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: $1,095 in Abuja versus $279 in Ife.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,028 in Abuja versus $426 in Ife.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,962 in Abuja versus $573 in Ife.

Living in Abuja is roughly 292% more expensive than in Ife, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abuja 21% lower, Ife 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 ₦2,897

$1.60 ₦2,118

36.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.48 ₦40.4K

$11.13 ₦14.7K

173.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.46 ₦5,908

$3.66 ₦4,856

21.86%

Cappuccino

$3.28 ₦4,352

$0.27 ₦361

1114.81%

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

$0.55 ₦736

$0.33 ₦441

66.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₦961

$0.19 ₦255

278.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,415

$0.29 ₦378

268.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₦2,790

$0.35 ₦470

502.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.63 ₦4,817

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₦1,724

$0.23 ₦305

465.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₦2,897

$0.58 ₦775

277.59%

Eggs

$1.88 ₦2,495

$1.32 ₦1,749

42.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 ₦14.8K

$1.47 ₦1,946

659.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₦6,901

$1.62 ₦2,153

221.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.98 ₦7,925

$1.30 ₦1,727

360.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 ₦2,639

$1.90 ₦2,521

4.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₦1,895

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 ₦2,041

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₦3,093

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ₦2,482

$0.31 ₦411

503.23%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 ₦3,256

$0.35 ₦469

602.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₦794

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₦503

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 ₦2,725

Wine (Bottle)

$5.80 ₦7,687

$2.21 ₦2,934

162.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,576

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₦2,447

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ₦525

$0.12 ₦158

233.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.32 ₦44.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 ₦772

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 ₦1,076

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 ₦2,570

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 ₦726

$0.14 ₦182

292.86%

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

$26.5K ₦35.1M

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

$18.3K ₦24.3M

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

$113 ₦149.6K

$30.32 ₦40.2K

272.39%

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

$6.56 ₦8,691

$6.05 ₦8,019

8.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.15 ₦38.6K

$15.07 ₦20.0K

93.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.66 ₦47.3K

$7.34 ₦9,721

385.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.81 ₦14.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 ₦6,488

$1.51 ₦2,006

224.50%

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

$45.43 ₦60.2K

$15.14 ₦20.1K

200.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,219 ₦4.3M

$135 ₦179.5K

2276.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.57 ₦33.9K

$7.62 ₦10.1K

235.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 ₦81.0K

$11.23 ₦14.9K

443.99%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.2 ₦103.6K

$18.87 ₦25.0K

314.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₦142.1K

$22.29 ₦29.5K

380.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,426 ₦1.9M

$184 ₦244.5K

673.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$439 ₦581.7K

$111 ₦147.0K

295.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,407 ₦4.5M

$373 ₦493.9K

814.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,515 ₦2.0M

$226 ₦299.6K

570.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$712 ₦943.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$374 ₦496.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$166 ₦220.0K

$52.4 ₦69.4K

216.84%

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: September 8, 2026

Last update for Ife: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,426 in Abuja and $184 in Ife. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 217% 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 $11.00 in Ife for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $42.00 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 292% in total monthly costs ($1,095 vs $279 including rent). Ife is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 217% 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 $184 in Ife. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $45.43 in Abuja versus $15.14 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 $11.00 versus $30.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $279 in Ife versus $1,095 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 292% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.