Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Calabar Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Calabar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,005 in Abuja versus $817 in Calabar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,961 in Abuja versus $1,137 in Calabar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,916 in Abuja versus $1,456 in Calabar.

Living in Abuja is roughly 23% more expensive than in Calabar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abuja 25% lower, Calabar 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 ₦2,665

$1.13 ₦1,493

77.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.45 ₦40.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.90 ₦5,160

Cappuccino

$3.38 ₦4,482

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

$0.50 ₦665

$0.37 ₦484

35.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₦960

$0.18 ₦245

300.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₦1,345

$0.94 ₦1,240

8.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₦2,782

$1.24 ₦1,636

69.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.75 ₦4,959

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₦1,721

$1.33 ₦1,756

-2.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 ₦3,035

$1.54 ₦2,043

48.70%

Eggs

$1.80 ₦2,382

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.86 ₦14.4K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.22 ₦6,909

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.78 ₦7,648

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 ₦2,623

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 ₦1,912

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 ₦2,037

Tomato (1kg)

$2.26 ₦2,993

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ₦2,377

Onion (1kg)

$2.39 ₦3,161

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₦799

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₦502

$0.47 ₦626

-19.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 ₦2,587

Wine (Bottle)

$5.96 ₦7,898

$4.57 ₦6,048

30.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₦1,635

$1.13 ₦1,494

8.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.83 ₦2,425

$1.49 ₦1,977

22.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 ₦578

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.75 ₦43.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.63 ₦834

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₦1,058

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₦2,470

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 ₦738

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

$26.0K ₦34.4M

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

$18.1K ₦24.0M

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

$115 ₦151.8K

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

$6.43 ₦8,509

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.45 ₦39.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.20 ₦34.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.60 ₦12.7K

Cinema Ticket

$6.59 ₦8,721

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

$45.94 ₦60.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,119 ₦4.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.42 ₦35.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.3 ₦79.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 ₦104.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₦141.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$591 ₦782.7K

$1,114 ₦1.5M

-46.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$345 ₦456.7K

$754 ₦998.3K

-54.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,444 ₦1.9M

$1,898 ₦2.5M

-23.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,567 ₦2.1M

$1,367 ₦1.8M

14.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$717 ₦949.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$384 ₦508.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 ₦224.8K

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: October 5, 2026

Last update for Calabar: October 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $591 in Abuja and $1,114 in Calabar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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 Calabar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Calabar differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,005 vs $817 including rent). Calabar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,508 in Abuja and $1,226 in Calabar to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $591 in Abuja versus $1,114 in Calabar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 408% higher in Abuja. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,005 per month in Abuja versus $817 in Calabar – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $817 in Calabar versus $1,005 in Abuja, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Calabar but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Calabar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Calabar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.