Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Makurdi Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Makurdi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,700 in Abuja versus $30.79 in Makurdi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,793 in Abuja versus $45.00 in Makurdi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,886 in Abuja versus $60.0 in Makurdi.

Living in Abuja is roughly 5421% more expensive than Makurdi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 27% above, Makurdi is 98% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.97 ₦2,684

$0.70 ₦954

181.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.77 ₦62.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.68 ₦7,732

$3.29 ₦4,482

72.64%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₦3,426

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

$0.50 ₦687

$0.17 ₦235

194.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₦566

$0.13 ₦173

223.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 ₦1,506

$0.63 ₦856

76.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₦1,551

$1.10 ₦1,503

3.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.06 ₦4,161

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 ₦1,793

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 ₦3,244

Eggs

$1.57 ₦2,132

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.39 ₦7,339

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.45 ₦6,058

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.88 ₦5,287

Apples (1kg)

$3.10 ₦4,222

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,414

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 ₦2,869

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 ₦2,285

Potato (1kg)

$2.14 ₦2,908

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ₦3,447

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ₦788

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦427

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 ₦3,305

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ₦7,741

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₦1,445

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₦1,928

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦877

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₦1,234

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 ₦1,445

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 ₦5,991

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,132

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

$31.22 ₦42.5K

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

$10.68 ₦14.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.07 ₦57.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.35 ₦60.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.95 ₦14.9K

Cinema Ticket

$8.16 ₦11.1K

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

$133 ₦180.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,969 ₦2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.33 ₦39.9K

$20.54 ₦28.0K

42.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.29 ₦38.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$68.6 ₦93.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.8 ₦115.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,485 ₦3.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 ₦1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,456 ₦7.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,666 ₦3.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,106 ₦1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$362 ₦493.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 ₦228.7K

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 1, 2026

Last update for Makurdi: June 2, 2026

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 Makurdi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Makurdi differ by about 5421% in total monthly costs ($1,700 vs $30.79 including rent). Makurdi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,550 in Abuja and $46.19 in Makurdi 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.

At $30.79 in Makurdi versus $1,700 in Abuja, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Makurdi but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Makurdi 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 Makurdi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5421% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.