Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Buenos Aires

For one person, living is cheaper in Abuja: $1,005 a month against $1,685 in Buenos Aires, rent and utilities included – about $8,200 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Abuja
🇳🇬 Nigeria
$1,005
/mo nomad
Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,685
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Abuja and in Buenos Aires

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 Buenos Aires actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,005 in Abuja versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires.

  • Abuja $1,005
  • Buenos Aires $1,685

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,961 in Abuja versus $2,742 in Buenos Aires.

  • Abuja $1,961
  • Buenos Aires $2,742

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,916 in Abuja versus $3,799 in Buenos Aires.

  • Abuja $2,916
  • Buenos Aires $3,799

Living in Abuja costs roughly 40% less than in Buenos Aires, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 25% below, Buenos Aires is 26% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abuja
Buenos Aires
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.01 ₦2,673
$18.73 ARS 28.4K
-89.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.45 ₦40.5K
$64.5 ARS 97.8K
-52.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.90 ₦5,177
$12.88 ARS 19.5K
-69.72%
Cappuccino
$3.38 ₦4,496
$3.98 ARS 6,029
-15.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₦667
$2.05 ARS 3,103
-75.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₦963
$1.55 ARS 2,349
-53.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 ₦1,349
$3.84 ARS 5,830
-73.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 ₦2,791
$4.60 ARS 6,970
-54.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abuja
Buenos Aires
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.75 ₦4,975
$1.44 ARS 2,181
160.42%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 ₦1,726
$2.46 ARS 3,738
-47.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.29 ₦3,045
$1.63 ARS 2,467
40.49%
Eggs
$1.80 ₦2,390
$2.89 ARS 4,385
-37.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.86 ₦14.4K
$10.65 ARS 16.1K
1.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.22 ₦6,931
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
-47.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.78 ₦7,673
$13.74 ARS 20.8K
-57.93%
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 ₦2,631
$2.75 ARS 4,166
-28.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 ₦1,918
$2.18 ARS 3,300
-33.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.54 ₦2,044
$1.45 ARS 2,205
6.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.26 ₦3,002
$1.99 ARS 3,013
13.57%
Potato (1kg)
$1.80 ₦2,385
$1.24 ARS 1,885
45.16%
Onion (1kg)
$2.39 ₦3,172
$1.27 ARS 1,921
88.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 ₦802
$1.70 ARS 2,575
-64.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38 ₦504
$1.73 ARS 2,617
-78.03%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95 ₦2,595
$4.18 ARS 6,337
-53.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.96 ₦7,923
$5.80 ARS 8,790
2.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₦1,640
$2.09 ARS 3,163
-41.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 ₦2,433
$2.77 ARS 4,198
-33.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Abuja
Buenos Aires
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 ₦580
$0.75 ARS 1,132
-41.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.75 ₦43.5K
$27.15 ARS 41.2K
20.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.63 ₦836
$1.62 ARS 2,451
-61.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 ₦1,062
$0.98 ARS 1,481
-18.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 ₦2,478
$7.72 ARS 11.7K
-75.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.56 ₦741
$1.36 ARS 2,058
-58.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.0K ₦34.5M
$28.0K ARS 42.5M
-7.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.1K ₦24.1M
$34.5K ARS 52.4M
-47.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abuja
Buenos Aires
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$115 ₦152.3K
$216 ARS 326.9K
-46.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.43 ₦8,537
$25.61 ARS 38.8K
-74.89%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.45 ₦39.1K
$31.36 ARS 47.6K
-6.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abuja
Buenos Aires
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.20 ₦34.8K
$49.82 ARS 75.6K
-47.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.60 ₦12.8K
$17.06 ARS 25.9K
-43.73%
Cinema Ticket
$6.59 ₦8,749
$10.43 ARS 15.8K
-36.82%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abuja
Buenos Aires
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$45.94 ₦61.0K
$466 ARS 706.7K
-90.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,119 ₦4.1M
$9,057 ARS 13.7M
-65.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abuja
Buenos Aires
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.42 ₦35.1K
$122 ARS 185.2K
-78.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.3 ₦80.0K
$97.4 ARS 147.8K
-38.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.3 ₦105.3K
$117 ARS 177.4K
-32.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 ₦142.3K
$140 ARS 211.9K
-23.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abuja
Buenos Aires
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$591 ₦785.2K
$763 ARS 1.2M
-22.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$345 ₦458.2K
$505 ARS 766.1K
-31.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,444 ₦1.9M
$1,598 ARS 2.4M
-9.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,567 ₦2.1M
$1,185 ARS 1.8M
32.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$717 ₦952.4K
$2,678 ARS 4.1M
-73.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$384 ₦510.5K
$1,858 ARS 2.8M
-79.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abuja
Buenos Aires
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 ₦225.5K
$954 ARS 1.4M
-82.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.5
57.25
-60.70%

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

Last update for Abuja: October 5, 2026

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Abuja
$345
Buenos Aires
$505 46.5% $160
Groceries & Markets
Abuja
$218
Buenos Aires
$284 30.5% $66
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abuja
$151
Buenos Aires
$273 81.1% $122
Clothing & Footwear
Abuja
$123
Buenos Aires
$214 74.4% $91
Eating Out
Abuja
$83
Buenos Aires
$279 238% $196
Sport & Entertainment
Abuja
$39
Buenos Aires
$71 79.5% $31
Getting Around
Abuja
$39
Buenos Aires
$37 6.4% $2.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $591 in Abuja and $763 in Buenos Aires. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buenos Aires pays 462% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $30.00 in Abuja vs $64.0 in Buenos Aires for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $284 per month, with Abuja cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇳🇬 Abuja
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🕒 Local time
06:11 6:11 AM
02:11 2:11 AM
4 h behind Abuja
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
776,298 Capital
2,891,082 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR to NGN – Nigerian Naira Converter

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,328 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.53 USD). 1 EUR = 1,490 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.71 EUR).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,701 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.88 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Abuja Buenos Aires 8,450 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Abuja
  • Buenos Aires

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 Buenos Aires: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Abuja and in Buenos Aires?
Abuja and Buenos Aires differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($1,005 vs $1,685 including rent). Abuja is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 462% lower in Buenos Aires. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Abuja and in Buenos Aires?
Rent for a central apartment: $591 in Abuja versus $763 in Buenos Aires. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Abuja or Buenos Aires?
All in, you'll spend $1,005 per month in Abuja versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Abuja and in Buenos Aires?
A monthly transit pass in Abuja runs roughly 21% less than in Buenos Aires. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,005 in Abuja versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Abuja but tight or insufficient in Buenos Aires. The gap between the two cities makes Abuja the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Abuja and Buenos Aires?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Abuja or Buenos Aires safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Abuja and Buenos Aires are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Abuja or Buenos Aires?
Expats usually find Abuja gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Buenos Aires. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Abuja vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?