Cost of Living Comparison Between Ife and Lagos Cost of Living Comparison Between Ife and Lagos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $715 per month in Ife vs $1,129 in Lagos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,174 per month in Ife vs $1,903 in Lagos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,633 per month in Ife vs $2,677 in Lagos, rent included.

Ife is about 37% cheaper than Lagos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ife and Lagos are more affordable than the global median – Ife 47% lower, Lagos 16% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ife
Lagos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.77 ₦3,767
$2.54 ₦3,457
9.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.63 ₦48.4K
$50.1 ₦68.2K
-28.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.19 ₦7,064
$5.44 ₦7,393
-4.60%
Cappuccino
$0.85 ₦1,152
$2.19 ₦2,983
-61.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 ₦636
$0.33 ₦454
42.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 ₦382
$0.22 ₦300
27.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.92 ₦1,250
$0.80 ₦1,091
15.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 ₦1,567
$1.45 ₦1,971
-20.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ife
Lagos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$2.32 ₦3,155
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.73 ₦998
$1.20 ₦1,634
-39.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.78 ₦2,417
$2.35 ₦3,189
-24.26%
Eggs
$2.37 ₦3,221
$1.77 ₦2,410
33.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.61 ₦6,269
$6.14 ₦8,346
-24.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.26 ₦7,151
$4.21 ₦5,719
24.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.26 ₦5,791
$5.37 ₦7,296
-20.67%
Apples (1kg)
$5.71 ₦7,769
$3.55 ₦4,831
60.85%
Banana (1kg)
-
$2.05 ₦2,783
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$2.19 ₦2,985
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.29 ₦3,114
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.93 ₦1,262
$2.29 ₦3,109
-59.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.19 ₦1,624
$1.92 ₦2,614
-38.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$1.90 ₦2,585
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.35 ₦479
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.25 ₦1,703
-
Wine (Bottle)
$2.15 ₦2,925
$2.51 ₦3,418
-14.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.63 ₦853
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.89 ₦1,207
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ife
Lagos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 ₦491
$0.69 ₦936
-47.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$35.65 ₦48.5K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.21 ₦1,644
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$2.22 ₦3,021
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.77 ₦6,481
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.38 ₦516
$0.73 ₦996
-47.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.1K ₦27.3M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$20.8K ₦28.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ife
Lagos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$29.64 ₦40.3K
$41.56 ₦56.5K
-28.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.86 ₦7,975
$10.00 ₦13.6K
-41.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.69 ₦63.5K
$33.83 ₦46.0K
38.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ife
Lagos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.04 ₦31.3K
$31.18 ₦42.4K
-26.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$12.70 ₦17.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.74 ₦6,451
$6.32 ₦8,600
-25.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ife
Lagos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$46.67 ₦63.5K
$84.5 ₦114.9K
-44.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$415 ₦564.0K
$2,289 ₦3.1M
-81.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ife
Lagos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.43 ₦31.9K
$18.86 ₦25.7K
24.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.55 ₦48.3K
$24.55 ₦33.4K
44.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.3 ₦79.2K
$65.0 ₦88.4K
-10.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.9 ₦96.4K
$57.8 ₦78.6K
22.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ife
Lagos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$597 ₦811.5K
$1,094 ₦1.5M
-45.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$357 ₦485.6K
$618 ₦839.7K
-42.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,187 ₦1.6M
$2,681 ₦3.6M
-55.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$706 ₦960.0K
$1,382 ₦1.9M
-48.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,187 ₦4.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,613 ₦2.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ife
Lagos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$52.3 ₦71.1K
$119 ₦162.0K
-56.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
16.33
-

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

Last update for Ife: June 7, 2026

Last update for Lagos: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $597 in Ife versus $1,094 in Lagos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 128% higher in Lagos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Ife versus $50.0 in Lagos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $115 vs $190 – making Ife the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ife and Lagos compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $715 in Ife, $1,129 in Lagos – roughly 58% apart. Lagos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ife compared to Lagos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,073 per month in Ife and $1,693 in Lagos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ife and Lagos?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ife, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ife or Lagos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $715 in Ife and $1,129 in Lagos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ife and Lagos?
Kindergarten costs $46.67 per month in Ife and $84.5 in Lagos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ife, where all-in costs run around $715, than in Lagos at $1,129. In Ife it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Ife or Lagos?
Families tend to lean toward Ife – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Ife and Lagos?
If budget matters most, go with Ife. 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.

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