Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Aba and Abuja

For one person, living is cheaper in Aba: $402 a month against $991 in Abuja, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Abuja
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Abuja Living Index

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Aba

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$402

/mo nomad

Abuja

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$991

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Aba and in Abuja

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Aba and in Abuja actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $402 per month in Aba vs $991 in Abuja, rent included.

Aba $402
Abuja $991

A couple spends around $653 per month in Aba vs $1,872 in Abuja, rent included.

Aba $653
Abuja $1,872

A family of three spends $904 per month in Aba vs $2,753 in Abuja, rent included.

Aba $904
Abuja $2,753

Aba is about 59% cheaper than Abuja, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Aba and Abuja are more affordable than the global median – Aba 70% lower, Abuja 27% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ₦2,602

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.33 ₦40.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.21 ₦9,667

$4.08 ₦5,465

76.72%

Cappuccino

$0.87 ₦1,172

$3.28 ₦4,400

-73.48%

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

$0.43 ₦573

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₦956

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 ₦2,770

$0.97 ₦1,301

113.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.42 ₦3,243

$1.97 ₦2,647

22.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.71 ₦4,968

$3.59 ₦4,814

3.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.21 ₦2,960

$1.29 ₦1,731

71.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 ₦3,048

Eggs

$1.81 ₦2,420

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.26 ₦15.1K

$11.11 ₦14.9K

1.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₦7,164

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.27 ₦1,700

$5.82 ₦7,795

-78.18%

Apples (1kg)

$5.14 ₦6,889

$2.07 ₦2,775

148.31%

Banana (1kg)

$0.55 ₦735

$1.50 ₦2,006

-63.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ₦2,039

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 ₦3,068

Potato (1kg)

$3.44 ₦4,614

$1.79 ₦2,393

92.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.48 ₦3,324

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 ₦1,541

$0.59 ₦794

94.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.16 ₦209

$0.39 ₦526

-58.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.45 ₦1,947

$1.96 ₦2,624

-26.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.18 ₦9,628

$5.83 ₦7,818

23.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₦1,657

$1.20 ₦1,604

3.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₦1,922

$1.85 ₦2,484

-22.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₦619

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.28 ₦12.4K

$32.58 ₦43.7K

-71.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₦823

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 ₦1,086

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₦2,474

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 ₦765

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

$6,017 ₦8.1M

$26.1K ₦35.0M

-76.96%

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

$7,453 ₦10.0M

$37.3K ₦50.0M

-80.03%

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

$113 ₦151.4K

$110 ₦147.8K

2.44%

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

$2.19 ₦2,941

$6.48 ₦8,687

-66.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.64 ₦59.8K

$29.14 ₦39.1K

53.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.74 ₦34.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.62 ₦12.9K

Cinema Ticket

$2.13 ₦2,861

$6.31 ₦8,456

-66.24%

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

$44.68 ₦59.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,047 ₦1.4M

$3,103 ₦4.2M

-66.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.03 ₦34.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 ₦81.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.04 ₦20.2K

$76.5 ₦102.6K

-80.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.61 ₦24.9K

$105 ₦141.3K

-82.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$136 ₦181.8K

$589 ₦789.9K

-76.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 ₦465.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$443 ₦594.3K

$1,405 ₦1.9M

-68.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 ₦296.8K

$1,346 ₦1.8M

-83.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,057 ₦1.4M

$699 ₦937.2K

51.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$461 ₦618.2K

$378 ₦506.9K

21.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$95.0 ₦127.3K

$162 ₦217.5K

-41.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

-46.67%

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

Last update for Aba: October 26, 2026

Last update for Abuja: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Aba

–

Abuja

$348 35.1%

Groceries & Markets

Aba

–

Abuja

$218 22%

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Aba

–

Abuja

$146 14.7%

Clothing & Footwear

Aba

–

Abuja

$121 12.2%

Eating Out

Aba

–

Abuja

$81 8.1%

Getting Around

Aba

–

Abuja

$39 4%

Sport & Entertainment

Aba

–

Abuja

$38 3.9%

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $136 in Aba versus $589 in Abuja. 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 71% higher in Abuja, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇳🇬 Aba

🇳🇬 Abuja

🕒 Local time

12:15 12:15 PM

Same time as Aba

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,020,900

776,298 Capital

💱 Currency

Nigerian Naira NGN ₦

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 NGN = 7.46 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.7 EUR

10,000 NGN = 7.46 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.7 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

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Between locations

Aba Abuja 440 km

From you

Aba
Abuja

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Aba vs Abuja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Abuja is pricier by about 147%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $603 per month in Aba and $1,486 in Abuja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aba, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $136 there versus $589 in Abuja.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Abuja, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Public transport costs about 72% less in Aba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

It depends on your priorities. Abuja has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $402 in Aba to $991 in Abuja. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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