱326

$7.42 BAM 12.46

-28.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 ₱469

$13.12 BAM 22.04

-42.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ₱200

$1.54 BAM 2.58

110.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 ₱85.2

$1.81 BAM 3.04

-23.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 ₱150

$1.68 BAM 2.82

44.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$1.76 BAM 2.95

24.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$1.13 BAM 1.90

99.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 ₱114

$1.16 BAM 1.95

59.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ₱56.4

$1.21 BAM 2.04

-24.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.5

$0.80 BAM 1.35

3.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 ₱110

$3.57 BAM 6.00

-49.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.42 ₱211

$8.32 BAM 13.98

-58.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 ₱63.6

$1.10 BAM 1.85

-6.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱140

$1.11 BAM 1.86

104.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.27

$1.80 BAM 3.02

-84.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.39 BAM 61.1

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.1

$1.49 BAM 2.50

-44.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.17

$0.84 BAM 1.41

-72.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 ₱160

$8.97 BAM 15.07

-71.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱68.1

$1.50 BAM 2.52

-26.67%

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

$24.6K ₱1.5M

$24.4K BAM 40.9K

1.01%

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

$32.6K ₱2.0M

$26.0K BAM 43.6K

25.34%

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

$98.3 ₱6,059

$117 BAM 196

-15.70%

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

$26.52 ₱1,636

$18.90 BAM 31.75

40.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 ₱1,829

$29.71 BAM 49.92

-0.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.48 ₱2,681

$25.27 BAM 42.45

72.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.81 ₱112

$10.86 BAM 18.24

-83.33%

Cinema Ticket

$5.83 ₱359

$4.44 BAM 7.46

31.31%

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

$125 ₱7,727

$252 BAM 423

-50.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,743 ₱107.5K

$3,348 BAM 5,625

-47.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.92 ₱2,893

$41.88 BAM 70.4

12.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.05 ₱1,421

$29.03 BAM 48.78

-20.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ₱4,729

$49.48 BAM 83.1

54.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.2 ₱3,467

$79.3 BAM 133

-29.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 ₱20.8K

$240 BAM 403

40.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 ₱15.0K

$180 BAM 302

35.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$842 ₱51.9K

$372 BAM 625

126.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$504 ₱31.1K

$283 BAM 475

78.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,314 BAM 2,207

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,176 BAM 1,976

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$216 ₱13.3K

$730 BAM 1,226

-70.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.8

110.53%

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

Last update for Lapu-Lapu: June 2, 2026

Last update for Cazin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $337 in Lapu-Lapu and $240 in Cazin. 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: $18.00 in Lapu-Lapu vs $24.00 in Cazin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $228 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

Lapu-Lapu vs Cazin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lapu-Lapu and Cazin differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($871 vs $860 including rent). Cazin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Cazin earns 238% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $337 in Lapu-Lapu versus $240 in Cazin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Lapu-Lapu pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $871 per month in Lapu-Lapu versus $860 in Cazin – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Lapu-Lapu and Cazin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

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.