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: $1,650 in Abuja versus $1,025 in Jos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,777 in Abuja versus $1,409 in Jos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,905 in Abuja versus $1,792 in Jos.

Living in Abuja is roughly 61% more expensive than in Jos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 24% above, Jos is 23% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ₦2,760

$1.31 ₦1,791

54.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.61 ₦60.9K

$13.82 ₦18.9K

222.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ₦7,652

$4.56 ₦6,214

23.03%

Cappuccino

$2.56 ₦3,498

$2.36 ₦3,220

8.47%

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

$0.50 ₦688

$0.34 ₦469

47.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦526

$0.25 ₦343

56.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₦1,444

$0.69 ₦935

53.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₦1,612

Milk (1 liter)

$3.12 ₦4,253

$3.61 ₦4,924

-13.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₦1,769

$0.89 ₦1,214

46.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₦3,294

$3.42 ₦4,662

-29.53%

Eggs

$1.49 ₦2,030

$2.92 ₦3,981

-48.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.12 ₦6,982

$10.07 ₦13.7K

-49.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 ₦6,306

$4.98 ₦6,787

-7.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,244

$4.41 ₦6,020

-12.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 ₦4,046

$4.11 ₦5,613

-27.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ₦2,315

$4.97 ₦6,779

-65.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,948

$2.74 ₦3,739

-21.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,414

$3.95 ₦5,385

-55.19%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 ₦2,784

$2.30 ₦3,141

-11.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 ₦3,470

$1.97 ₦2,688

28.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ₦775

$0.64 ₦874

-10.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦428

$0.77 ₦1,057

-59.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 ₦3,438

Wine (Bottle)

$5.74 ₦7,824

$5.78 ₦7,887

-0.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₦1,438

$0.74 ₦1,016

41.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₦1,983

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 ₦932

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₦1,171

$0.98 ₦1,331

-12.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ₦1,417

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 ₦5,821

$9.88 ₦13.5K

-56.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,131

$0.88 ₦1,198

-5.68%

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

$30.33 ₦41.4K

$100 ₦137.0K

-69.80%

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

$11.03 ₦15.1K

$9.95 ₦13.6K

10.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.89 ₦57.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.38 ₦61.9K

$40.13 ₦54.7K

13.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.65 ₦14.5K

$12.12 ₦16.5K

-12.13%

Cinema Ticket

$8.22 ₦11.2K

$9.23 ₦12.6K

-10.94%

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

$133 ₦181.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,974 ₦2.7M

$985 ₦1.3M

100.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.26 ₦41.3K

$9.94 ₦13.6K

204.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.11 ₦39.7K

$14.79 ₦20.2K

96.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 ₦92.2K

$50.9 ₦69.4K

32.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 ₦118.5K

$50.6 ₦69.0K

71.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,445 ₦3.3M

$696 ₦949.7K

251.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 ₦1.6M

$472 ₦643.2K

145.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,503 ₦7.5M

$850 ₦1.2M

547.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 ₦3.7M

$606 ₦827.3K

347.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$700 ₦955.1K

$2,033 ₦2.8M

-65.56%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$366 ₦499.0K

$1,478 ₦2.0M

-75.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 ₦228.1K

$68.2 ₦93.0K

145.31%

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 Jos: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,445 in Abuja and $696 in Jos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 145% 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 $189 vs $258, 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 61% in total monthly costs ($1,650 vs $1,025 including rent). Jos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 145% 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 $696 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 $1,650 per month in Abuja versus $1,025 in Jos – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,025 in Jos versus $1,650 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 61% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.