Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibadan and AbujaCost of Living Comparison Between Ibadan and Abuja
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $812 in Ibadan versus $1,700 in Abuja.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,520 in Ibadan versus $2,793 in Abuja.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,229 in Ibadan versus $3,886 in Abuja.
🙂Living in Ibadan costs roughly 52% less than in Abuja, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ibadan is 39% below, Abuja is 27% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ibadan
Abuja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.83₦2,488
$1.97₦2,677
-7.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.27₦39.8K
$45.77₦62.2K
-36.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.47₦7,426
$5.68₦7,712
-3.70%
Cappuccino
$1.03₦1,405
$2.52₦3,417
-59.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29₦395
$0.50₦685
-42.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19₦260
$0.42₦565
-54.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.76₦1,035
$1.11₦1,502
-31.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26₦1,714
$1.14₦1,547
10.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ibadan
Abuja
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.35₦3,187
$3.06₦4,151
-23.20%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15₦1,563
$1.32₦1,789
-12.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.06₦2,802
$2.38₦3,236
-13.45%
Eggs
$1.72₦2,330
$1.57₦2,127
9.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.37₦5,943
$5.39₦7,321
-18.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.29₦5,827
$4.45₦6,042
-3.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.18₦5,684
$3.88₦5,274
7.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.47₦3,357
$3.10₦4,211
-20.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21₦1,648
$1.77₦2,407
-31.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24₦1,679
$2.11₦2,862
-41.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63₦2,214
$1.68₦2,280
-2.98%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16₦2,934
$2.14₦2,900
0.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.55₦2,109
$2.53₦3,438
-38.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92₦1,254
$0.58₦786
58.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32₦439
$0.31₦426
3.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.26₦1,705
$2.43₦3,297
-48.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$1.02₦1,384
$5.68₦7,721
-82.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₦858
$1.06₦1,441
-40.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89₦1,211
$1.42₦1,923
-37.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Ibadan
Abuja
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₦483
$0.64₦875
-43.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$36.42₦49.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.24₦1,681
$0.91₦1,231
36.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.04₦1,417
$1.06₦1,441
-1.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.68₦5,005
$4.40₦5,976
-16.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57₦769
$0.83₦1,129
-31.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,512₦12.9M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.2K₦19.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ibadan
Abuja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$20.99₦28.5K
$31.22₦42.4K
-32.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.46₦10.1K
$10.68₦14.5K
-30.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.75₦26.8K
$42.07₦57.1K
-53.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ibadan
Abuja
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.50₦40.1K
$44.35₦60.2K
-33.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.95₦14.9K
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.67₦3,628
$8.16₦11.1K
-67.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ibadan
Abuja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$50.4₦68.5K
$133₦180.3K
-62.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,910₦2.6M
$1,969₦2.7M
-2.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ibadan
Abuja
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.37₦24.9K
$29.33₦39.8K
-37.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.43₦33.2K
$28.29₦38.4K
-13.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$43.76₦59.4K
$68.6₦93.2K
-36.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.58₦40.2K
$84.8₦115.2K
-65.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ibadan
Abuja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$451₦612.8K
$2,485₦3.4M
-81.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$433₦588.5K
$1,167₦1.6M
-62.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,214₦1.6M
$5,456₦7.4M
-77.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,291₦1.8M
$2,666₦3.6M
-51.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$846₦1.1M
$1,106₦1.5M
-23.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$28.82₦39.1K
$362₦492.3K
-92.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ibadan
Abuja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$55.9₦75.9K
$168₦228.1K
-66.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.33
22.5
-27.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ibadan: June 2, 2026
Last update for Abuja: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $451 in Ibadan and $2,485 in Abuja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abuja pays 201% 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: $29.00 in Ibadan vs $46.00 in Abuja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $154 vs $190 per month, with Ibadan 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
Ibadan vs Abuja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ibadan and Abuja?
Ibadan and Abuja differ by about 109% in total monthly costs ($812 vs $1,700 including rent). Ibadan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Abuja earns 201% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ibadan and Abuja?
Rent for a central apartment: $451 in Ibadan versus $2,485 in Abuja. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ibadan and Abuja?
Childcare runs $50.4 in Ibadan versus $133 in Abuja. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ibadan – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $46.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $812 in Ibadan versus $1,700 in Abuja, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ibadan but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Ibadan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ibadan and Abuja?
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.
Where should expats move: Ibadan or Abuja?
Expats usually find Ibadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 109% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.