Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Ikeja Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Ikeja

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,671 in Abuja versus $1,056 in Ikeja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,827 in Abuja versus $1,641 in Ikeja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,983 in Abuja versus $2,227 in Ikeja.

Living in Abuja is roughly 58% more expensive than Ikeja, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 25% above, Ikeja is 21% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ₦2,725

$1.50 ₦2,024

34.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.88 ₦60.5K

$32.42 ₦43.7K

38.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.56 ₦7,500

$5.26 ₦7,096

5.70%

Cappuccino

$2.42 ₦3,262

$2.20 ₦2,962

10.00%

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

$0.52 ₦700

$0.34 ₦456

52.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₦557

$0.20 ₦270

105.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₦1,427

$0.85 ₦1,140

24.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,612

$1.44 ₦1,947

-17.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.10 ₦4,176

$2.11 ₦2,853

46.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ₦1,696

$1.24 ₦1,674

1.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₦3,257

$2.33 ₦3,144

3.43%

Eggs

$1.56 ₦2,100

$1.76 ₦2,370

-11.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.18 ₦6,988

$6.25 ₦8,432

-17.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.53 ₦6,115

$4.16 ₦5,608

8.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.90 ₦5,261

$5.30 ₦7,154

-26.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 ₦3,988

$3.60 ₦4,851

-17.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,385

$2.03 ₦2,742

-12.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ₦2,956

$2.10 ₦2,833

4.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 ₦2,357

$2.37 ₦3,192

-26.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 ₦2,808

$2.38 ₦3,206

-12.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ₦3,305

$2.01 ₦2,706

21.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ₦823

$2.00 ₦2,693

-69.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦419

$0.35 ₦477

-11.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.56 ₦3,457

$1.26 ₦1,705

103.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.40 ₦9,977

$3.14 ₦4,232

135.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 ₦1,486

$0.64 ₦857

71.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₦1,894

$0.95 ₦1,276

47.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ₦936

$0.31 ₦425

122.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.91 ₦13.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₦1,172

$1.24 ₦1,667

-29.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ₦1,399

$2.15 ₦2,899

-51.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.34 ₦5,852

$4.61 ₦6,221

-5.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₦1,111

$0.38 ₦515

115.79%

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

$20.2K ₦27.2M

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

$20.9K ₦28.2M

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

$30.67 ₦41.4K

$41.16 ₦55.5K

-25.49%

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

$10.93 ₦14.7K

$10.05 ₦13.6K

8.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.27 ₦55.7K

$33.91 ₦45.7K

21.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.29 ₦59.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.93 ₦14.7K

Cinema Ticket

$8.45 ₦11.4K

$6.47 ₦8,728

30.60%

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

$135 ₦181.9K

$83.2 ₦112.2K

62.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,940 ₦2.6M

$2,341 ₦3.2M

-17.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.00 ₦40.5K

$19.37 ₦26.1K

54.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.55 ₦38.5K

$24.74 ₦33.4K

15.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 ₦93.3K

$63.4 ₦85.5K

9.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.2 ₦117.7K

$58.1 ₦78.4K

50.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,485 ₦3.4M

$845 ₦1.1M

193.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,149 ₦1.5M

$614 ₦827.9K

87.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,469 ₦7.4M

$1,906 ₦2.6M

186.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,705 ₦3.6M

$1,195 ₦1.6M

126.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,138 ₦1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,135 ₦1.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$283 ₦381.6K

$126 ₦169.6K

124.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

16.33

37.78%

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

Last update for Abuja: April 19, 2026

Last update for Ikeja: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,485 in Abuja and $845 in Ikeja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 125% 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 in Abuja vs $32 in Ikeja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $190 per month, with Ikeja 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 Ikeja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Ikeja differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($1,671 vs $1,056 including rent). Ikeja is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Abuja pays 125% 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: $2,485 in Abuja versus $845 in Ikeja. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $135 in Abuja versus $83.2 in Ikeja. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ikeja – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $45.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $1,056 in Ikeja versus $1,671 in Abuja, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ikeja but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Ikeja 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.

Safety-wise, Abuja and Ikeja are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ikeja gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.