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: $1,698 in Abuja versus $443 in Benin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,805 in Abuja versus $795 in Benin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,911 in Abuja versus $1,147 in Benin.

Living in Abuja is roughly 284% more expensive than Benin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 26% above, Benin is 67% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 ₦2,792

$2.52 ₦3,427

-18.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 ₦60.3K

$49.18 ₦66.9K

-9.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ₦7,458

$5.46 ₦7,430

0.37%

Cappuccino

$2.55 ₦3,470

$2.15 ₦2,923

18.60%

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

$0.52 ₦701

$0.34 ₦461

52.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₦561

$0.22 ₦300

86.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 ₦1,505

$0.85 ₦1,151

30.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₦1,563

$1.38 ₦1,870

-16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.14 ₦4,272

$2.25 ₦3,065

39.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ₦1,716

$1.24 ₦1,687

1.61%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 ₦3,347

$2.33 ₦3,175

5.58%

Eggs

$1.54 ₦2,094

$1.75 ₦2,386

-12.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.17 ₦7,031

$6.42 ₦8,734

-19.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 ₦6,270

$4.20 ₦5,712

9.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.83 ₦5,207

$5.48 ₦7,449

-30.11%

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 ₦4,152

$3.49 ₦4,748

-12.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 ₦2,388

$2.03 ₦2,756

-13.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 ₦2,945

$2.21 ₦3,010

-1.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,402

$2.41 ₦3,276

-26.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 ₦2,802

$2.39 ₦3,256

-13.81%

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 ₦3,433

$2.00 ₦2,718

26.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ₦775

$1.92 ₦2,612

-70.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦394

$0.38 ₦521

-23.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 ₦3,337

$1.29 ₦1,758

89.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ₦7,720

$2.60 ₦3,536

118.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₦1,439

$0.63 ₦857

68.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₦1,909

$0.88 ₦1,198

59.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦868

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₦1,183

$1.20 ₦1,630

-27.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ₦1,388

$2.25 ₦3,059

-54.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 ₦5,747

$4.63 ₦6,302

-8.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₦1,139

$0.72 ₦982

16.67%

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

$20.2K ₦27.4M

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

$20.6K ₦28.0M

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

$30.68 ₦41.7K

$41.15 ₦56.0K

-25.44%

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

$10.95 ₦14.9K

$10.16 ₦13.8K

7.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.93 ₦55.6K

$33.79 ₦45.9K

21.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.64 ₦62.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.57 ₦14.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.46 ₦11.5K

$6.37 ₦8,667

32.81%

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

$133 ₦180.8K

$82.1 ₦111.6K

62.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,986 ₦2.7M

$2,287 ₦3.1M

-13.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.31 ₦41.2K

$19.21 ₦26.1K

57.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.98 ₦39.4K

$24.49 ₦33.3K

18.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 ₦91.9K

$64.8 ₦88.0K

4.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 ₦117.1K

$57.7 ₦78.4K

49.26%

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

$112 ₦152.6K

46.00%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Benin: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Abuja pays 46% 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: $44.00 in Abuja vs $49.00 in Benin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 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 284% in total monthly costs ($1,698 vs $443 including rent). Benin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Abuja pays 46% more on average, 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 $82.1 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 $44.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $443 in Benin versus $1,698 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 284% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.