Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Lagos Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Lagos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,087 in Abuja versus $960 in Lagos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,038 in Abuja versus $1,873 in Lagos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,990 in Abuja versus $2,785 in Lagos.

Living in Abuja is roughly 13% more expensive than in Lagos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abuja 21% lower, Lagos 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.19 ₦2,908

$3.74 ₦4,964

-41.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.76 ₦39.5K

$49.00 ₦65.0K

-39.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 ₦6,088

$7.51 ₦9,955

-38.88%

Cappuccino

$3.37 ₦4,465

$2.88 ₦3,818

17.01%

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

$0.52 ₦689

$0.42 ₦553

23.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₦931

$0.25 ₦334

180.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₦1,412

$0.98 ₦1,297

8.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ₦2,830

$1.97 ₦2,614

8.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.61 ₦4,791

$3.17 ₦4,205

13.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 ₦1,688

$1.41 ₦1,867

-9.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₦2,984

$1.21 ₦1,604

85.95%

Eggs

$1.84 ₦2,436

$2.28 ₦3,018

-19.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 ₦14.5K

$3.43 ₦4,551

219.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.29 ₦7,015

$3.80 ₦5,036

39.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.78 ₦7,671

$4.50 ₦5,968

28.44%

Apples (1kg)

$1.96 ₦2,604

$1.63 ₦2,163

20.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₦1,973

$1.25 ₦1,655

19.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ₦2,033

$1.09 ₦1,441

40.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₦3,090

$1.33 ₦1,758

75.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.85 ₦2,453

$1.37 ₦1,817

35.04%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 ₦3,125

$1.36 ₦1,798

73.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 ₦722

$0.90 ₦1,197

-40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₦485

$0.37 ₦490

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.03 ₦2,687

$0.57 ₦760

256.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.87 ₦7,785

$2.58 ₦3,424

127.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₦1,646

$0.50 ₦669

148.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₦2,456

$0.46 ₦605

302.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₦507

$0.43 ₦565

-11.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.15 ₦42.6K

$19.34 ₦25.6K

66.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.59 ₦776

$0.70 ₦931

-15.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 ₦1,078

$0.96 ₦1,273

-15.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 ₦2,540

$2.22 ₦2,946

-13.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 ₦715

$0.84 ₦1,110

-35.71%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.6K ₦35.2M

$11.2K ₦14.9M

137.02%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$17.8K ₦23.7M

$13.6K ₦18.0M

31.66%

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

$112 ₦148.5K

$110 ₦146.3K

1.48%

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

$6.27 ₦8,318

$16.11 ₦21.4K

-61.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.02 ₦38.5K

$32.07 ₦42.5K

-9.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.34 ₦48.2K

$26.82 ₦35.6K

35.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.87 ₦14.4K

$6.67 ₦8,850

62.97%

Cinema Ticket

$4.83 ₦6,401

$4.63 ₦6,135

4.32%

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

$45.61 ₦60.5K

$672 ₦891.1K

-93.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,087 ₦4.1M

$20.2K ₦26.8M

-84.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.48 ₦33.8K

$14.78 ₦19.6K

72.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.2 ₦79.8K

$18.02 ₦23.9K

234.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.8 ₦104.5K

$35.66 ₦47.3K

121.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₦140.3K

$47.67 ₦63.2K

122.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 ₦1.8M

$715 ₦947.8K

92.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₦592.5K

$424 ₦561.8K

5.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,314 ₦4.4M

$2,808 ₦3.7M

18.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,546 ₦2.1M

$1,483 ₦2.0M

4.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$690 ₦915.5K

$3,185 ₦4.2M

-78.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$368 ₦487.5K

$1,622 ₦2.2M

-77.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 ₦225.2K

$119 ₦158.1K

42.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

18.05

24.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abuja: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lagos: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,374 in Abuja and $715 in Lagos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 42% 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: $30.00 in Abuja vs $49.00 in Lagos. Groceries flip the comparison at $217 vs $153, with Lagos 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 Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Lagos differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($1,087 vs $960 including rent). Lagos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 42% higher in Abuja, 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: $1,374 in Abuja versus $715 in Lagos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,087 per month in Abuja versus $960 in Lagos – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Lagos runs roughly 66% less than in Abuja. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $960 in Lagos versus $1,087 in Abuja, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lagos but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Lagos 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 Lagos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.