Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Ife Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Ife

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,698 in Abuja versus $715 in Ife.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,805 in Abuja versus $1,174 in Ife.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,911 in Abuja versus $1,633 in Ife.

Living in Abuja is roughly 137% more expensive than Ife, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 26% above, Ife is 47% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 ₦2,792

$2.77 ₦3,767

-25.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 ₦60.3K

$35.63 ₦48.4K

24.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ₦7,458

$5.19 ₦7,064

5.59%

Cappuccino

$2.55 ₦3,470

$0.85 ₦1,152

200.00%

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

$0.52 ₦701

$0.47 ₦636

10.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₦561

$0.28 ₦382

46.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 ₦1,505

$0.92 ₦1,250

20.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₦1,563

$1.15 ₦1,567

Milk (1 liter)

$3.14 ₦4,272

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ₦1,716

$0.73 ₦998

72.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 ₦3,347

$1.78 ₦2,417

38.20%

Eggs

$1.54 ₦2,094

$2.37 ₦3,221

-35.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.17 ₦7,031

$4.61 ₦6,269

12.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 ₦6,270

$5.26 ₦7,151

-12.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.83 ₦5,207

$4.26 ₦5,791

-10.09%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 ₦4,152

$5.71 ₦7,769

-46.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 ₦2,388

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 ₦2,945

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,402

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 ₦2,802

$0.93 ₦1,262

121.51%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 ₦3,433

$1.19 ₦1,624

111.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ₦775

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦394

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 ₦3,337

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ₦7,720

$2.15 ₦2,925

164.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₦1,439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₦1,909

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦868

$0.36 ₦491

77.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₦1,183

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ₦1,388

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 ₦5,747

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₦1,139

$0.38 ₦516

121.05%

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

$30.68 ₦41.7K

$29.64 ₦40.3K

3.51%

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

$10.95 ₦14.9K

$5.86 ₦7,975

86.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.93 ₦55.6K

$46.69 ₦63.5K

-12.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.64 ₦62.1K

$23.04 ₦31.3K

98.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.57 ₦14.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.46 ₦11.5K

$4.74 ₦6,451

78.48%

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

$133 ₦180.8K

$46.67 ₦63.5K

184.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,986 ₦2.7M

$415 ₦564.0K

378.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.31 ₦41.2K

$23.43 ₦31.9K

29.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.98 ₦39.4K

$35.55 ₦48.3K

-18.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 ₦91.9K

$58.3 ₦79.2K

15.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 ₦117.1K

$70.9 ₦96.4K

21.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,414 ₦3.3M

$597 ₦811.5K

304.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₦1.6M

$357 ₦485.6K

228.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,508 ₦7.5M

$1,187 ₦1.6M

364.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,674 ₦3.6M

$706 ₦960.0K

278.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$366 ₦497.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 ₦222.9K

$52.3 ₦71.1K

213.37%

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 6, 2026

Last update for Ife: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,414 in Abuja and $597 in Ife. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 213% 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: $44.00 in Abuja vs $36.00 in Ife for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $115 per month, with Ife cheaper across the board.

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 Ife: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Ife differ by about 137% in total monthly costs ($1,698 vs $715 including rent). Ife is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Abuja pays 213% more on average, 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: $2,414 in Abuja versus $597 in Ife. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $133 in Abuja versus $46.67 in Ife. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ife – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $44.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $715 in Ife versus $1,698 in Abuja, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ife but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Ife 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 Ife gentler on the wallet – expenses run 137% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.