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: $1,698 in Abuja versus $189 in Maiduguri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,805 in Abuja versus $343 in Maiduguri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,911 in Abuja versus $498 in Maiduguri.

Living in Abuja is roughly 801% 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

$2.05 ₦2,792

$1.56 ₦2,125

31.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 ₦60.3K

$11.97 ₦16.3K

270.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ₦7,458

$2.86 ₦3,892

91.61%

Cappuccino

$2.55 ₦3,470

$1.36 ₦1,851

87.50%

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

$0.52 ₦701

$0.37 ₦508

40.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₦561

$0.29 ₦396

41.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 ₦1,505

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₦1,563

Milk (1 liter)

$3.14 ₦4,272

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ₦1,716

$1.02 ₦1,386

23.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 ₦3,347

$1.99 ₦2,704

23.62%

Eggs

$1.54 ₦2,094

$1.77 ₦2,412

-12.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.17 ₦7,031

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 ₦6,270

$4.91 ₦6,670

-6.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.83 ₦5,207

$4.04 ₦5,495

-5.20%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 ₦4,152

$3.99 ₦5,424

-23.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 ₦2,388

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 ₦2,945

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,402

$0.97 ₦1,323

82.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 ₦2,802

$1.52 ₦2,065

35.53%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 ₦3,433

$0.98 ₦1,335

157.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ₦775

$0.38 ₦518

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦394

$0.31 ₦426

-6.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 ₦3,337

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ₦7,720

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₦1,439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₦1,909

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦868

$0.53 ₦718

20.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₦1,183

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ₦1,388

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 ₦5,747

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₦1,139

$0.39 ₦531

115.38%

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

$30.68 ₦41.7K

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

$10.95 ₦14.9K

$8.23 ₦11.2K

33.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.93 ₦55.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.64 ₦62.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.57 ₦14.4K

$8.21 ₦11.2K

28.75%

Cinema Ticket

$8.46 ₦11.5K

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

$133 ₦180.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,986 ₦2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.31 ₦41.2K

$19.77 ₦26.9K

53.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.98 ₦39.4K

$18.11 ₦24.6K

60.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 ₦91.9K

$25.19 ₦34.2K

168.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 ₦117.1K

$24.84 ₦33.8K

246.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,414 ₦3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₦1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,508 ₦7.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,674 ₦3.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$366 ₦497.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 ₦222.9K

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Maiduguri: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $44.00 in Abuja vs $12.00 in Maiduguri for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 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 801% in total monthly costs ($1,698 vs $189 including rent). Maiduguri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,547 in Abuja and $283 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 $44.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,698 per month in Abuja versus $189 in Maiduguri – a 801% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $189 in Maiduguri versus $1,698 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 801% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.