Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Lagos

For one person, living is cheaper in Lagos: $941 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $21,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,704
/mo nomad
Lagos
🇳🇬 Nigeria
$941
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Lagos

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Lagos actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $941 in Lagos.

  • Austin, TX $2,704
  • Lagos $941

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $1,837 in Lagos.

  • Austin, TX $4,133
  • Lagos $1,837

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $2,734 in Lagos.

  • Austin, TX $5,562
  • Lagos $2,734

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 187% more expensive than in Lagos, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Austin, TX is 102% above, Lagos is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Austin, TX
Lagos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$3.87 ₦5,143
422.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.0 $85.0
$49.34 ₦65.5K
72.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.35 $12.35
$7.43 ₦9,876
66.22%
Cappuccino
$5.47 $5.47
$2.80 ₦3,713
95.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.82 $3.82
$0.44 ₦583
768.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 $2.50
$0.22 ₦290
1036.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.06 $8.06
$0.97 ₦1,295
730.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.99 $8.99
$1.97 ₦2,621
356.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
Lagos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 $1.13
$3.05 ₦4,048
-62.95%
White Bread (500g)
$3.78 $3.78
$1.45 ₦1,931
160.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.25 $3.25
$1.26 ₦1,672
157.94%
Eggs
$4.14 $4.14
$2.27 ₦3,015
82.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.08 $13.08
$3.57 ₦4,739
266.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.31 $14.31
$3.82 ₦5,076
274.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.96 $15.96
$4.37 ₦5,804
265.22%
Apples (1kg)
$4.38 $4.38
$1.64 ₦2,178
167.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.26 ₦1,673
15.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.54 $4.54
$1.09 ₦1,449
316.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.19 $4.19
$1.34 ₦1,775
212.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.63 $2.63
$1.32 ₦1,760
99.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.36 $2.36
$1.36 ₦1,811
73.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.76 $1.76
$0.84 ₦1,116
109.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.16 $2.16
$0.37 ₦487
483.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.81 $9.81
$0.59 ₦782
1562.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$2.43 ₦3,227
505.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 $2.78
$0.54 ₦718
414.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.48 $3.48
$0.50 ₦662
596.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Austin, TX
Lagos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.49 $1.49
$0.41 ₦540
263.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$40.51 $40.51
$20.01 ₦26.6K
102.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.67 $2.67
$0.66 ₦882
304.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.58 $1.58
$0.96 ₦1,280
64.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$35.29 $35.29
$2.18 ₦2,893
1518.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$0.82 ₦1,086
20.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.8K $35.8K
$11.4K ₦15.1M
214.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K $27.2K
$13.8K ₦18.4M
96.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
Lagos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$219 $219
$115 ₦152.2K
91.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$58.0 $58.0
$14.89 ₦19.8K
289.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.4 $68.4
$32.78 ₦43.5K
108.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
Lagos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.9 $57.9
$28.31 ₦37.6K
104.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.82 $14.82
$6.98 ₦9,266
112.32%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13 $14.13
$6.09 ₦8,093
132.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Austin, TX
Lagos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,509 $1,509
$654 ₦869.3K
130.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.5K $21.5K
$19.8K ₦26.4M
8.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
Lagos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 $51.7
$14.85 ₦19.7K
247.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.05 $44.05
$18.57 ₦24.7K
137.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.1 $85.1
$36.39 ₦48.3K
133.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 $105
$49.64 ₦65.9K
112.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
Lagos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,932 $1,932
$729 ₦968.2K
165.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,272 $1,272
$422 ₦560.2K
201.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,670 $3,670
$2,827 ₦3.8M
29.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,525 $2,525
$1,493 ₦2.0M
69.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,617 $7,617
$3,191 ₦4.2M
138.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,199 $3,199
$1,647 ₦2.2M
94.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Austin, TX
Lagos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,105 $5,105
$118 ₦157.2K
4214.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.79
18.39
-63.08%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Lagos: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Austin, TX
$1.3K
Lagos
$422 66.9% $851
Groceries & Markets
Austin, TX
$403
Lagos
$152 62.3% $251
Eating Out
Austin, TX
$348
Lagos
$98 71.8% $250
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Austin, TX
$346
Lagos
$162 53.1% $183
Clothing & Footwear
Austin, TX
$129
Lagos
$54 58.3% $75
Sport & Entertainment
Austin, TX
$86
Lagos
$41 53% $46
Getting Around
Austin, TX
$57
Lagos
$27 52.4% $30

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $729 in Lagos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 4215% 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: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $49.00 in Lagos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $152 per month, with Lagos cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🇳🇬 Lagos
🕒 Local time
23:58 11:58 PM
05:58 5:58 AM
6 h ahead of Austin, TX
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
974,447
10,404,112
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NGN, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,328 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.53 USD). 1 EUR = 1,490 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.71 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Austin, TX Lagos 10,700 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Austin, TX
  • Lagos

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Austin, TX vs Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Austin, TX or Lagos?
Lagos wins on cost – living expenses run 187% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lagos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Austin, TX or in Lagos?
Average pay runs 4215% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Austin, TX compared to Lagos?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $729 in Lagos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Austin, TX compared to Lagos?
All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $941 in Lagos – a 187% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Austin, TX compared to Lagos?
A monthly transit pass in Lagos runs roughly 102% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Austin, TX or in Lagos?
At $941 in Lagos versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lagos but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Lagos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Austin, TX or Lagos?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lagos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 187% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Austin, TX vs other spots: cost of living compared

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