Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibadan and Lagos Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibadan and Lagos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $250 in Ibadan versus $942 in Lagos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $558 in Ibadan versus $1,840 in Lagos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $866 in Ibadan versus $2,739 in Lagos.

Living in Ibadan costs roughly 73% less than in Lagos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ibadan 82% lower, Lagos 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.11 ₦1,476

$3.71 ₦4,919

-70.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.24 ₦40.1K

$50.0 ₦66.3K

-39.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 ₦8,073

$7.52 ₦9,969

-19.02%

Cappuccino

$0.80 ₦1,066

$2.86 ₦3,792

-72.03%

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

$0.20 ₦265

$0.44 ₦585

-54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 ₦153

$0.23 ₦303

-47.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.58 ₦771

$1.02 ₦1,349

-43.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₦1,528

$2.06 ₦2,725

-44.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 ₦787

$3.10 ₦4,102

-80.97%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 ₦791

$1.46 ₦1,929

-58.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 ₦1,476

$1.27 ₦1,677

-12.60%

Eggs

$1.53 ₦2,034

$2.27 ₦3,009

-32.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.52 ₦4,667

$3.46 ₦4,583

1.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.89 ₦5,153

$3.84 ₦5,091

1.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$0.75 ₦993

$4.37 ₦5,792

-82.84%

Apples (1kg)

$1.67 ₦2,209

$1.66 ₦2,198

0.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 ₦1,743

$1.31 ₦1,735

0.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 ₦1,501

$1.10 ₦1,456

2.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.29 ₦382

$1.29 ₦1,707

-77.52%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 ₦774

$1.38 ₦1,833

-57.97%

Onion (1kg)

$0.24 ₦319

$1.38 ₦1,827

-82.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.22 ₦290

$0.85 ₦1,124

-74.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.14 ₦181

$0.39 ₦521

-64.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.59 ₦784

$0.56 ₦736

5.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$1.12 ₦1,482

$2.61 ₦3,455

-57.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 ₦542

$0.54 ₦722

-24.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₦616

$0.47 ₦618

-2.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 ₦162

$0.41 ₦537

-70.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.88 ₦26.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 ₦933

$0.65 ₦861

7.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.62 ₦827

$0.96 ₦1,276

-35.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.13 ₦1,492

$2.24 ₦2,963

-49.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.55 ₦734

$0.83 ₦1,097

-33.73%

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

$4,162 ₦5.5M

$11.2K ₦14.8M

-62.84%

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

$14.0K ₦18.5M

$13.5K ₦17.9M

3.38%

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

$11.27 ₦14.9K

$113 ₦150.2K

-90.06%

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

$3.81 ₦5,047

$16.22 ₦21.5K

-76.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$9.06 ₦12.0K

$32.40 ₦42.9K

-72.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.77 ₦28.9K

$27.70 ₦36.7K

-21.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.95 ₦9,206

Cinema Ticket

$1.54 ₦2,035

$4.84 ₦6,413

-68.18%

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

$48.73 ₦64.6K

$680 ₦901.4K

-92.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$627 ₦831.4K

$19.7K ₦26.2M

-96.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$12.16 ₦16.1K

$14.96 ₦19.8K

-18.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$5.80 ₦7,689

$18.14 ₦24.0K

-68.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$15.07 ₦20.0K

$36.42 ₦48.3K

-58.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$21.64 ₦28.7K

$48.47 ₦64.2K

-55.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$124 ₦164.4K

$725 ₦960.5K

-82.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$45.33 ₦60.1K

$420 ₦556.1K

-89.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$461 ₦611.0K

$2,792 ₦3.7M

-83.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$308 ₦408.2K

$1,494 ₦2.0M

-79.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$875 ₦1.2M

$3,197 ₦4.2M

-72.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$30.87 ₦40.9K

$1,623 ₦2.2M

-98.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$58.2 ₦77.2K

$118 ₦156.0K

-50.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.05

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

Last update for Ibadan: September 7, 2026

Last update for Lagos: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $124 in Ibadan and $725 in Lagos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lagos pays 102% 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: $30.00 in Ibadan vs $50.0 in Lagos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $87.0 vs $153 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 Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ibadan wins on cost – living expenses run 276% lower than in Lagos. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ibadan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 102% lower in Lagos. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $124 in Ibadan versus $725 in Lagos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $48.73 in Ibadan versus $680 in Lagos. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ibadan – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $50.0 in Lagos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $250 in Ibadan versus $942 in Lagos, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ibadan but tight or insufficient in Lagos. The gap between the two cities makes Ibadan 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 Ibadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 276% less than in Lagos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.