Cost of Living Comparison Between Ife and AbujaCost of Living Comparison Between Ife and Abuja
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $715 in Ife versus $1,698 in Abuja.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,174 in Ife versus $2,805 in Abuja.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,633 in Ife versus $3,911 in Abuja.
🙂Living in Ife costs roughly 58% less than in Abuja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ife is 47% below, Abuja is 26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ife
Abuja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.77₦3,767
$2.05₦2,792
35.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.63₦48.4K
$44.38₦60.3K
-19.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.19₦7,064
$5.48₦7,458
-5.29%
Cappuccino
$0.85₦1,152
$2.55₦3,470
-66.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47₦636
$0.52₦701
-9.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28₦382
$0.41₦561
-31.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.92₦1,250
$1.11₦1,505
-17.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15₦1,567
$1.15₦1,563
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ife
Abuja
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$3.14₦4,272
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.73₦998
$1.26₦1,716
-42.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.78₦2,417
$2.46₦3,347
-27.64%
Eggs
$2.37₦3,221
$1.54₦2,094
53.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.61₦6,269
$5.17₦7,031
-10.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.26₦7,151
$4.61₦6,270
14.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.26₦5,791
$3.83₦5,207
11.23%
Apples(1kg)
$5.71₦7,769
$3.05₦4,152
87.21%
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.76₦2,388
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.17₦2,945
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.77₦2,402
-
Potato(1kg)
$0.93₦1,262
$2.06₦2,802
-54.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.19₦1,624
$2.52₦3,433
-52.78%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$0.57₦775
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.29₦394
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.45₦3,337
-
Wine(Bottle)
$2.15₦2,925
$5.68₦7,720
-62.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.06₦1,439
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.40₦1,909
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ife
Abuja
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₦491
$0.64₦868
-43.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$0.87₦1,183
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.02₦1,388
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$4.23₦5,747
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.38₦516
$0.84₦1,139
-54.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ife
Abuja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$29.64₦40.3K
$30.68₦41.7K
-3.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.86₦7,975
$10.95₦14.9K
-46.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.69₦63.5K
$40.93₦55.6K
14.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ife
Abuja
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.04₦31.3K
$45.64₦62.1K
-49.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.57₦14.4K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.74₦6,451
$8.46₦11.5K
-43.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ife
Abuja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$46.67₦63.5K
$133₦180.8K
-64.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$415₦564.0K
$1,986₦2.7M
-79.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ife
Abuja
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.43₦31.9K
$30.31₦41.2K
-22.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.55₦48.3K
$28.98₦39.4K
22.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.3₦79.2K
$67.6₦91.9K
-13.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.9₦96.4K
$86.1₦117.1K
-17.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ife
Abuja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597₦811.5K
$2,414₦3.3M
-75.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$357₦485.6K
$1,175₦1.6M
-69.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,187₦1.6M
$5,508₦7.5M
-78.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$706₦960.0K
$2,674₦3.6M
-73.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$366₦497.0K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ife
Abuja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$52.3₦71.1K
$164₦222.9K
-68.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
22.5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ife: June 7, 2026
Last update for Abuja: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $597 in Ife and $2,414 in Abuja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Abuja pays 213% 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: $36.00 in Ife vs $44.00 in Abuja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $115 vs $190 per month, with Ife 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
Ife vs Abuja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ife and Abuja?
Ife and Abuja differ by about 137% in total monthly costs ($715 vs $1,698 including rent). Ife 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 213% 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 Ife and Abuja?
Rent for a central apartment: $597 in Ife versus $2,414 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 Ife and Abuja?
Childcare runs $46.67 in Ife 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 Ife – a meal for two runs $36.00 versus $44.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $715 in Ife versus $1,698 in Abuja, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ife but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Ife the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ife 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: Ife or Abuja?
Expats usually find Ife gentler on the wallet – expenses run 137% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.