Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Kaduna Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Kaduna

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,698 in Abuja versus $400 in Kaduna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,805 in Abuja versus $728 in Kaduna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,911 in Abuja versus $1,057 in Kaduna.

Living in Abuja is roughly 324% more expensive than Kaduna, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 26% above, Kaduna is 70% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 ₦2,792

$2.07 ₦2,817

-0.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 ₦60.3K

$34.66 ₦47.1K

28.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ₦7,458

$3.50 ₦4,754

56.57%

Cappuccino

$2.55 ₦3,470

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

$0.52 ₦701

$0.33 ₦454

57.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₦561

$0.13 ₦170

215.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 ₦1,505

$0.87 ₦1,190

27.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₦1,563

$1.37 ₦1,866

-16.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.14 ₦4,272

$2.19 ₦2,977

43.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ₦1,716

$1.00 ₦1,361

26.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 ₦3,347

$2.07 ₦2,818

18.84%

Eggs

$1.54 ₦2,094

$3.29 ₦4,477

-53.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.17 ₦7,031

$2.27 ₦3,087

127.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 ₦6,270

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.83 ₦5,207

$5.48 ₦7,452

-30.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 ₦4,152

$6.45 ₦8,777

-52.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 ₦2,388

$3.52 ₦4,785

-50.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 ₦2,945

$1.19 ₦1,618

82.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,402

$1.89 ₦2,564

-6.35%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 ₦2,802

$2.34 ₦3,189

-11.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 ₦3,433

$2.36 ₦3,216

6.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ₦775

$0.37 ₦499

54.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦394

$0.37 ₦508

-21.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 ₦3,337

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ₦7,720

$1.80 ₦2,448

215.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₦1,439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₦1,909

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦868

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₦1,183

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ₦1,388

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 ₦5,747

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₦1,139

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

$30.68 ₦41.7K

$14.10 ₦19.2K

117.59%

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

$10.95 ₦14.9K

$7.26 ₦9,870

50.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.93 ₦55.6K

$32.99 ₦44.9K

24.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.64 ₦62.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.57 ₦14.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.46 ₦11.5K

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

$133 ₦180.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,986 ₦2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.31 ₦41.2K

$11.39 ₦15.5K

166.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.98 ₦39.4K

$21.39 ₦29.1K

35.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 ₦91.9K

$21.30 ₦29.0K

217.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 ₦117.1K

$21.21 ₦28.8K

305.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,414 ₦3.3M

$175 ₦238.4K

1276.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₦1.6M

$105 ₦142.5K

1020.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,508 ₦7.5M

$488 ₦664.1K

1027.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,674 ₦3.6M

$271 ₦368.6K

886.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$366 ₦497.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 ₦222.9K

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 6, 2026

Last update for Kaduna: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,414 in Abuja and $175 in Kaduna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Abuja vs $35.00 in Kaduna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $166 per month, with Kaduna 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 Kaduna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Kaduna differ by about 324% in total monthly costs ($1,698 vs $400 including rent). Kaduna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,547 in Abuja and $600 in Kaduna to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,414 in Abuja versus $175 in Kaduna. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kaduna – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $44.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,698 per month in Abuja versus $400 in Kaduna – a 324% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $400 in Kaduna versus $1,698 in Abuja, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kaduna but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Kaduna 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 Kaduna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 324% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.