Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Maiduguri Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Maiduguri

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,687 in Abuja versus $186 in Maiduguri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,850 in Abuja versus $342 in Maiduguri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,012 in Abuja versus $497 in Maiduguri.

Living in Abuja is roughly 808% more expensive than Maiduguri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 26% above, Maiduguri is 86% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.04 ₦2,789

$1.52 ₦2,075

34.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.83 ₦61.2K

$12.11 ₦16.5K

270.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.70 ₦7,783

$2.85 ₦3,893

100.00%

Cappuccino

$2.54 ₦3,472

$1.30 ₦1,777

95.38%

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

$0.55 ₦754

$0.37 ₦512

48.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₦568

$0.29 ₦400

44.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,466

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,626

Milk (1 liter)

$3.03 ₦4,145

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₦1,711

$0.98 ₦1,340

27.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₦3,429

$1.95 ₦2,657

28.72%

Eggs

$1.50 ₦2,055

$1.78 ₦2,437

-15.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.30 ₦7,233

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 ₦6,284

$4.94 ₦6,747

-6.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.94 ₦5,385

$4.10 ₦5,599

-3.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 ₦4,189

$3.91 ₦5,339

-21.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,422

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 ₦2,985

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 ₦2,378

$1.03 ₦1,402

68.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,943

$1.46 ₦1,994

47.95%

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ₦3,458

$0.97 ₦1,327

160.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.61 ₦828

$0.42 ₦571

45.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦391

$0.29 ₦393

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ₦3,363

Wine (Bottle)

$7.09 ₦9,681

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 ₦1,505

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₦1,948

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦876

$0.57 ₦777

12.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₦1,237

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ₦1,397

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.29 ₦5,854

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 ₦1,052

$0.39 ₦533

97.44%

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

$30.29 ₦41.4K

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

$10.91 ₦14.9K

$8.15 ₦11.1K

33.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.37 ₦57.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.96 ₦60.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.60 ₦14.5K

$7.98 ₦10.9K

32.83%

Cinema Ticket

$8.26 ₦11.3K

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

$132 ₦180.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,979 ₦2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.71 ₦40.6K

$19.97 ₦27.3K

48.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.33 ₦40.1K

$18.17 ₦24.8K

61.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.0 ₦92.9K

$24.96 ₦34.1K

172.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.3 ₦116.5K

$24.74 ₦33.8K

244.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,487 ₦3.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 ₦1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,558 ₦7.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,731 ₦3.7M

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 ₦388.9K

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Maiduguri: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $45.00 in Abuja vs $12.00 in Maiduguri for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $98.0 per month, with Maiduguri 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 Maiduguri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Maiduguri differ by about 808% in total monthly costs ($1,687 vs $186 including rent). Maiduguri 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 $279 in Maiduguri 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Maiduguri – a meal for two runs $12.00 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 $186 in Maiduguri – a 808% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $186 in Maiduguri versus $1,687 in Abuja, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maiduguri but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Maiduguri 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 Maiduguri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 808% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.