Cost of Living Comparison Between Ikeja and Abuja Cost of Living Comparison Between Ikeja and Abuja

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,411 in Ikeja versus $1,095 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,102 in Ikeja versus $2,028 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,792 in Ikeja versus $2,962 in Abuja.

Living in Ikeja is roughly 120% more expensive than in Abuja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ikeja is 75% above, Abuja is 21% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$0.53 ₦706

$2.19 ₦2,897

-75.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.37 ₦15.1K

$30.48 ₦40.4K

-62.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.41 ₦9,821

$4.46 ₦5,908

66.14%

Cappuccino

$2.72 ₦3,600

$3.28 ₦4,352

-17.07%

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

$0.15 ₦196

$0.55 ₦736

-72.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.06 ₦81.8

$0.72 ₦961

-91.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.31 ₦412

$1.07 ₦1,415

-71.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 ₦2,677

$2.11 ₦2,790

-4.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.72 ₦956

$3.63 ₦4,817

-80.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 ₦953

$1.30 ₦1,724

-44.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.20 ₦1,594

$2.19 ₦2,897

-45.21%

Eggs

$2.23 ₦2,955

$1.88 ₦2,495

18.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.56 ₦4,719

$11.16 ₦14.8K

-68.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.98 ₦5,272

$5.21 ₦6,901

-23.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.43 ₦5,869

$5.98 ₦7,925

-25.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.70 ₦2,257

$1.99 ₦2,639

-14.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 ₦1,712

$1.43 ₦1,895

-9.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 ₦1,499

$1.54 ₦2,041

-26.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 ₦1,679

$2.33 ₦3,093

-45.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 ₦1,745

$1.87 ₦2,482

-29.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 ₦1,717

$2.46 ₦3,256

-47.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 ₦1,104

$0.60 ₦794

38.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦519

$0.38 ₦503

2.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.55 ₦724

$2.06 ₦2,725

-73.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.68 ₦3,553

$5.80 ₦7,687

-53.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₦720

$1.19 ₦1,576

-54.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₦608

$1.85 ₦2,447

-75.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.10 ₦131

$0.40 ₦525

-75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$3.44 ₦4,562

$33.32 ₦44.2K

-89.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 ₦921

$0.58 ₦772

20.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 ₦1,213

$0.81 ₦1,076

13.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 ₦2,961

$1.94 ₦2,570

14.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.14 ₦186

$0.55 ₦726

-74.55%

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

$11.2K ₦14.9M

$26.5K ₦35.1M

-57.59%

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

$13.4K ₦17.7M

$18.3K ₦24.3M

-27.06%

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

$110 ₦145.3K

$113 ₦149.6K

-2.89%

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

$16.20 ₦21.5K

$6.56 ₦8,691

146.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.03 ₦43.8K

$29.15 ₦38.6K

13.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.66 ₦47.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.81 ₦14.3K

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 ₦6,193

$4.90 ₦6,488

-4.69%

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

$662 ₦877.0K

$45.43 ₦60.2K

1356.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.6K ₦26.0M

$3,219 ₦4.3M

510.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.46 ₦19.2K

$25.57 ₦33.9K

-43.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.41 ₦24.4K

$61.1 ₦81.0K

-69.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.95 ₦47.6K

$78.2 ₦103.6K

-54.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.64 ₦63.1K

$107 ₦142.1K

-55.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,447 ₦4.6M

$1,426 ₦1.9M

141.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,984 ₦2.6M

$439 ₦581.7K

351.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$6,568 ₦8.7M

$3,407 ₦4.5M

92.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$4,908 ₦6.5M

$1,515 ₦2.0M

224.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$712 ₦943.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$374 ₦496.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$74.0 ₦98.1K

$166 ₦220.0K

-55.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.05

22.5

-19.78%

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

Last update for Ikeja: September 7, 2026

Last update for Abuja: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $3,447 in Ikeja and $1,426 in Abuja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 124% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $11.00 in Ikeja vs $30.00 in Abuja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $123 vs $218 per month, with Ikeja 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

Ikeja vs Abuja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ikeja and Abuja differ by about 120% in total monthly costs ($2,411 vs $1,095 including rent). Abuja is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 124% lower in Abuja. 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: $3,447 in Ikeja versus $1,426 in Abuja. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,411 per month in Ikeja versus $1,095 in Abuja – a 120% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Abuja runs roughly 869% less than in Ikeja. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,095 in Abuja versus $2,411 in Ikeja, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Abuja but tight or insufficient in Ikeja. The gap between the two cities makes Abuja 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.

Safety-wise, Ikeja and Abuja are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Abuja gentler on the wallet – expenses run 120% less than in Ikeja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.