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: $1,650 in Abuja versus $389 in Kaduna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,777 in Abuja versus $734 in Kaduna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,905 in Abuja versus $1,079 in Kaduna.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 24% above, Kaduna is 71% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ₦2,760

$2.14 ₦2,913

-5.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.61 ₦60.9K

$35.40 ₦48.3K

26.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ₦7,652

$3.60 ₦4,904

55.83%

Cappuccino

$2.56 ₦3,498

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

$0.50 ₦688

$0.37 ₦499

35.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦526

$0.12 ₦168

225.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₦1,444

$0.82 ₦1,114

29.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₦1,612

$1.39 ₦1,894

-15.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.12 ₦4,253

$2.26 ₦3,086

38.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₦1,769

$1.00 ₦1,359

30.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₦3,294

$2.12 ₦2,897

13.68%

Eggs

$1.49 ₦2,030

$3.26 ₦4,450

-54.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.12 ₦6,982

$2.40 ₦3,268

113.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 ₦6,306

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,244

$5.72 ₦7,803

-32.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 ₦4,046

$6.44 ₦8,779

-53.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ₦2,315

$3.57 ₦4,876

-52.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,948

$1.13 ₦1,548

91.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,414

$1.88 ₦2,565

-5.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 ₦2,784

$2.38 ₦3,253

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 ₦3,470

$2.35 ₦3,208

8.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ₦775

$0.37 ₦500

54.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦428

$0.34 ₦467

-8.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 ₦3,438

Wine (Bottle)

$5.74 ₦7,824

$1.88 ₦2,563

205.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₦1,438

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ₦1,417

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 ₦5,821

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,131

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

$30.33 ₦41.4K

$14.09 ₦19.2K

115.26%

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

$11.03 ₦15.1K

$7.24 ₦9,883

52.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.89 ₦57.2K

$33.90 ₦46.2K

23.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.38 ₦61.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.65 ₦14.5K

Cinema Ticket

$8.22 ₦11.2K

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

$133 ₦181.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,974 ₦2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.26 ₦41.3K

$11.36 ₦15.5K

166.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.11 ₦39.7K

$20.93 ₦28.6K

39.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 ₦92.2K

$21.04 ₦28.7K

221.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 ₦118.5K

$20.84 ₦28.4K

316.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,445 ₦3.3M

$170 ₦231.9K

1338.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 ₦1.6M

$107 ₦146.3K

979.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,503 ₦7.5M

$494 ₦673.8K

1014.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 ₦3.7M

$274 ₦373.7K

891.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$700 ₦955.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$366 ₦499.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 ₦228.1K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Kaduna: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,445 in Abuja and $170 in Kaduna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Abuja vs $35.00 in Kaduna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $167 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 ($1,650 vs $389 including rent). Kaduna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,475 in Abuja and $584 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: $2,445 in Abuja versus $170 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 $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 $389 in Kaduna – a 324% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $389 in Kaduna versus $1,650 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.