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: $1,687 in Abuja versus $1,002 in Jos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,850 in Abuja versus $1,365 in Jos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,012 in Abuja versus $1,728 in Jos.

Living in Abuja is roughly 68% more expensive than Jos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 26% above, Jos is 25% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ₦2,789

$1.29 ₦1,761

58.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.83 ₦61.2K

$13.85 ₦18.9K

223.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.70 ₦7,783

$4.70 ₦6,420

21.28%

Cappuccino

$2.54 ₦3,472

$2.33 ₦3,178

9.01%

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

$0.55 ₦754

$0.34 ₦471

61.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₦568

$0.25 ₦342

68.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,466

$0.69 ₦941

55.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,626

Milk (1 liter)

$3.03 ₦4,145

$3.65 ₦4,989

-16.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₦1,711

$0.95 ₦1,300

31.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₦3,429

$3.29 ₦4,491

-23.71%

Eggs

$1.50 ₦2,055

$2.95 ₦4,029

-49.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.30 ₦7,233

$9.91 ₦13.5K

-46.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 ₦6,284

$5.11 ₦6,985

-9.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.94 ₦5,385

$4.59 ₦6,265

-14.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 ₦4,189

$4.11 ₦5,608

-25.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,422

$4.89 ₦6,679

-63.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ₦2,985

$2.72 ₦3,718

-19.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 ₦2,378

$4.03 ₦5,498

-56.82%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,943

$2.28 ₦3,118

-5.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ₦3,458

$1.98 ₦2,698

27.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ₦828

$0.64 ₦870

-4.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦391

$0.71 ₦974

-59.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ₦3,363

Wine (Bottle)

$7.09 ₦9,681

$3.98 ₦5,442

78.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 ₦1,505

$0.74 ₦1,004

48.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₦1,948

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦876

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₦1,237

$1.01 ₦1,382

-9.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ₦1,397

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 ₦5,854

$10.14 ₦13.8K

-57.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 ₦1,052

$0.96 ₦1,312

-19.79%

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

$30.29 ₦41.4K

$98.7 ₦134.8K

-69.31%

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

$10.91 ₦14.9K

$9.98 ₦13.6K

9.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.37 ₦57.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.96 ₦60.0K

$39.33 ₦53.7K

11.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.60 ₦14.5K

$12.15 ₦16.6K

-12.76%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ₦11.3K

$8.77 ₦12.0K

-5.82%

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

$132 ₦180.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,979 ₦2.7M

$990 ₦1.4M

99.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.71 ₦40.6K

$10.01 ₦13.7K

196.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.33 ₦40.1K

$14.95 ₦20.4K

96.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 ₦92.9K

$50.1 ₦68.5K

35.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.3 ₦116.5K

$49.78 ₦68.0K

71.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,487 ₦3.4M

$697 ₦951.3K

257.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 ₦1.6M

$475 ₦649.3K

141.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,558 ₦7.6M

$875 ₦1.2M

535.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,731 ₦3.7M

$603 ₦822.9K

353.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,141 ₦1.6M

$1,960 ₦2.7M

-41.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,125 ₦1.5M

$1,521 ₦2.1M

-26.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$285 ₦388.9K

$108 ₦148.1K

162.71%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jos: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,487 in Abuja and $697 in Jos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 163% 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 $193 vs $255, 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 68% in total monthly costs ($1,687 vs $1,002 including rent). Jos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Abuja pays 163% 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: $2,487 in Abuja versus $697 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 $1,687 per month in Abuja versus $1,002 in Jos – a 68% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,002 in Jos versus $1,687 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 68% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.