Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Ibadan Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Ibadan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,095 in Abuja versus $250 in Ibadan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,028 in Abuja versus $558 in Ibadan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,962 in Abuja versus $866 in Ibadan.

Living in Abuja is roughly 338% more expensive than in Ibadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abuja 21% lower, Ibadan 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 ₦2,897

$1.11 ₦1,476

97.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.48 ₦40.4K

$30.24 ₦40.1K

0.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.46 ₦5,908

$6.09 ₦8,073

-26.77%

Cappuccino

$3.28 ₦4,352

$0.80 ₦1,066

310.00%

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

$0.55 ₦736

$0.20 ₦265

175.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₦961

$0.12 ₦153

500.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,415

$0.58 ₦771

84.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₦2,790

$1.15 ₦1,528

83.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.63 ₦4,817

$0.59 ₦787

515.25%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₦1,724

$0.60 ₦791

116.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₦2,897

$1.11 ₦1,476

97.30%

Eggs

$1.88 ₦2,495

$1.53 ₦2,034

22.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 ₦14.8K

$3.52 ₦4,667

217.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₦6,901

$3.89 ₦5,153

33.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.98 ₦7,925

$0.75 ₦993

697.33%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 ₦2,639

$1.67 ₦2,209

19.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₦1,895

$1.32 ₦1,743

8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 ₦2,041

$1.13 ₦1,501

36.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₦3,093

$0.29 ₦382

703.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ₦2,482

$0.58 ₦774

222.41%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 ₦3,256

$0.24 ₦319

925.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₦794

$0.22 ₦290

172.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₦503

$0.14 ₦181

171.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 ₦2,725

$0.59 ₦784

249.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.80 ₦7,687

$1.12 ₦1,482

417.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,576

$0.41 ₦542

190.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₦2,447

$0.46 ₦616

302.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ₦525

$0.12 ₦162

233.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.32 ₦44.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 ₦772

$0.70 ₦933

-17.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 ₦1,076

$0.62 ₦827

30.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 ₦2,570

$1.13 ₦1,492

71.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 ₦726

$0.55 ₦734

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

$26.5K ₦35.1M

$4,162 ₦5.5M

537.06%

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

$18.3K ₦24.3M

$14.0K ₦18.5M

31.35%

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

$113 ₦149.6K

$11.27 ₦14.9K

901.86%

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

$6.56 ₦8,691

$3.81 ₦5,047

72.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.15 ₦38.6K

$9.06 ₦12.0K

221.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.66 ₦47.3K

$21.77 ₦28.9K

63.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.81 ₦14.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 ₦6,488

$1.54 ₦2,035

218.18%

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

$45.43 ₦60.2K

$48.73 ₦64.6K

-6.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,219 ₦4.3M

$627 ₦831.4K

413.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.57 ₦33.9K

$12.16 ₦16.1K

110.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 ₦81.0K

$5.80 ₦7,689

953.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.2 ₦103.6K

$15.07 ₦20.0K

418.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₦142.1K

$21.64 ₦28.7K

395.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,426 ₦1.9M

$124 ₦164.4K

1049.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$439 ₦581.7K

$45.33 ₦60.1K

868.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,407 ₦4.5M

$461 ₦611.0K

639.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,515 ₦2.0M

$308 ₦408.2K

391.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$712 ₦943.7K

$875 ₦1.2M

-18.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$374 ₦496.2K

$30.87 ₦40.9K

1112.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$166 ₦220.0K

$58.2 ₦77.2K

185.01%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

18.05

24.65%

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

Last update for Abuja: September 8, 2026

Last update for Ibadan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,426 in Abuja and $124 in Ibadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 185% 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 $30.00 in Ibadan. Groceries flip the comparison at $218 vs $87.0, with Ibadan cheaper for home cooking.

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 Ibadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Ibadan differ by about 338% in total monthly costs ($1,095 vs $250 including rent). Ibadan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 185% higher in Abuja, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,426 in Abuja versus $124 in Ibadan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $45.43 in Abuja versus $48.73 in Ibadan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ibadan – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $30.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $250 in Ibadan versus $1,095 in Abuja, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ibadan but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Ibadan 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 Ibadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 338% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.