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: $1,121 in Abuja versus $173 in Maiduguri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,034 in Abuja versus $294 in Maiduguri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,947 in Abuja versus $416 in Maiduguri.

Living in Abuja is roughly 549% more expensive than in Maiduguri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abuja 18% lower, Maiduguri 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 ₦2,940

$0.51 ₦673

335.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.30 ₦40.1K

$3.71 ₦4,921

716.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.44 ₦5,890

$1.86 ₦2,471

138.71%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ₦4,407

$0.88 ₦1,168

278.41%

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

$0.51 ₦682

$0.20 ₦264

155.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₦943

$0.23 ₦304

208.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,414

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₦2,767

Milk (1 liter)

$3.62 ₦4,796

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ₦1,734

$0.97 ₦1,288

35.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₦2,881

$2.03 ₦2,690

6.90%

Eggs

$1.88 ₦2,489

$1.78 ₦2,360

5.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 ₦14.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.39 ₦7,143

$5.05 ₦6,695

6.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.90 ₦7,824

$3.93 ₦5,205

50.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 ₦2,741

$4.05 ₦5,363

-48.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₦1,891

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ₦2,003

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 ₦3,131

$1.01 ₦1,342

133.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₦2,397

$1.47 ₦1,947

23.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 ₦3,295

$1.02 ₦1,350

144.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ₦741

$0.39 ₦516

43.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₦492

$0.31 ₦414

19.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 ₦2,671

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 ₦7,568

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,583

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₦2,452

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₦481

$0.37 ₦485

-2.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.36 ₦42.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 ₦821

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 ₦1,163

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₦2,483

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 ₦719

$0.25 ₦328

116.00%

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

$25.8K ₦34.2M

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

$18.2K ₦24.1M

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

$111 ₦146.7K

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

$6.61 ₦8,758

$7.93 ₦10.5K

-16.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.79 ₦38.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.48 ₦48.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ₦14.7K

$7.89 ₦10.5K

40.30%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 ₦6,603

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

$44.89 ₦59.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,151 ₦4.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.50 ₦33.8K

$20.07 ₦26.6K

27.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ₦80.3K

$17.70 ₦23.5K

242.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ₦102.7K

$25.20 ₦33.4K

207.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₦140.2K

$24.66 ₦32.7K

329.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,391 ₦1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 ₦603.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,403 ₦4.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 ₦2.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$701 ₦928.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$380 ₦504.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 ₦218.4K

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: September 13, 2026

Last update for Maiduguri: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $30.00 in Abuja vs $4.00 in Maiduguri for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $99.0 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 549% in total monthly costs ($1,121 vs $173 including rent). Maiduguri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,681 in Abuja and $259 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 $4.00 versus $30.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,121 per month in Abuja versus $173 in Maiduguri – a 549% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $173 in Maiduguri versus $1,121 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 549% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.