Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Benin Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Benin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,650 in Abuja versus $447 in Benin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,777 in Abuja versus $812 in Benin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,905 in Abuja versus $1,177 in Benin.

Living in Abuja is roughly 269% more expensive than in Benin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 24% above, Benin is 66% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ₦2,760

$2.65 ₦3,612

-23.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.61 ₦60.9K

$49.12 ₦67.0K

-9.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ₦7,652

$5.45 ₦7,432

2.94%

Cappuccino

$2.56 ₦3,498

$2.18 ₦2,971

17.43%

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

$0.50 ₦688

$0.34 ₦463

47.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦526

$0.22 ₦301

77.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₦1,444

$0.86 ₦1,168

23.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₦1,612

$1.44 ₦1,969

-18.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.12 ₦4,253

$2.33 ₦3,172

33.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₦1,769

$1.21 ₦1,645

7.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₦3,294

$2.22 ₦3,023

8.56%

Eggs

$1.49 ₦2,030

$1.75 ₦2,385

-14.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.12 ₦6,982

$6.19 ₦8,446

-17.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 ₦6,306

$4.26 ₦5,818

8.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,244

$5.51 ₦7,518

-30.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 ₦4,046

$3.58 ₦4,881

-17.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ₦2,315

$2.02 ₦2,755

-15.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,948

$2.21 ₦3,010

-2.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,414

$2.41 ₦3,294

-26.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 ₦2,784

$2.32 ₦3,161

-12.07%

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 ₦3,470

$1.93 ₦2,630

31.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ₦775

$1.92 ₦2,615

-70.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦428

$0.38 ₦520

-18.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 ₦3,438

$1.24 ₦1,697

103.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.74 ₦7,824

$2.51 ₦3,419

128.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₦1,438

$0.69 ₦936

52.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₦1,983

$0.95 ₦1,299

52.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 ₦932

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₦1,171

$1.20 ₦1,637

-28.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ₦1,417

$2.18 ₦2,975

-52.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 ₦5,821

$4.74 ₦6,461

-9.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,131

$0.74 ₦1,007

12.16%

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

$20.0K ₦27.2M

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

$21.0K ₦28.6M

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

$30.33 ₦41.4K

$42.23 ₦57.6K

-28.18%

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

$11.03 ₦15.1K

$10.28 ₦14.0K

7.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.89 ₦57.2K

$34.44 ₦47.0K

21.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.38 ₦61.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.65 ₦14.5K

Cinema Ticket

$8.22 ₦11.2K

$6.31 ₦8,612

30.27%

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

$133 ₦181.8K

$83.7 ₦114.1K

59.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,974 ₦2.7M

$2,255 ₦3.1M

-12.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.26 ₦41.3K

$19.41 ₦26.5K

55.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.11 ₦39.7K

$24.78 ₦33.8K

17.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 ₦92.2K

$65.4 ₦89.2K

3.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 ₦118.5K

$57.1 ₦77.9K

52.08%

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

$110 ₦149.9K

52.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

16.33

37.78%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abuja: July 28, 2026

Last update for Benin: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Abuja pays 52% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $45.00 in Abuja vs $49.00 in Benin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $192 per month, with Abuja 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 Benin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Benin differ by about 269% in total monthly costs ($1,650 vs $447 including rent). Benin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 52% higher in Abuja, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $133 in Abuja versus $83.7 in Benin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Benin – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $45.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $447 in Benin versus $1,650 in Abuja, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Benin but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Benin 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.

Safety-wise, Abuja and Benin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Benin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 269% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.