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: $1,121 in Abuja versus $306 in Kaduna.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,034 in Abuja versus $541 in Kaduna.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,947 in Abuja versus $776 in Kaduna.

Living in Abuja is roughly 266% more expensive than in Kaduna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abuja 18% lower, Kaduna 78% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abuja
Kaduna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.22 ₦2,947
$1.10 ₦1,461
101.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.30 ₦40.2K
$18.75 ₦24.9K
61.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.44 ₦5,904
$1.85 ₦2,452
140.00%
Cappuccino
$3.33 ₦4,418
$3.28 ₦4,364
1.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₦683
$0.21 ₦275
142.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 ₦945
$0.07 ₦96.7
914.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.07 ₦1,417
$0.47 ₦628
127.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 ₦2,774
$0.78 ₦1,042
167.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abuja
Kaduna
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.62 ₦4,807
$1.50 ₦1,990
141.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.31 ₦1,738
$0.46 ₦609
184.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ₦2,888
$0.69 ₦920
214.49%
Eggs
$1.88 ₦2,495
$1.29 ₦1,712
45.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.16 ₦14.8K
$0.72 ₦955
1450.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.39 ₦7,161
$5.14 ₦6,833
4.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.90 ₦7,843
$1.86 ₦2,472
217.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 ₦2,748
$2.05 ₦2,719
0.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 ₦1,896
$1.11 ₦1,470
28.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 ₦2,008
$0.40 ₦526
277.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 ₦3,139
$0.57 ₦764
314.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 ₦2,403
$0.71 ₦948
154.93%
Onion (1kg)
$2.49 ₦3,303
$0.77 ₦1,026
223.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 ₦743
$0.16 ₦210
250.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₦494
$0.14 ₦189
164.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.02 ₦2,678
$1.98 ₦2,625
2.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.71 ₦7,586
$1.84 ₦2,448
210.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 ₦1,586
$1.18 ₦1,572
0.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85 ₦2,458
$1.78 ₦2,361
3.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Abuja
Kaduna
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₦482
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$32.36 ₦43.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.62 ₦823
$0.58 ₦766
6.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.88 ₦1,166
$0.86 ₦1,146
2.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 ₦2,489
$1.87 ₦2,484
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.54 ₦721
$0.55 ₦732
-1.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8K ₦34.3M
$25.9K ₦34.4M
-0.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ₦24.2M
$18.5K ₦24.6M
-1.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abuja
Kaduna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$111 ₦147.1K
$7.57 ₦10.1K
1362.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.61 ₦8,780
$3.68 ₦4,890
79.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.79 ₦38.2K
$18.53 ₦24.6K
55.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abuja
Kaduna
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.48 ₦48.5K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.07 ₦14.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.98 ₦6,619
$4.79 ₦6,367
3.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abuja
Kaduna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$44.89 ₦59.6K
$45.95 ₦61.0K
-2.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,151 ₦4.2M
$3,163 ₦4.2M
-0.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abuja
Kaduna
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.50 ₦33.9K
$5.89 ₦7,829
332.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.6 ₦80.5K
$11.12 ₦14.8K
444.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.5 ₦103.0K
$11.21 ₦14.9K
591.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 ₦140.6K
$11.22 ₦14.9K
843.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abuja
Kaduna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,391 ₦1.8M
$130 ₦172.1K
974.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$455 ₦604.8K
$86.6 ₦115.1K
425.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,403 ₦4.5M
$437 ₦580.5K
678.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,533 ₦2.0M
$228 ₦302.6K
573.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$701 ₦930.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$380 ₦505.3K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abuja
Kaduna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$165 ₦218.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.5
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 Kaduna: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,391 in Abuja and $130 in Kaduna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $30.00 in Abuja vs $19.00 in Kaduna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $101 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
What is the total cost difference between living in Abuja and in Kaduna?
Abuja and Kaduna differ by about 266% in total monthly costs ($1,121 vs $306 including rent). Kaduna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Abuja compared to Kaduna?
You'd need roughly $1,681 in Abuja and $459 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Abuja and in Kaduna?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,391 in Abuja versus $130 in Kaduna. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Abuja and Kaduna?
Childcare runs $44.89 in Abuja versus $45.95 in Kaduna. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kaduna – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $30.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $306 in Kaduna versus $1,121 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.
How does quality of life compare between Abuja and Kaduna?
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.
Where should expats move: Abuja or Kaduna?
Expats usually find Kaduna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 266% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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