Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Jos Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Jos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,704 in Abuja versus $985 in Jos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,864 in Abuja versus $1,371 in Jos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,024 in Abuja versus $1,757 in Jos.

Living in Abuja is roughly 73% more expensive than Jos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 28% above, Jos is 26% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.96 ₦2,662

$1.32 ₦1,784

48.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.87 ₦60.8K

$14.17 ₦19.2K

216.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.50 ₦7,456

$4.76 ₦6,458

15.55%

Cappuccino

$2.50 ₦3,392

$2.33 ₦3,163

7.30%

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

$0.51 ₦691

$0.35 ₦472

45.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₦521

$0.23 ₦310

65.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.08 ₦1,462

$0.69 ₦941

56.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,614

Milk (1 liter)

$3.15 ₦4,271

$3.60 ₦4,878

-12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ₦1,775

$0.92 ₦1,249

42.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.50 ₦3,389

$3.27 ₦4,431

-23.55%

Eggs

$1.50 ₦2,039

$2.97 ₦4,022

-49.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.40 ₦7,316

$10.12 ₦13.7K

-46.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.40 ₦5,960

$4.92 ₦6,667

-10.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.97 ₦5,381

$4.55 ₦6,174

-12.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 ₦4,205

$4.12 ₦5,583

-24.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 ₦2,422

$5.14 ₦6,969

-65.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 ₦2,920

$2.69 ₦3,641

-20.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 ₦2,330

$4.03 ₦5,469

-57.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 ₦2,914

$2.28 ₦3,091

-5.70%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 ₦3,422

$1.94 ₦2,633

29.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ₦780

$0.61 ₦820

-4.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦387

$0.71 ₦965

-59.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 ₦3,306

Wine (Bottle)

$5.61 ₦7,600

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ₦1,447

$0.75 ₦1,019

42.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 ₦2,001

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 ₦893

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₦1,175

$1.01 ₦1,374

-13.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ₦1,409

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.35 ₦5,898

$10.18 ₦13.8K

-57.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₦1,108

$0.94 ₦1,278

-12.77%

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

$31.17 ₦42.3K

$100 ₦136.1K

-68.94%

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

$10.68 ₦14.5K

$10.05 ₦13.6K

6.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.14 ₦55.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.94 ₦60.9K

$40.07 ₦54.3K

12.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.79 ₦14.6K

$12.10 ₦16.4K

-10.83%

Cinema Ticket

$8.19 ₦11.1K

$9.04 ₦12.3K

-9.40%

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

$132 ₦179.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,951 ₦2.6M

$1,018 ₦1.4M

91.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.26 ₦39.7K

$9.93 ₦13.5K

194.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.81 ₦39.1K

$15.26 ₦20.7K

88.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 ₦93.7K

$49.76 ₦67.5K

38.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.0 ₦113.9K

$51.0 ₦69.1K

64.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,502 ₦3.4M

$699 ₦948.0K

257.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,176 ₦1.6M

$468 ₦634.3K

151.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,398 ₦7.3M

$860 ₦1.2M

527.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,647 ₦3.6M

$602 ₦816.3K

339.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ₦2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$367 ₦496.8K

$1,503 ₦2.0M

-75.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$171 ₦232.0K

$68.8 ₦93.2K

148.83%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Jos: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,502 in Abuja and $699 in Jos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 149% 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 $14.00 in Jos. Groceries flip the comparison at $191 vs $247, with Abuja cheaper for home cooking.

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 Jos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Jos differ by about 73% in total monthly costs ($1,704 vs $985 including rent). Jos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Abuja pays 149% 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: $2,502 in Abuja versus $699 in Jos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Jos – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $45.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,704 per month in Abuja versus $985 in Jos – a 73% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $985 in Jos versus $1,704 in Abuja, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Jos but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Jos 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 Jos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 73% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.