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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $515 per month in Aba vs $1,661 in Abuja, rent included.

A couple spends around $745 per month in Aba vs $2,819 in Abuja, rent included.

A family of three spends $975 per month in Aba vs $3,976 in Abuja, rent included.

Aba is about 69% cheaper than Abuja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Aba sits 61% below the global median, while Abuja is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.29 ₦7,293
$2.03 ₦2,794
160.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.44 ₦14.4K
$44.41 ₦61.2K
-76.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.17 ₦7,120
$5.60 ₦7,714
-7.68%
Cappuccino
-
$2.56 ₦3,525
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₦522
$0.50 ₦695
-24.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ₦375
$0.39 ₦535
-30.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.03 ₦1,418
$1.11 ₦1,534
-7.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 ₦1,772
$1.13 ₦1,560
14.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$3.12 ₦4,305
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.04 ₦2,813
$1.30 ₦1,798
56.92%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.10 ₦5,655
$2.51 ₦3,458
63.35%
Eggs
$2.45 ₦3,379
$1.56 ₦2,155
57.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$1.59 ₦2,191
$5.26 ₦7,252
-69.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.53 ₦7,616
$4.62 ₦6,367
19.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$4.00 ₦5,508
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$3.00 ₦4,128
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.76 ₦2,419
-
Oranges (1kg)
$0.37 ₦512
$2.18 ₦3,008
-83.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 ₦696
$1.69 ₦2,329
-69.82%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 ₦1,775
$2.05 ₦2,831
-37.07%
Onion (1kg)
$0.50 ₦684
$2.44 ₦3,368
-79.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.58 ₦795
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.29 ₦393
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.18 ₦1,630
$2.46 ₦3,390
-52.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.36 ₦10.1K
$5.48 ₦7,545
34.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.06 ₦1,457
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.45 ₦1,998
-
🚌 Getting Around
Aba
Abuja
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.54 ₦738
$0.70 ₦958
-22.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 ₦698
$0.91 ₦1,254
-43.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 ₦666
$1.08 ₦1,486
-55.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.11 ₦2,901
$4.42 ₦6,092
-52.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.67 ₦921
$0.81 ₦1,118
-17.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$30.08 ₦41.5K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$10.81 ₦14.9K
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$40.89 ₦56.4K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$12.79 ₦17.6K
$44.03 ₦60.7K
-70.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.67 ₦9,191
$10.63 ₦14.6K
-37.25%
Cinema Ticket
-
$8.27 ₦11.4K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$90.6 ₦124.8K
$133 ₦183.3K
-31.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$1,996 ₦2.8M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.12 ₦29.1K
$30.06 ₦41.4K
-29.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.59 ₦21.5K
$28.56 ₦39.4K
-45.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$67.9 ₦93.6K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$85.5 ₦117.8K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aba
Abuja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$527 ₦726.6K
$2,418 ₦3.3M
-78.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 ₦430.7K
$1,167 ₦1.6M
-73.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$765 ₦1.1M
$5,536 ₦7.6M
-86.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$457 ₦630.5K
$2,634 ₦3.6M
-82.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,035 ₦1.4M
$688 ₦947.9K
50.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$455 ₦627.0K
$367 ₦506.4K
23.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aba
Abuja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$93.1 ₦128.3K
$166 ₦229.2K
-44.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
22.5
-

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

Last update for Aba: July 11, 2026

Last update for Abuja: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $527 in Aba versus $2,418 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 79% 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 $44.00 in Abuja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 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
Is Abuja cheaper than Aba?
Yes – Abuja is pricier by about 223%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $772 per month in Aba and $2,492 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Aba and in Abuja?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $515 in Aba and $1,661 in Abuja. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $90.6 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.
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 $515, than in Abuja at $1,661. 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.

Aba vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities