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: $1,687 in Abuja versus $738 in Ife.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,850 in Abuja versus $1,184 in Ife.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,012 in Abuja versus $1,630 in Ife.

Living in Abuja is roughly 129% more expensive than Ife, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 26% above, Ife is 45% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ₦2,812

$2.81 ₦3,870

-27.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.83 ₦61.7K

$34.94 ₦48.1K

28.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.70 ₦7,846

$5.48 ₦7,541

4.01%

Cappuccino

$2.54 ₦3,501

$0.78 ₦1,074

225.64%

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

$0.55 ₦760

$0.50 ₦691

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₦573

$0.26 ₦358

61.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,478

$0.95 ₦1,312

12.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,639

$1.14 ₦1,565

4.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.03 ₦4,179

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₦1,725

$0.73 ₦1,004

71.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₦3,457

$1.74 ₦2,401

44.25%

Eggs

$1.50 ₦2,072

$2.34 ₦3,216

-35.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.30 ₦7,292

$4.63 ₦6,375

14.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 ₦6,335

$5.06 ₦6,969

-9.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.94 ₦5,429

$4.27 ₦5,883

-7.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 ₦4,223

$5.79 ₦7,973

-46.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,442

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ₦3,009

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 ₦2,398

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,967

$0.90 ₦1,241

140.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ₦3,486

$1.14 ₦1,571

121.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ₦835

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦395

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ₦3,390

Wine (Bottle)

$7.09 ₦9,760

$6.93 ₦9,541

2.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 ₦1,518

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₦1,964

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦883

$0.37 ₦504

72.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₦1,247

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ₦1,408

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 ₦5,901

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 ₦1,060

$0.41 ₦560

87.80%

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

$30.29 ₦41.7K

$30.15 ₦41.5K

0.46%

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

$10.91 ₦15.0K

$5.92 ₦8,148

84.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.37 ₦58.3K

$47.68 ₦65.6K

-11.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.96 ₦60.5K

$23.35 ₦32.2K

88.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.60 ₦14.6K

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ₦11.4K

$4.64 ₦6,385

78.02%

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

$132 ₦181.5K

$46.16 ₦63.6K

185.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,979 ₦2.7M

$424 ₦583.2K

367.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.71 ₦40.9K

$23.07 ₦31.8K

28.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.33 ₦40.4K

$34.48 ₦47.5K

-14.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 ₦93.7K

$57.8 ₦79.6K

17.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.3 ₦117.4K

$69.7 ₦96.0K

22.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,487 ₦3.4M

$586 ₦806.7K

324.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 ₦1.6M

$348 ₦479.1K

229.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,558 ₦7.7M

$1,151 ₦1.6M

382.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,731 ₦3.8M

$689 ₦948.7K

296.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,141 ₦1.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,125 ₦1.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$285 ₦392.1K

$163 ₦224.3K

74.84%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ife: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,487 in Abuja and $586 in Ife. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 75% 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: $45.00 in Abuja vs $35.00 in Ife for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $123 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 129% in total monthly costs ($1,687 vs $738 including rent). Ife is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Abuja pays 75% 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: $2,487 in Abuja versus $586 in Ife. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $132 in Abuja versus $46.16 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 $35.00 versus $45.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $738 in Ife versus $1,687 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 129% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.