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: $1,121 in Abuja versus $445 in Benin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,034 in Abuja versus $755 in Benin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,947 in Abuja versus $1,065 in Benin.

Living in Abuja is roughly 152% more expensive than in Benin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Abuja 18% lower, Benin 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 ₦2,947

$1.37 ₦1,823

62.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.30 ₦40.2K

$49.55 ₦65.8K

-38.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.44 ₦5,904

$5.60 ₦7,443

-20.71%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ₦4,418

$2.89 ₦3,842

15.22%

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

$0.51 ₦683

$0.27 ₦356

88.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₦945

$0.17 ₦228

317.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,417

$0.97 ₦1,286

10.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₦2,774

$0.98 ₦1,298

113.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.62 ₦4,807

$3.23 ₦4,294

12.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ₦1,738

$0.78 ₦1,036

67.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₦2,888

$1.26 ₦1,671

72.22%

Eggs

$1.88 ₦2,495

$2.28 ₦3,030

-17.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 ₦14.8K

$3.56 ₦4,729

213.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.39 ₦7,161

$4.01 ₦5,325

34.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.90 ₦7,843

$4.56 ₦6,057

29.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 ₦2,748

$1.72 ₦2,291

20.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₦1,896

$1.28 ₦1,701

11.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ₦2,008

$1.11 ₦1,472

36.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 ₦3,139

$1.32 ₦1,760

78.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₦2,403

$1.33 ₦1,772

36.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 ₦3,303

$1.35 ₦1,797

84.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ₦743

$0.86 ₦1,140

-34.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₦494

$0.37 ₦489

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 ₦2,678

$0.60 ₦791

236.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 ₦7,586

$2.57 ₦3,415

122.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,586

$0.50 ₦662

138.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₦2,458

$0.49 ₦657

277.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₦482

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.36 ₦43.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 ₦823

$0.69 ₦920

-10.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 ₦1,166

$0.91 ₦1,212

-3.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₦2,489

$2.21 ₦2,931

-15.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 ₦721

$0.72 ₦952

-25.00%

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

$25.8K ₦34.3M

$11.3K ₦15.0M

129.30%

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

$18.2K ₦24.2M

$13.5K ₦17.9M

34.65%

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

$111 ₦147.1K

$111 ₦146.9K

0.10%

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

$6.61 ₦8,780

$16.20 ₦21.5K

-59.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.79 ₦38.2K

$33.13 ₦44.0K

-13.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.48 ₦48.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ₦14.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 ₦6,619

$4.68 ₦6,222

6.41%

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

$44.89 ₦59.6K

$662 ₦879.2K

-93.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,151 ₦4.2M

$19.9K ₦26.4M

-84.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.50 ₦33.9K

$14.74 ₦19.6K

73.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ₦80.5K

$17.95 ₦23.8K

237.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ₦103.0K

$35.93 ₦47.7K

115.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₦140.6K

$47.96 ₦63.7K

120.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,391 ₦1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 ₦604.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,403 ₦4.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 ₦2.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$701 ₦930.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$380 ₦505.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 ₦218.9K

$115 ₦152.2K

43.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

18.05

24.65%

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

Last update for Abuja: September 13, 2026

Last update for Benin: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Abuja pays 44% 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: $30.00 in Abuja vs $50.0 in Benin. Groceries flip the comparison at $219 vs $149, with Benin cheaper for home cooking.

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 152% in total monthly costs ($1,121 vs $445 including rent). Benin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 44% 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 $44.89 in Abuja versus $662 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 $50.0 versus $30.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $445 in Benin versus $1,121 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 152% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.