Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Ibadan

For one person, living is cheaper in Ibadan: $251 a month against $991 in Abuja, rent and utilities included – about $8,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Abuja, Nigeria
Ibadan, Nigeria
Abuja
🇳🇬 Nigeria
$991
/mo nomad
Ibadan
🇳🇬 Nigeria
$251
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Abuja and in Ibadan

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $991 in Abuja versus $251 in Ibadan.

  • Abuja $991
  • Ibadan $251

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,872 in Abuja versus $558 in Ibadan.

  • Abuja $1,872
  • Ibadan $558

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,753 in Abuja versus $865 in Ibadan.

  • Abuja $2,753
  • Ibadan $865

Living in Abuja is roughly 295% more expensive than in Ibadan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abuja 27% lower, Ibadan 82% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abuja
Ibadan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94 ₦2,602
$1.10 ₦1,471
76.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.33 ₦40.7K
$29.84 ₦40.0K
1.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.08 ₦5,465
$6.06 ₦8,127
-32.67%
Cappuccino
$3.28 ₦4,400
$0.78 ₦1,046
320.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₦573
$0.22 ₦295
95.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₦956
$0.13 ₦179
446.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.97 ₦1,301
$0.53 ₦715
83.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 ₦2,647
$1.15 ₦1,545
71.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abuja
Ibadan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.59 ₦4,814
$0.58 ₦782
518.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 ₦1,731
$0.60 ₦798
115.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.27 ₦3,048
$1.10 ₦1,478
106.36%
Eggs
$1.81 ₦2,420
$1.57 ₦2,102
15.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.11 ₦14.9K
$3.62 ₦4,857
206.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.35 ₦7,164
$3.83 ₦5,129
39.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.82 ₦7,795
$0.72 ₦962
708.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 ₦2,775
$1.64 ₦2,203
26.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 ₦2,006
$1.27 ₦1,696
18.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 ₦2,039
$1.09 ₦1,464
39.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 ₦3,068
$0.29 ₦388
689.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 ₦2,393
$0.57 ₦769
214.04%
Onion (1kg)
$2.48 ₦3,324
$0.23 ₦308
978.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ₦794
$0.21 ₦281
180.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₦526
$0.12 ₦159
225.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96 ₦2,624
$0.58 ₦781
237.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.83 ₦7,818
$1.11 ₦1,484
425.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 ₦1,604
$0.40 ₦531
200.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ₦2,484
$0.50 ₦669
270.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Abuja
Ibadan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 ₦619
$0.14 ₦187
228.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.58 ₦43.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 ₦823
$0.66 ₦884
-7.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 ₦1,086
$0.62 ₦825
30.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 ₦2,474
$1.14 ₦1,523
62.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.57 ₦765
$0.57 ₦759
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1K ₦35.0M
$4,183 ₦5.6M
524.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3K ₦50.0M
$29.0K ₦38.8M
28.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abuja
Ibadan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 ₦147.8K
$11.37 ₦15.2K
869.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.48 ₦8,687
$3.83 ₦5,129
69.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.14 ₦39.1K
$8.60 ₦11.5K
238.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abuja
Ibadan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.74 ₦34.5K
$21.27 ₦28.5K
21.02%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.62 ₦12.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.31 ₦8,456
$1.47 ₦1,973
329.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abuja
Ibadan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$44.68 ₦59.9K
$48.34 ₦64.8K
-7.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,103 ₦4.2M
$622 ₦833.1K
399.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abuja
Ibadan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.03 ₦34.9K
$11.76 ₦15.8K
121.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.8 ₦81.4K
$5.62 ₦7,529
980.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.5 ₦102.6K
$14.86 ₦19.9K
415.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 ₦141.3K
$20.99 ₦28.1K
402.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abuja
Ibadan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$589 ₦789.9K
$123 ₦165.0K
378.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$348 ₦465.8K
$45.67 ₦61.2K
660.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,405 ₦1.9M
$444 ₦594.5K
216.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 ₦1.8M
$293 ₦392.4K
359.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$699 ₦937.2K
$849 ₦1.1M
-17.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$378 ₦506.9K
$30.37 ₦40.7K
1145.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abuja
Ibadan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$162 ₦217.5K
$57.7 ₦77.3K
181.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.5
18.39
22.35%

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

Last update for Abuja: October 24, 2026

Last update for Ibadan: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Abuja
$348
Ibadan
$46 86.9% $302
Groceries & Markets
Abuja
$218
Ibadan
$86 60.6% $132
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abuja
$146
Ibadan
$24 83.7% $122
Clothing & Footwear
Abuja
$121
Ibadan
$24 80.2% $97
Eating Out
Abuja
$81
Ibadan
$43 46.9% $38
Getting Around
Abuja
$39
Ibadan
$4.3 * 89% $35
Sport & Entertainment
Abuja
$38
Ibadan
$24 36.9% $14

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $589 in Abuja and $123 in Ibadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays about 2.8 times 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 in Abuja vs $30 in Ibadan. Groceries flip the comparison at $218 vs $86, with Ibadan cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇳🇬 Abuja
🇳🇬 Ibadan
🕒 Local time
21:44 9:44 PM
21:44 9:44 PM
Same time as Abuja
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
776,298 Capital
3,034,200
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to NGN – Nigerian Naira Converter

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1,340 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 1,492 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.7 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Abuja Ibadan 440 km
From you
  • Abuja
  • Ibadan

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 Ibadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Abuja and in Ibadan?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $991 in Abuja and $251 in Ibadan, so Ibadan is about 75% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Abuja or Ibadan?
Average pay in Abuja is about 2.8 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Abuja and in Ibadan?
Rent for a central apartment: $589 in Abuja versus $123 in Ibadan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Abuja and Ibadan?
Childcare runs $45 in Abuja versus $48 in Ibadan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more expensive overall: Abuja or Ibadan?
All in, you’ll spend $991 per month in Abuja versus $251 in Ibadan – Ibadan is about 75% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Which city is more doable on $800 per month?
At $251 in Ibadan versus $991 in Abuja, a $800 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.
How does quality of life compare between Abuja and Ibadan?
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.
How do I decide between Abuja and Ibadan?
It comes down to priorities – Ibadan wins on affordability, Abuja on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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