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: $1,095 in Abuja versus $2,411 in Ikeja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,028 in Abuja versus $4,102 in Ikeja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,962 in Abuja versus $5,792 in Ikeja.

Living in Abuja costs roughly 55% less than in Ikeja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 21% below, Ikeja is 75% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 ₦2,897

$0.53 ₦706

313.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.48 ₦40.4K

$11.37 ₦15.1K

168.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.46 ₦5,908

$7.41 ₦9,821

-39.81%

Cappuccino

$3.28 ₦4,352

$2.72 ₦3,600

20.59%

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

$0.55 ₦736

$0.15 ₦196

266.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₦961

$0.06 ₦81.8

1100.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,415

$0.31 ₦412

245.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₦2,790

$2.02 ₦2,677

4.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.63 ₦4,817

$0.72 ₦956

404.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₦1,724

$0.72 ₦953

80.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.19 ₦2,897

$1.20 ₦1,594

82.50%

Eggs

$1.88 ₦2,495

$2.23 ₦2,955

-15.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 ₦14.8K

$3.56 ₦4,719

213.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.21 ₦6,901

$3.98 ₦5,272

30.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.98 ₦7,925

$4.43 ₦5,869

34.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.99 ₦2,639

$1.70 ₦2,257

17.06%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₦1,895

$1.29 ₦1,712

10.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 ₦2,041

$1.13 ₦1,499

36.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₦3,093

$1.27 ₦1,679

83.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.87 ₦2,482

$1.32 ₦1,745

41.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.46 ₦3,256

$1.30 ₦1,717

89.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₦794

$0.83 ₦1,104

-27.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₦503

$0.39 ₦519

-2.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 ₦2,725

$0.55 ₦724

274.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.80 ₦7,687

$2.68 ₦3,553

116.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,576

$0.54 ₦720

120.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₦2,447

$0.46 ₦608

302.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ₦525

$0.10 ₦131

300.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.32 ₦44.2K

$3.44 ₦4,562

868.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 ₦772

$0.70 ₦921

-17.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 ₦1,076

$0.92 ₦1,213

-11.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.94 ₦2,570

$2.23 ₦2,961

-13.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 ₦726

$0.14 ₦186

292.86%

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

$26.5K ₦35.1M

$11.2K ₦14.9M

135.81%

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

$18.3K ₦24.3M

$13.4K ₦17.7M

37.10%

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

$113 ₦149.6K

$110 ₦145.3K

2.97%

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

$6.56 ₦8,691

$16.20 ₦21.5K

-59.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.15 ₦38.6K

$33.03 ₦43.8K

-11.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.66 ₦47.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.81 ₦14.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.90 ₦6,488

$4.67 ₦6,193

4.93%

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

$45.43 ₦60.2K

$662 ₦877.0K

-93.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,219 ₦4.3M

$19.6K ₦26.0M

-83.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.57 ₦33.9K

$14.46 ₦19.2K

76.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.1 ₦81.0K

$18.41 ₦24.4K

231.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.2 ₦103.6K

$35.95 ₦47.6K

117.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₦142.1K

$47.64 ₦63.1K

125.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,426 ₦1.9M

$3,447 ₦4.6M

-58.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$439 ₦581.7K

$1,984 ₦2.6M

-77.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,407 ₦4.5M

$6,568 ₦8.7M

-48.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,515 ₦2.0M

$4,908 ₦6.5M

-69.14%

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

$74.0 ₦98.1K

124.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

18.05

24.65%

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

Last update for Abuja: September 8, 2026

Last update for Ikeja: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,426 in Abuja and $3,447 in Ikeja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 124% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $30.00 in Abuja vs $11.00 in Ikeja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $123 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 120% in total monthly costs ($1,095 vs $2,411 including rent). Abuja is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 124% 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 $3,447 in Ikeja. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,095 per month in Abuja versus $2,411 in Ikeja – a 120% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Abuja runs roughly 869% less than in Ikeja. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,095 in Abuja versus $2,411 in Ikeja, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Abuja but tight or insufficient in Ikeja. The gap between the two cities makes Abuja 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 Abuja gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Ikeja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.