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: $1,121 in Abuja versus $539 in Jos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,034 in Abuja versus $1,124 in Jos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,947 in Abuja versus $1,709 in Jos.

Living in Abuja is roughly 108% more expensive than in Jos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abuja 18% lower, Jos 61% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 ₦2,940

$2.13 ₦2,817

4.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.30 ₦40.1K

$30.77 ₦40.8K

-1.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.44 ₦5,890

$4.69 ₦6,213

-5.33%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ₦4,407

$3.41 ₦4,525

-2.35%

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

$0.51 ₦682

$0.51 ₦674

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₦943

$0.72 ₦956

-1.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,414

$1.02 ₦1,351

4.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₦2,767

$2.19 ₦2,900

-4.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.62 ₦4,796

$3.71 ₦4,917

-2.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ₦1,734

$0.85 ₦1,125

54.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₦2,881

$2.25 ₦2,982

-3.56%

Eggs

$1.88 ₦2,489

$1.82 ₦2,413

3.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 ₦14.8K

$9.86 ₦13.1K

13.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.39 ₦7,143

$4.91 ₦6,506

9.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.90 ₦7,824

$4.21 ₦5,585

40.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 ₦2,741

$1.98 ₦2,628

4.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₦1,891

$1.45 ₦1,925

-1.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ₦2,003

$1.49 ₦1,976

1.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 ₦3,131

$2.34 ₦3,097

0.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₦2,397

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 ₦3,295

$2.44 ₦3,237

2.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ₦741

$0.55 ₦732

1.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₦492

$0.37 ₦497

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 ₦2,671

$1.97 ₦2,614

2.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 ₦7,568

$5.98 ₦7,921

-4.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,583

$1.18 ₦1,568

0.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₦2,452

$1.79 ₦2,371

3.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₦481

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.36 ₦42.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 ₦821

$0.57 ₦762

8.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 ₦1,163

$0.85 ₦1,127

3.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₦2,483

$1.93 ₦2,563

-3.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 ₦719

$0.54 ₦718

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

$25.8K ₦34.2M

$25.7K ₦34.1M

0.43%

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

$18.2K ₦24.1M

-0.04%

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

$111 ₦146.7K

$99.5 ₦131.9K

11.25%

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

$6.61 ₦8,758

$6.42 ₦8,501

2.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.79 ₦38.2K

$28.73 ₦38.1K

0.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.48 ₦48.3K

$39.37 ₦52.2K

-7.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ₦14.7K

$12.08 ₦16.0K

-8.36%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 ₦6,603

$4.89 ₦6,480

1.84%

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

$44.89 ₦59.5K

$45.71 ₦60.6K

-1.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,151 ₦4.2M

$997 ₦1.3M

216.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.50 ₦33.8K

$9.94 ₦13.2K

156.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ₦80.3K

$15.16 ₦20.1K

299.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ₦102.7K

$50.6 ₦67.0K

53.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₦140.2K

$50.9 ₦67.5K

107.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,391 ₦1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 ₦603.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,403 ₦4.5M

$568 ₦753.1K

498.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 ₦2.0M

$483 ₦639.8K

217.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$701 ₦928.4K

$2,033 ₦2.7M

-65.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$380 ₦504.1K

$1,484 ₦2.0M

-74.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 ₦218.4K

$98.8 ₦130.9K

66.77%

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Jos: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Abuja pays 67% 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: $30.00 in Abuja vs $31.00 in Jos. Groceries flip the comparison at $219 vs $203, with Jos 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 108% in total monthly costs ($1,121 vs $539 including rent). Jos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 67% higher in Abuja, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $44.89 in Abuja versus $45.71 in Jos. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Jos – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $30.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $539 in Jos versus $1,121 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 108% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.