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: $1,687 in Abuja versus $402 in Kaduna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,850 in Abuja versus $748 in Kaduna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,012 in Abuja versus $1,093 in Kaduna.

Living in Abuja is roughly 319% more expensive than Kaduna, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ₦2,812

$2.06 ₦2,837

-0.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.83 ₦61.7K

$35.56 ₦49.0K

26.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.70 ₦7,846

$3.63 ₦5,002

57.02%

Cappuccino

$2.54 ₦3,501

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

$0.55 ₦760

$0.36 ₦502

52.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₦573

$0.15 ₦202

180.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,478

$0.83 ₦1,146

28.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,639

$1.44 ₦1,988

-17.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.03 ₦4,179

$2.19 ₦3,009

38.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₦1,725

$1.00 ₦1,372

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₦3,457

$2.06 ₦2,841

21.84%

Eggs

$1.50 ₦2,072

$3.42 ₦4,704

-56.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.30 ₦7,292

$2.26 ₦3,117

134.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 ₦6,335

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.94 ₦5,429

$5.47 ₦7,531

-27.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 ₦4,223

$6.62 ₦9,117

-53.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,442

$3.56 ₦4,905

-50.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ₦3,009

$1.14 ₦1,575

92.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 ₦2,398

$1.84 ₦2,529

-5.43%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,967

$2.28 ₦3,143

-5.26%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ₦3,486

$2.29 ₦3,156

10.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ₦835

$0.34 ₦465

79.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦395

$0.35 ₦478

-17.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ₦3,390

Wine (Bottle)

$7.09 ₦9,760

$1.77 ₦2,437

300.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 ₦1,518

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₦1,964

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦883

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₦1,247

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ₦1,408

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 ₦5,901

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 ₦1,060

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

$30.29 ₦41.7K

$14.13 ₦19.5K

114.37%

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

$10.91 ₦15.0K

$7.04 ₦9,694

54.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.37 ₦58.3K

$33.28 ₦45.8K

27.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.96 ₦60.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.60 ₦14.6K

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ₦11.4K

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

$132 ₦181.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,979 ₦2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.71 ₦40.9K

$11.20 ₦15.4K

165.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.33 ₦40.4K

$21.03 ₦29.0K

39.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 ₦93.7K

$20.90 ₦28.8K

225.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.3 ₦117.4K

$21.11 ₦29.1K

303.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,487 ₦3.4M

$175 ₦240.9K

1321.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 ₦1.6M

$106 ₦146.2K

979.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,558 ₦7.7M

$498 ₦685.5K

1016.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,731 ₦3.8M

$276 ₦380.2K

889.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,141 ₦1.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,125 ₦1.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$285 ₦392.1K

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 Kaduna: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,487 in Abuja and $175 in Kaduna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Abuja vs $36.00 in Kaduna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 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 319% in total monthly costs ($1,687 vs $402 including rent). Kaduna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,530 in Abuja and $604 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: $2,487 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 $36.00 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 $402 in Kaduna – a 319% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $402 in Kaduna versus $1,687 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 319% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.