Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Aba Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Aba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $999 per month in Jos vs $513 in Aba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,380 per month in Jos vs $744 in Aba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,762 per month in Jos vs $975 in Aba, rent included.

Jos costs about 95% more than Aba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jos and Aba are more affordable than the global median – Jos 25% lower, Aba 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.27 ₦1,735

$5.30 ₦7,213

-76.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.94 ₦19.0K

$10.48 ₦14.3K

33.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 ₦6,422

$5.20 ₦7,084

-9.23%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₦3,233

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

$0.37 ₦510

$0.38 ₦514

-2.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦341

$0.27 ₦368

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.71 ₦963

$1.02 ₦1,391

-30.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 ₦1,743

Milk (1 liter)

$3.62 ₦4,923

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₦1,221

$2.05 ₦2,788

-56.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 ₦4,493

$4.11 ₦5,596

-19.71%

Eggs

$3.03 ₦4,130

$2.44 ₦3,321

24.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 ₦13.7K

$1.50 ₦2,049

568.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 ₦6,878

$5.30 ₦7,222

-4.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.56 ₦6,214

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₦5,416

Banana (1kg)

$4.96 ₦6,753

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ₦3,771

$0.41 ₦552

575.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 ₦5,529

$0.51 ₦690

696.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,011

$1.28 ₦1,749

72.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ₦2,654

$0.55 ₦743

254.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₦819

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₦1,046

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.19 ₦1,620

Wine (Bottle)

$7.36 ₦10.0K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₦1,017

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 ₦743

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 ₦1,341

$0.51 ₦688

92.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 ₦657

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.94 ₦13.5K

$2.10 ₦2,856

373.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 ₦1,313

$0.68 ₦925

41.18%

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

$101 ₦138.0K

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

$10.03 ₦13.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.42 ₦53.7K

$12.78 ₦17.4K

208.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 ₦16.0K

$6.46 ₦8,801

82.20%

Cinema Ticket

$8.93 ₦12.2K

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

$92.0 ₦125.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,009 ₦1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.86 ₦13.4K

$21.13 ₦28.8K

-53.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.74 ₦20.1K

$15.60 ₦21.3K

-5.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.83 ₦67.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.8 ₦69.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$700 ₦952.7K

$519 ₦706.7K

34.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 ₦631.5K

$314 ₦428.2K

47.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$875 ₦1.2M

$792 ₦1.1M

10.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₦798.9K

$469 ₦638.1K

25.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,013 ₦2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,483 ₦2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$67.3 ₦91.6K

$95.1 ₦129.5K

-29.26%

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

Last update for Jos: June 2, 2026

Last update for Aba: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $700 in Jos versus $519 in Aba. 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 41% higher in Aba, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jos versus $10.00 in Aba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $102 – making Aba 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

Jos vs Aba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Jos is pricier by about 95%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,498 per month in Jos and $770 in Aba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 143% more in Jos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jos and $10.00 in Aba. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aba, where all-in costs run around $513, than in Jos at $999. In Aba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Aba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Aba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.