Cost of Living Comparison Between Aba and Jos Cost of Living Comparison Between Aba and Jos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $411 per month in Aba vs $528 in Jos, rent included.

A couple spends around $662 per month in Aba vs $1,094 in Jos, rent included.

A family of three spends $912 per month in Aba vs $1,660 in Jos, rent included.

Aba is about 22% cheaper than Jos, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Aba and Jos are more affordable than the global median – Aba 70% lower, Jos 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 ₦2,835

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.30 ₦38.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 ₦10.2K

$4.60 ₦6,094

66.96%

Cappuccino

$0.87 ₦1,159

$3.40 ₦4,508

-74.41%

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

$0.55 ₦730

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₦928

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.07 ₦2,740

$1.07 ₦1,421

93.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₦3,187

$2.10 ₦2,779

14.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.80 ₦5,035

$3.63 ₦4,811

4.68%

White Bread (500g)

$2.22 ₦2,941

$0.85 ₦1,128

161.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₦2,979

Eggs

$1.86 ₦2,461

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.55 ₦15.3K

$9.99 ₦13.2K

15.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₦6,780

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$1.34 ₦1,771

$4.02 ₦5,324

-66.67%

Apples (1kg)

$5.43 ₦7,199

$1.98 ₦2,622

174.24%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 ₦738

$1.49 ₦1,975

-62.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ₦2,026

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 ₦3,028

Potato (1kg)

$3.54 ₦4,696

$1.80 ₦2,381

96.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 ₦3,222

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 ₦1,492

$0.58 ₦769

94.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.15 ₦204

$0.37 ₦488

-59.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.55 ₦2,060

$2.04 ₦2,697

-24.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.27 ₦9,630

$5.77 ₦7,642

26.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₦1,691

$1.23 ₦1,632

4.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₦1,861

$1.79 ₦2,378

-21.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.35 ₦12.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 ₦774

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₦1,054

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 ₦2,427

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 ₦768

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

$6,033 ₦8.0M

$26.5K ₦35.1M

-77.21%

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

$7,467 ₦9.9M

$18.3K ₦24.3M

-59.25%

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

$117 ₦154.5K

$101 ₦134.5K

14.85%

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

$2.22 ₦2,944

$6.36 ₦8,428

-65.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$45.54 ₦60.4K

$28.56 ₦37.9K

59.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.25 ₦52.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.21 ₦16.2K

Cinema Ticket

$2.13 ₦2,827

$4.92 ₦6,523

-56.71%

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

$44.31 ₦58.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,073 ₦1.4M

$1,017 ₦1.3M

5.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.88 ₦13.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.03 ₦19.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.33 ₦20.3K

$50.9 ₦67.4K

-69.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$18.73 ₦24.8K

$49.03 ₦65.0K

-61.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 ₦183.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$456 ₦603.8K

$549 ₦727.6K

-17.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 ₦299.0K

$488 ₦646.9K

-53.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,077 ₦1.4M

$2,040 ₦2.7M

-47.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$474 ₦628.6K

$1,481 ₦2.0M

-67.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$99.0 ₦131.2K

$100 ₦132.6K

-1.07%

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Jos: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1% higher in Jos, 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 Jos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Jos is pricier by about 28%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $617 per month in Aba and $792 in Jos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $411 in Aba and $528 in Jos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Jos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $411 in Aba and $528 in Jos, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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, Jos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.