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: $1,650 in Abuja versus $731 in Ife.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,777 in Abuja versus $1,166 in Ife.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,905 in Abuja versus $1,601 in Ife.

Living in Abuja is roughly 126% more expensive than in Ife, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 24% above, Ife is 45% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ₦2,757

$2.81 ₦3,834

-28.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.61 ₦60.8K

$35.69 ₦48.7K

24.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ₦7,646

$5.19 ₦7,081

8.09%

Cappuccino

$2.56 ₦3,495

$0.84 ₦1,150

204.76%

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

$0.50 ₦688

$0.47 ₦638

6.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦526

$0.26 ₦350

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₦1,443

$0.97 ₦1,322

9.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₦1,611

$1.20 ₦1,636

-1.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.12 ₦4,250

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₦1,767

$0.68 ₦925

91.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₦3,291

$1.74 ₦2,375

38.51%

Eggs

$1.49 ₦2,029

$2.34 ₦3,185

-36.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.12 ₦6,977

$4.57 ₦6,233

12.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 ₦6,301

$5.10 ₦6,953

-9.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,240

$4.23 ₦5,760

-9.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 ₦4,043

$5.97 ₦8,132

-50.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ₦2,313

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,946

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,412

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 ₦2,781

$0.92 ₦1,250

121.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 ₦3,468

$1.18 ₦1,611

115.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ₦774

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦428

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 ₦3,435

Wine (Bottle)

$5.74 ₦7,818

$2.21 ₦3,013

159.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₦1,436

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₦1,982

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 ₦931

$0.37 ₦499

83.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₦1,170

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ₦1,416

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 ₦5,816

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,130

$0.38 ₦517

118.42%

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

$30.33 ₦41.3K

$30.54 ₦41.6K

-0.69%

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

$11.03 ₦15.0K

$6.16 ₦8,397

79.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.89 ₦57.1K

$47.01 ₦64.1K

-10.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.38 ₦61.9K

$23.17 ₦31.6K

95.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.65 ₦14.5K

Cinema Ticket

$8.22 ₦11.2K

$4.58 ₦6,237

79.48%

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

$133 ₦181.7K

$46.22 ₦63.0K

188.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,974 ₦2.7M

$421 ₦574.1K

368.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.26 ₦41.3K

$23.23 ₦31.7K

30.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.11 ₦39.7K

$34.89 ₦47.6K

-16.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 ₦92.1K

$59.2 ₦80.6K

14.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 ₦118.4K

$69.7 ₦94.9K

24.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,445 ₦3.3M

$586 ₦799.1K

317.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 ₦1.6M

$344 ₦469.5K

236.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,503 ₦7.5M

$1,159 ₦1.6M

374.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 ₦3.7M

$702 ₦956.6K

287.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$700 ₦954.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$366 ₦498.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 ₦227.9K

$50.8 ₦69.2K

229.46%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Ife: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,445 in Abuja and $586 in Ife. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 229% 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 $36.00 in Ife for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $114 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 126% in total monthly costs ($1,650 vs $731 including rent). Ife is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 229% 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: $2,445 in Abuja versus $586 in Ife. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $133 in Abuja versus $46.22 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 $45.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $731 in Ife versus $1,650 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 126% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.