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: $1,650 in Abuja versus $922 in Port Harcourt.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,777 in Abuja versus $1,482 in Port Harcourt.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,905 in Abuja versus $2,041 in Port Harcourt.

Living in Abuja is roughly 79% more expensive than in Port Harcourt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 24% above, Port Harcourt is 31% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.02 ₦2,760

$2.73 ₦3,720

-26.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.61 ₦60.9K

$34.62 ₦47.2K

28.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.61 ₦7,652

$8.05 ₦11.0K

-30.31%

Cappuccino

$2.56 ₦3,498

$2.08 ₦2,831

23.08%

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

$0.50 ₦688

$0.49 ₦669

2.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦526

$0.47 ₦638

-17.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₦1,444

$1.25 ₦1,709

-15.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₦1,612

$1.60 ₦2,179

-26.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.12 ₦4,253

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 ₦1,769

$1.47 ₦2,010

-11.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 ₦3,294

$2.73 ₦3,726

-11.72%

Eggs

$1.49 ₦2,030

$2.19 ₦2,990

-31.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.12 ₦6,982

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 ₦6,306

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,244

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 ₦4,046

$2.05 ₦2,802

44.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 ₦2,315

$2.81 ₦3,834

-39.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,948

$1.91 ₦2,607

13.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,414

$1.88 ₦2,563

-5.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 ₦2,784

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 ₦3,470

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 ₦775

$1.23 ₦1,681

-53.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦428

$0.49 ₦662

-36.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 ₦3,438

Wine (Bottle)

$5.74 ₦7,824

$5.24 ₦7,142

9.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₦1,438

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₦1,983

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 ₦932

$0.11 ₦153

518.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₦1,171

$0.79 ₦1,080

8.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ₦1,417

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.27 ₦5,821

$3.54 ₦4,833

20.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,131

$0.67 ₦914

23.88%

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

$30.33 ₦41.4K

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

$11.03 ₦15.1K

$13.05 ₦17.8K

-15.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.89 ₦57.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.38 ₦61.9K

$36.21 ₦49.4K

25.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.65 ₦14.5K

Cinema Ticket

$8.22 ₦11.2K

$6.52 ₦8,894

26.07%

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

$133 ₦181.8K

$58.6 ₦79.9K

127.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,974 ₦2.7M

$1,120 ₦1.5M

76.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.26 ₦41.3K

$9.74 ₦13.3K

210.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.11 ₦39.7K

$10.26 ₦14.0K

183.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.6 ₦92.2K

$72.6 ₦99.0K

-6.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 ₦118.5K

$67.3 ₦91.8K

29.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,445 ₦3.3M

$502 ₦684.6K

387.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 ₦1.6M

$601 ₦819.5K

92.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,503 ₦7.5M

$1,926 ₦2.6M

185.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 ₦3.7M

$1,207 ₦1.6M

125.00%

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

$54.4 ₦74.3K

207.13%

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 28, 2026

Last update for Port Harcourt: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,445 in Abuja and $502 in Port Harcourt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 207% 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 $35.00 in Port Harcourt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 vs $100 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 79% in total monthly costs ($1,650 vs $922 including rent). Port Harcourt is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 207% higher in Abuja, 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: $2,445 in Abuja versus $502 in Port Harcourt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $133 in Abuja versus $58.6 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 $35.00 versus $45.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $922 in Port Harcourt versus $1,650 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 79% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.