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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Lapu-Lapu is about 55% cheaper than Elmira, NY, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.39 ₱271

$8.38 $8.38

-47.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.85 ₱1,100

$86.0 $86.0

-79.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.40 ₱271

$11.96 $11.96

-63.21%

Cappuccino

$2.60 ₱160

$5.03 $5.03

-48.31%

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

$0.80 ₱49.56

$2.41 $2.41

-66.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 ₱27.90

$1.52 $1.52

-70.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.51 ₱93.3

$3.95 $3.95

-61.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₱130

$4.89 $4.89

-56.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 ₱102

$0.82 $0.82

101.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 ₱88.6

$2.55 $2.55

-43.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱66.0

$4.92 $4.92

-78.25%

Eggs

$2.30 ₱142

$2.81 $2.81

-18.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.15 ₱749

$13.15 $13.15

-7.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.29 ₱326

$8.54 $8.54

-38.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 ₱469

$12.12 $12.12

-37.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ₱200

$3.90 $3.90

-16.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 ₱85.2

$1.57 $1.57

-12.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.43 ₱150

$5.52 $5.52

-55.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.19 ₱135

$5.04 $5.04

-56.55%

Potato (1kg)

$2.25 ₱139

$2.49 $2.49

-9.64%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 ₱114

$3.60 $3.60

-48.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ₱56.4

$2.40 $2.40

-62.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱51.5

$2.50 $2.50

-66.80%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 ₱110

$13.15 $13.15

-86.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.42 ₱211

$18.01 $18.01

-81.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 ₱63.6

$1.71 $1.71

-39.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱140

$3.41 $3.41

-33.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.27

$1.96 $1.96

-85.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.1

$5.15 $5.15

-83.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.17

$2.29 $2.29

-89.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.59 ₱160

$44.33 $44.33

-94.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.10 ₱68.1

$0.83 $0.83

32.53%

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

$24.6K ₱1.5M

$32.4K $32.4K

-23.96%

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

$32.6K ₱2.0M

$24.0K $24.0K

35.74%

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

$98.3 ₱6,059

$151 $151

-34.97%

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

$26.52 ₱1,636

$46.00 $46.00

-42.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.66 ₱1,829

$61.9 $61.9

-52.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.48 ₱2,681

$42.69 $42.69

1.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.81 ₱112

Cinema Ticket

$5.83 ₱359

$11.89 $11.89

-50.97%

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

$125 ₱7,727

$884 $884

-85.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,743 ₱107.5K

$28.7K $28.7K

-93.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.92 ₱2,893

$37.71 $37.71

24.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.05 ₱1,421

$46.90 $46.90

-50.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.7 ₱4,729

$81.9 $81.9

-6.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.2 ₱3,467

$116 $116

-51.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$337 ₱20.8K

$1,191 $1,191

-71.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$243 ₱15.0K

$872 $872

-72.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$842 ₱51.9K

$1,514 $1,514

-44.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$504 ₱31.1K

$1,081 $1,081

-53.37%

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)

$216 ₱13.3K

$8,256 $8,256

-97.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

22.51%

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

Last update for Lapu-Lapu: June 2, 2026

Last update for Elmira, NY: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $337 in Lapu-Lapu versus $1,191 in Elmira, NY. 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 $18.00 in Lapu-Lapu versus $86.0 in Elmira, NY. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $365 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $871 in Lapu-Lapu, $1,955 in Elmira, NY – roughly 125% apart. Elmira, NY costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,306 per month in Lapu-Lapu and $2,933 in Elmira, NY. 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 $18.00 in Lapu-Lapu and $86.0 in Elmira, NY. 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.