Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Aba

For one person, living is cheaper in Aba: $402 a month against $991 in Abuja, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Abuja
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Abuja Living Index

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Abuja

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$991

/mo nomad

Aba

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$402

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Abuja and in Aba

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Abuja and in Aba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $991 per month in Abuja vs $402 in Aba, rent included.

Abuja $991
Aba $402

A couple spends around $1,872 per month in Abuja vs $653 in Aba, rent included.

Abuja $1,872
Aba $653

A family of three spends $2,753 per month in Abuja vs $904 in Aba, rent included.

Abuja $2,753
Aba $904

Abuja costs about 147% more than Aba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Abuja and Aba are more affordable than the global median – Abuja 27% lower, Aba 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.94 ₦2,602

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.33 ₦40.7K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.08 ₦5,465

$7.21 ₦9,667

-43.41%

Cappuccino

$3.28 ₦4,400

$0.87 ₦1,172

277.01%

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

$0.43 ₦573

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₦956

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 ₦1,301

$2.07 ₦2,770

-53.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₦2,647

$2.42 ₦3,243

-18.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.59 ₦4,814

$3.71 ₦4,968

-3.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 ₦1,731

$2.21 ₦2,960

-41.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.27 ₦3,048

Eggs

$1.81 ₦2,420

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.11 ₦14.9K

$11.26 ₦15.1K

-1.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.35 ₦7,164

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.82 ₦7,795

$1.27 ₦1,700

358.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 ₦2,775

$5.14 ₦6,889

-59.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 ₦2,006

$0.55 ₦735

172.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 ₦2,039

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 ₦3,068

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 ₦2,393

$3.44 ₦4,614

-47.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.48 ₦3,324

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 ₦794

$1.15 ₦1,541

-48.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦526

$0.16 ₦209

143.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 ₦2,624

$1.45 ₦1,947

35.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.83 ₦7,818

$7.18 ₦9,628

-18.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₦1,604

$1.24 ₦1,657

-3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₦2,484

$1.43 ₦1,922

29.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₦619

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.58 ₦43.7K

$9.28 ₦12.4K

251.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.61 ₦823

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 ₦1,086

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₦2,474

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 ₦765

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

$26.1K ₦35.0M

$6,017 ₦8.1M

333.95%

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

$37.3K ₦50.0M

$7,453 ₦10.0M

400.77%

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

$110 ₦147.8K

$113 ₦151.4K

-2.38%

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

$6.48 ₦8,687

$2.19 ₦2,941

195.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.14 ₦39.1K

$44.64 ₦59.8K

-34.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.74 ₦34.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.62 ₦12.9K

Cinema Ticket

$6.31 ₦8,456

$2.13 ₦2,861

196.24%

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

$44.68 ₦59.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,103 ₦4.2M

$1,047 ₦1.4M

196.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.03 ₦34.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 ₦81.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 ₦102.6K

$15.04 ₦20.2K

408.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 ₦141.3K

$18.61 ₦24.9K

466.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$589 ₦789.9K

$136 ₦181.8K

334.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$348 ₦465.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,405 ₦1.9M

$443 ₦594.3K

216.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,346 ₦1.8M

$221 ₦296.8K

507.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$699 ₦937.2K

$1,057 ₦1.4M

-33.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$378 ₦506.9K

$461 ₦618.2K

-18.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$162 ₦217.5K

$95.0 ₦127.3K

70.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

87.50%

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

Last update for Abuja: October 24, 2026

Last update for Aba: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Abuja

$348 35.1%

Aba

–

Groceries & Markets

Abuja

$218 22%

Aba

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Abuja

$146 14.7%

Aba

–

Clothing & Footwear

Abuja

$121 12.2%

Aba

–

Eating Out

Abuja

$81 8.1%

Aba

–

Getting Around

Abuja

$39 4%

Aba

–

Sport & Entertainment

Abuja

$38 3.9%

Aba

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $589 in Abuja versus $136 in Aba. 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 71% higher in Abuja, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇳🇬 Abuja

🇳🇬 Aba

🕒 Local time

14:00 2:00 PM

Same time as Abuja

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

776,298 Capital

1,020,900

💱 Currency

Nigerian Naira NGN ₦

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 NGN = 7.46 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.7 EUR

10,000 NGN = 7.46 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.7 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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Abuja Aba 440 km

From you

Abuja
Aba

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Abuja vs Aba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Abuja is pricier by about 147%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,486 per month in Abuja and $603 in Aba. 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $136 there versus $589 in Abuja.

Groceries cost about 32% more in Abuja, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Public transport costs about 72% less in Aba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

It depends on your priorities. Abuja has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $402 in Aba to $991 in Abuja. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.