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: $1,650 in Abuja versus $191 in Maiduguri.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,777 in Abuja versus $344 in Maiduguri.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,905 in Abuja versus $498 in Maiduguri.

Living in Abuja is roughly 763% more expensive than in Maiduguri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 24% above, Maiduguri is 86% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ₦2,760

$1.52 ₦2,074

32.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.61 ₦60.9K

$12.04 ₦16.4K

270.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ₦7,652

$2.84 ₦3,880

97.54%

Cappuccino

$2.56 ₦3,498

$1.31 ₦1,781

95.42%

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

$0.50 ₦688

$0.35 ₦474

42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦526

$0.27 ₦366

44.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₦1,444

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₦1,612

Milk (1 liter)

$3.12 ₦4,253

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₦1,769

$0.97 ₦1,325

34.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₦3,294

$2.02 ₦2,753

19.31%

Eggs

$1.49 ₦2,030

$1.78 ₦2,434

-16.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.12 ₦6,982

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 ₦6,306

$4.85 ₦6,616

-4.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,244

$4.08 ₦5,571

-5.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 ₦4,046

$3.92 ₦5,344

-24.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ₦2,315

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,948

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,414

$0.99 ₦1,348

78.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 ₦2,784

$1.52 ₦2,075

34.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 ₦3,470

$0.97 ₦1,329

161.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ₦775

$0.38 ₦520

50.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦428

$0.31 ₦423

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 ₦3,438

Wine (Bottle)

$5.74 ₦7,824

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₦1,438

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₦1,983

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 ₦932

$0.57 ₦776

19.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₦1,171

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ₦1,417

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 ₦5,821

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,131

$0.37 ₦500

124.32%

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

$30.33 ₦41.4K

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

$11.03 ₦15.1K

$8.17 ₦11.1K

35.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.89 ₦57.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.38 ₦61.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.65 ₦14.5K

$7.78 ₦10.6K

36.89%

Cinema Ticket

$8.22 ₦11.2K

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

$133 ₦181.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,974 ₦2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.26 ₦41.3K

$20.29 ₦27.7K

49.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.11 ₦39.7K

$18.18 ₦24.8K

60.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 ₦92.2K

$24.55 ₦33.5K

175.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 ₦118.5K

$25.24 ₦34.4K

244.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,445 ₦3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 ₦1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,503 ₦7.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 ₦3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$700 ₦955.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$366 ₦499.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$167 ₦228.1K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Maiduguri: July 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 $189 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 763% in total monthly costs ($1,650 vs $191 including rent). Maiduguri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,475 in Abuja and $287 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 $1,650 per month in Abuja versus $191 in Maiduguri – a 763% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $191 in Maiduguri versus $1,650 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 763% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.