😐A single person spends $407 per month in Aba vs $400 in Port Harcourt, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $667 per month in Aba vs $822 in Port Harcourt, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $927 per month in Aba vs $1,245 in Port Harcourt, rent included.
😐Aba costs about 2% more than Port Harcourt, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Aba and Port Harcourt are more affordable than the global median – Aba70% lower, Port Harcourt71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aba
Port Harcourt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$1.95₦2,597
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$30.80₦40.9K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.28₦9,675
$4.74₦6,297
53.59%
Cappuccino
$0.89₦1,181
$1.65₦2,195
-46.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.62₦818
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.65₦861
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05₦2,729
$1.42₦1,880
44.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41₦3,196
$3.04₦4,039
-20.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aba
Port Harcourt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.79₦5,030
$2.61₦3,464
45.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.30₦3,052
$0.94₦1,247
144.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$3.21₦4,258
-
Eggs
-
$1.72₦2,281
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.11₦14.8K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$1.83₦2,436
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$1.29₦1,709
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$5.14₦6,825
$2.50₦3,319
105.60%
Banana(1kg)
$0.55₦728
$2.30₦3,057
-76.09%
Oranges(1kg)
-
$1.82₦2,422
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$2.94₦3,909
-
Potato(1kg)
$3.50₦4,656
$2.23₦2,967
56.95%
Onion(1kg)
-
$1.54₦2,048
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14₦1,518
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.16₦214
$0.63₦843
-74.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.47₦1,948
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$7.62₦10.1K
$5.32₦7,065
43.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.24₦1,653
$0.72₦954
72.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46₦1,939
$1.52₦2,020
-3.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Aba
Port Harcourt
Difference
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.50₦12.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.36₦484
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$0.54₦722
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$5,988₦8.0M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$7,689₦10.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aba
Port Harcourt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117₦155.2K
$29.83₦39.6K
291.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.30₦3,062
$3.80₦5,047
-39.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.85₦59.6K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aba
Port Harcourt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$14.46₦19.2K
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.06₦2,731
$4.10₦5,448
-49.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aba
Port Harcourt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$25.44₦33.8K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,063₦1.4M
$807₦1.1M
31.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aba
Port Harcourt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$6.98₦9,269
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$11.74₦15.6K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$15.39₦20.4K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$18.68₦24.8K
$14.87₦19.8K
25.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aba
Port Harcourt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$134₦177.5K
$154₦204.4K
-13.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$105₦138.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$459₦609.8K
$1,137₦1.5M
-59.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$228₦303.1K
$507₦673.2K
-54.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,101₦1.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$474₦629.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aba
Port Harcourt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$97.4₦129.4K
$56.1₦74.6K
73.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aba: September 13, 2026
Last update for Port Harcourt: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $134 in Aba versus $154 in Port Harcourt. 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 74% higher in Aba, 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 Port Harcourt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Port Harcourt cheaper than Aba?
Yes – Aba is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. 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 $610 per month in Aba and $599 in Port Harcourt. 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 Port Harcourt, 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 Port Harcourt?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $407 in Aba and $400 in Port Harcourt. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do food prices compare in Aba and in Port Harcourt?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Aba, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,200 enough for either Aba or Port Harcourt?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $407 in Aba and $400 in Port Harcourt, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Aba or Port Harcourt more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Port Harcourt – 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 Port Harcourt. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aba makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.