Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Port Harcourt Cost of Living Comparison Between Abuja and Port Harcourt

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,698 in Abuja versus $911 in Port Harcourt.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,805 in Abuja versus $1,458 in Port Harcourt.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,911 in Abuja versus $2,004 in Port Harcourt.

Living in Abuja is roughly 86% more expensive than Port Harcourt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 26% above, Port Harcourt is 32% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 ₦2,792

$2.84 ₦3,858

-27.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.38 ₦60.3K

$35.50 ₦48.3K

25.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ₦7,458

$7.90 ₦10.7K

-30.63%

Cappuccino

$2.55 ₦3,470

$2.03 ₦2,760

25.62%

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

$0.52 ₦701

$0.53 ₦721

-1.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₦561

$0.50 ₦684

-18.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 ₦1,505

$1.20 ₦1,631

-7.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₦1,563

$1.55 ₦2,108

-25.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.14 ₦4,272

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 ₦1,716

$1.52 ₦2,060

-17.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 ₦3,347

$2.73 ₦3,718

-9.89%

Eggs

$1.54 ₦2,094

$2.26 ₦3,070

-31.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.17 ₦7,031

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.61 ₦6,270

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.83 ₦5,207

Apples (1kg)

$3.05 ₦4,152

$1.94 ₦2,639

57.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 ₦2,388

$2.96 ₦4,027

-40.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 ₦2,945

$1.89 ₦2,568

14.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,402

$1.96 ₦2,670

-9.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 ₦2,802

Onion (1kg)

$2.52 ₦3,433

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ₦775

$1.17 ₦1,592

-51.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦394

$0.52 ₦712

-44.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 ₦3,337

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ₦7,720

$5.05 ₦6,868

12.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₦1,439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₦1,909

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦868

$0.13 ₦172

392.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.87 ₦1,183

$0.78 ₦1,063

11.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ₦1,388

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.23 ₦5,747

$3.64 ₦4,955

16.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₦1,139

$0.64 ₦865

31.25%

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

$30.68 ₦41.7K

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

$10.95 ₦14.9K

$13.24 ₦18.0K

-17.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.93 ₦55.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.64 ₦62.1K

$36.43 ₦49.5K

25.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.57 ₦14.4K

Cinema Ticket

$8.46 ₦11.5K

$6.46 ₦8,786

30.96%

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

$133 ₦180.8K

$59.0 ₦80.2K

125.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,986 ₦2.7M

$1,083 ₦1.5M

83.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.31 ₦41.2K

$9.60 ₦13.1K

215.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.98 ₦39.4K

$10.13 ₦13.8K

186.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 ₦91.9K

$72.4 ₦98.5K

-6.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 ₦117.1K

$66.4 ₦90.2K

29.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,414 ₦3.3M

$491 ₦667.0K

392.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₦1.6M

$613 ₦833.8K

91.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,508 ₦7.5M

$1,945 ₦2.6M

183.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,674 ₦3.6M

$1,189 ₦1.6M

124.77%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$366 ₦497.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$164 ₦222.9K

$55.7 ₦75.7K

194.29%

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 6, 2026

Last update for Port Harcourt: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,414 in Abuja and $491 in Port Harcourt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 194% 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 $36.00 in Port Harcourt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $101 per month, with Port Harcourt 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 Port Harcourt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Port Harcourt differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($1,698 vs $911 including rent). Port Harcourt is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Abuja pays 194% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,414 in Abuja versus $491 in Port Harcourt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $133 in Abuja versus $59.0 in Port Harcourt. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Port Harcourt – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $44.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $911 in Port Harcourt versus $1,698 in Abuja, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Port Harcourt but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Port Harcourt 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 Port Harcourt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.