Cost of Living Comparison Between Calabar and Lagos Cost of Living Comparison Between Calabar and Lagos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $817 per month in Calabar vs $941 in Lagos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,137 per month in Calabar vs $1,837 in Lagos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,456 per month in Calabar vs $2,734 in Lagos, rent included.

Calabar is about 13% cheaper than Lagos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calabar and Lagos are more affordable than the global median – Calabar 39% lower, Lagos 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.13 ₦1,493

$3.87 ₦5,126

-70.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.34 ₦65.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 ₦9,844

Cappuccino

$2.80 ₦3,701

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

$0.37 ₦484

$0.44 ₦581

-15.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 ₦245

$0.22 ₦289

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ₦1,240

$0.97 ₦1,291

-3.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₦1,636

$1.97 ₦2,613

-37.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.05 ₦4,035

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₦1,756

$1.45 ₦1,925

-8.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₦2,043

$1.26 ₦1,667

22.22%

Eggs

$2.27 ₦3,005

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.57 ₦4,723

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.82 ₦5,060

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 ₦5,785

Apples (1kg)

$1.64 ₦2,170

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ₦1,667

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ₦1,445

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 ₦1,769

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ₦1,754

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ₦1,805

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 ₦1,112

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₦626

$0.37 ₦486

27.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.59 ₦779

Wine (Bottle)

$4.57 ₦6,048

$2.43 ₦3,217

88.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₦1,494

$0.54 ₦716

109.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₦1,977

$0.50 ₦660

198.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ₦538

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.01 ₦26.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.66 ₦880

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 ₦1,276

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.18 ₦2,884

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 ₦1,083

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

$11.4K ₦15.1M

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

$13.8K ₦18.3M

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

$115 ₦151.7K

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

$14.89 ₦19.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.78 ₦43.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.31 ₦37.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.98 ₦9,236

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 ₦8,067

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

$654 ₦866.5K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.8K ₦26.3M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.85 ₦19.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.57 ₦24.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.39 ₦48.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.64 ₦65.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 ₦1.5M

$729 ₦965.1K

52.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$754 ₦998.3K

$422 ₦558.4K

78.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 ₦2.5M

$2,827 ₦3.7M

-32.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 ₦1.8M

$1,493 ₦2.0M

-8.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,191 ₦4.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,647 ₦2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$118 ₦156.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

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

Last update for Calabar: October 3, 2026

Last update for Lagos: October 4, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Calabar versus $729 in Lagos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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

Calabar vs Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $817 in Calabar, $941 in Lagos – roughly 15% apart. Lagos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,226 per month in Calabar and $1,411 in Lagos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calabar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $817 in Calabar and $941 in Lagos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 254% more in Lagos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calabar, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Lagos at $941. In Calabar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Calabar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Calabar. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lagos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.