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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,700 per month in Abuja vs $513 in Aba, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,793 per month in Abuja vs $744 in Aba, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,886 per month in Abuja vs $975 in Aba, rent included.

Abuja costs about 231% more than Aba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Abuja sits 27% above the global median, while Aba is 62% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ₦2,684

$5.30 ₦7,213

-62.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.77 ₦62.3K

$10.48 ₦14.3K

336.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.68 ₦7,732

$5.20 ₦7,084

9.23%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₦3,426

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

$0.50 ₦687

$0.38 ₦514

31.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₦566

$0.27 ₦368

55.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 ₦1,506

$1.02 ₦1,391

8.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₦1,551

$1.28 ₦1,743

-10.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.06 ₦4,161

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 ₦1,793

$2.05 ₦2,788

-35.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 ₦3,244

$4.11 ₦5,596

-42.09%

Eggs

$1.57 ₦2,132

$2.44 ₦3,321

-35.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.39 ₦7,339

$1.50 ₦2,049

259.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.45 ₦6,058

$5.30 ₦7,222

-16.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.88 ₦5,287

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 ₦4,222

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,414

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 ₦2,869

$0.41 ₦552

414.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 ₦2,285

$0.51 ₦690

229.41%

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 ₦2,908

$1.28 ₦1,749

67.19%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ₦3,447

$0.55 ₦743

360.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ₦788

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦427

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 ₦3,305

$1.19 ₦1,620

104.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ₦7,741

$7.36 ₦10.0K

-22.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₦1,445

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₦1,928

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦877

$0.55 ₦743

16.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₦1,234

$0.51 ₦688

78.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 ₦1,445

$0.48 ₦657

120.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 ₦5,991

$2.10 ₦2,856

109.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,132

$0.68 ₦925

22.06%

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

$31.22 ₦42.5K

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

$10.68 ₦14.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.07 ₦57.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.35 ₦60.4K

$12.78 ₦17.4K

247.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.95 ₦14.9K

$6.46 ₦8,801

69.50%

Cinema Ticket

$8.16 ₦11.1K

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

$133 ₦180.8K

$92.0 ₦125.3K

44.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,969 ₦2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.33 ₦39.9K

$21.13 ₦28.8K

38.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.29 ₦38.5K

$15.60 ₦21.3K

81.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 ₦93.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.8 ₦115.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,485 ₦3.4M

$519 ₦706.7K

378.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 ₦1.6M

$314 ₦428.2K

271.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,456 ₦7.4M

$792 ₦1.1M

588.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,666 ₦3.6M

$469 ₦638.1K

468.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,106 ₦1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$362 ₦493.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 ₦228.7K

$95.1 ₦129.5K

76.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

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

Last update for Abuja: June 1, 2026

Last update for Aba: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,485 in Abuja versus $519 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 77% 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 $46.00 in Abuja versus $10.00 in Aba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $102 – 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

Abuja vs Aba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Abuja is pricier by about 231%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,550 per month in Abuja and $770 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,700 in Abuja and $513 in Aba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $133 per month in Abuja and $92.0 in Aba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aba, where all-in costs run around $513, than in Abuja at $1,700. In Aba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Abuja it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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