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: $1,661 in Abuja versus $31.52 in Makurdi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,819 in Abuja versus $47.00 in Makurdi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,976 in Abuja versus $61.7 in Makurdi.

Living in Abuja is roughly 5171% more expensive than in Makurdi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 24% above, Makurdi is 98% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.03 ₦2,794

$0.66 ₦906

207.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.41 ₦61.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ₦7,714

$3.41 ₦4,695

64.22%

Cappuccino

$2.56 ₦3,525

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

$0.50 ₦695

$0.14 ₦198

257.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦535

$0.13 ₦176

200.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 ₦1,534

$0.60 ₦822

85.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₦1,560

$1.05 ₦1,445

7.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.12 ₦4,305

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₦1,798

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.51 ₦3,458

Eggs

$1.56 ₦2,155

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.26 ₦7,252

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 ₦6,367

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.00 ₦5,508

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 ₦4,128

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 ₦2,419

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 ₦3,008

Tomato (1kg)

$1.69 ₦2,329

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 ₦2,831

Onion (1kg)

$2.44 ₦3,368

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ₦795

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦393

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ₦3,390

Wine (Bottle)

$5.48 ₦7,545

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₦1,457

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₦1,998

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 ₦958

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₦1,254

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ₦1,486

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 ₦6,092

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 ₦1,118

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

$30.08 ₦41.5K

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

$10.81 ₦14.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.89 ₦56.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.03 ₦60.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.63 ₦14.6K

Cinema Ticket

$8.27 ₦11.4K

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

$133 ₦183.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,996 ₦2.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.06 ₦41.4K

$20.27 ₦27.9K

48.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.56 ₦39.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 ₦93.6K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.5 ₦117.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 ₦3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 ₦1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,536 ₦7.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,634 ₦3.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$688 ₦947.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$367 ₦506.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$166 ₦229.2K

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 13, 2026

Last update for Makurdi: July 11, 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 5171% in total monthly costs ($1,661 vs $31.52 including rent). Makurdi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,492 in Abuja and $47.28 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 $31.52 in Makurdi versus $1,661 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 5171% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.