Cost of Living Comparison Between Aba and AbujaCost of Living Comparison Between Aba and Abuja
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $411 per month in Aba vs $1,095 in Abuja, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $662 per month in Aba vs $2,028 in Abuja, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $912 per month in Aba vs $2,962 in Abuja, rent included.
🙂Aba is about 62% cheaper than Abuja, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Aba and Abuja are more affordable than the global median – Aba70% lower, Abuja21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$2.19₦2,897
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$30.48₦40.4K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.68₦10.2K
$4.46₦5,908
72.20%
Cappuccino
$0.87₦1,159
$3.28₦4,352
-73.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.55₦736
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.72₦961
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.07₦2,740
$1.07₦1,415
93.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40₦3,187
$2.11₦2,790
13.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.80₦5,035
$3.63₦4,817
4.68%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22₦2,941
$1.30₦1,724
70.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$2.19₦2,897
-
Eggs
-
$1.88₦2,495
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.55₦15.3K
$11.16₦14.8K
3.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$5.21₦6,901
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$1.34₦1,771
$5.98₦7,925
-77.59%
Apples(1kg)
$5.43₦7,199
$1.99₦2,639
172.86%
Banana(1kg)
$0.56₦738
$1.43₦1,895
-60.84%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.54₦2,041
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.33₦3,093
-
Potato(1kg)
$3.54₦4,696
$1.87₦2,482
89.30%
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.46₦3,256
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13₦1,492
$0.60₦794
88.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.15₦204
$0.38₦503
-60.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.55₦2,060
$2.06₦2,725
-24.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.27₦9,630
$5.80₦7,687
25.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28₦1,691
$1.19₦1,576
7.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40₦1,861
$1.85₦2,447
-24.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Aba
Abuja
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.40₦525
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.35₦12.4K
$33.32₦44.2K
-71.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.58₦772
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.81₦1,076
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.94₦2,570
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$0.55₦726
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$6,033₦8.0M
$26.5K₦35.1M
-77.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$7,467₦9.9M
$18.3K₦24.3M
-59.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117₦154.5K
$113₦149.6K
3.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.22₦2,944
$6.56₦8,691
-66.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.54₦60.4K
$29.15₦38.6K
56.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$35.66₦47.3K
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.81₦14.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.13₦2,827
$4.90₦6,488
-56.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$45.43₦60.2K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,073₦1.4M
$3,219₦4.3M
-66.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$25.57₦33.9K
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$61.1₦81.0K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$15.33₦20.3K
$78.2₦103.6K
-80.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$18.73₦24.8K
$107₦142.1K
-82.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aba
Abuja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$138₦183.5K
$1,426₦1.9M
-90.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$439₦581.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$456₦603.8K
$3,407₦4.5M
-86.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$226₦299.0K
$1,515₦2.0M
-85.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,077₦1.4M
$712₦943.7K
51.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$474₦628.6K
$374₦496.2K
26.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$99.0₦131.2K
$166₦220.0K
-40.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
22.5
-46.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aba: September 7, 2026
Last update for Abuja: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $138 in Aba versus $1,426 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 68% higher in Abuja, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
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
Is Abuja cheaper than Aba?
Yes – Abuja is pricier by about 166%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $617 per month in Aba and $1,642 in Abuja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
How do food prices compare in Aba and in Abuja?
Groceries cost about 28% more in Abuja, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 256% less in Aba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Aba or in Abuja?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aba, where all-in costs run around $411, than in Abuja at $1,095. In Aba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Abuja it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Aba or Abuja more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.