Cost of Living Comparison Between Aba and Abuja Cost of Living Comparison Between Aba and Abuja

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $513 per month in Aba vs $1,700 in Abuja, rent included.

A couple spends around $744 per month in Aba vs $2,793 in Abuja, rent included.

A family of three spends $975 per month in Aba vs $3,886 in Abuja, rent included.

Aba is about 70% cheaper than Abuja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Aba sits 62% below the global median, while Abuja is 27% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 ₦7,213

$1.97 ₦2,684

169.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.48 ₦14.3K

$45.77 ₦62.3K

-77.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.20 ₦7,084

$5.68 ₦7,732

-8.45%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₦3,426

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

$0.38 ₦514

$0.50 ₦687

-24.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 ₦368

$0.42 ₦566

-35.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₦1,391

$1.11 ₦1,506

-8.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₦1,743

$1.14 ₦1,551

12.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.06 ₦4,161

White Bread (500g)

$2.05 ₦2,788

$1.32 ₦1,793

55.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.11 ₦5,596

$2.38 ₦3,244

72.69%

Eggs

$2.44 ₦3,321

$1.57 ₦2,132

55.41%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$1.50 ₦2,049

$5.39 ₦7,339

-72.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.30 ₦7,222

$4.45 ₦6,058

19.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.88 ₦5,287

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 ₦4,222

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,414

Oranges (1kg)

$0.41 ₦552

$2.11 ₦2,869

-80.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.51 ₦690

$1.68 ₦2,285

-69.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ₦1,749

$2.14 ₦2,908

-40.19%

Onion (1kg)

$0.55 ₦743

$2.53 ₦3,447

-78.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ₦788

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦427

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.19 ₦1,620

$2.43 ₦3,305

-51.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.36 ₦10.0K

$5.68 ₦7,741

29.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₦1,445

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₦1,928

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₦743

$0.64 ₦877

-14.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 ₦688

$0.91 ₦1,234

-43.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ₦657

$1.06 ₦1,445

-54.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₦2,856

$4.40 ₦5,991

-52.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 ₦925

$0.83 ₦1,132

-18.07%

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

$31.22 ₦42.5K

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

$10.68 ₦14.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.07 ₦57.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$12.78 ₦17.4K

$44.35 ₦60.4K

-71.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.46 ₦8,801

$10.95 ₦14.9K

-41.00%

Cinema Ticket

$8.16 ₦11.1K

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

$92.0 ₦125.3K

$133 ₦180.8K

-30.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,969 ₦2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.13 ₦28.8K

$29.33 ₦39.9K

-27.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.60 ₦21.3K

$28.29 ₦38.5K

-44.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 ₦93.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.8 ₦115.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$519 ₦706.7K

$2,485 ₦3.4M

-79.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 ₦428.2K

$1,167 ₦1.6M

-73.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 ₦1.1M

$5,456 ₦7.4M

-85.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$469 ₦638.1K

$2,666 ₦3.6M

-82.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,106 ₦1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$362 ₦493.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$95.1 ₦129.5K

$168 ₦228.7K

-43.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

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

Last update for Aba: June 1, 2026

Last update for Abuja: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $519 in Aba versus $2,485 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 77% higher in Abuja, 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 $10.00 in Aba versus $46.00 in Abuja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $102 vs $190 – making Aba 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

Aba vs Abuja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Abuja is pricier by about 231%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $770 per month in Aba and $2,550 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $513 in Aba and $1,700 in Abuja. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $92.0 per month in Aba and $133 in Abuja. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aba, where all-in costs run around $513, than in Abuja at $1,700. In Aba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Abuja it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Aba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.