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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $528 per month in Jos vs $411 in Aba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,094 per month in Jos vs $662 in Aba, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,660 per month in Jos vs $912 in Aba, rent included.

Jos costs about 28% more than Aba, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Jos and Aba are more affordable than the global median – Jos 62% lower, Aba 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 ₦2,835

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.30 ₦38.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₦6,094

$7.68 ₦10.2K

-40.10%

Cappuccino

$3.40 ₦4,508

$0.87 ₦1,159

290.80%

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

$0.55 ₦730

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₦928

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,421

$2.07 ₦2,740

-48.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₦2,779

$2.40 ₦3,187

-12.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.63 ₦4,811

$3.80 ₦5,035

-4.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 ₦1,128

$2.22 ₦2,941

-61.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₦2,979

Eggs

$1.86 ₦2,461

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.99 ₦13.2K

$11.55 ₦15.3K

-13.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₦6,780

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.02 ₦5,324

$1.34 ₦1,771

200.00%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 ₦2,622

$5.43 ₦7,199

-63.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₦1,975

$0.56 ₦738

166.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ₦2,026

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 ₦3,028

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ₦2,381

$3.54 ₦4,696

-49.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 ₦3,222

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ₦769

$1.13 ₦1,492

-48.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₦488

$0.15 ₦204

146.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 ₦2,697

$1.55 ₦2,060

31.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.77 ₦7,642

$7.27 ₦9,630

-20.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₦1,632

$1.28 ₦1,691

-3.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 ₦2,378

$1.40 ₦1,861

27.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.35 ₦12.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 ₦774

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₦1,054

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 ₦2,427

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 ₦768

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

$26.5K ₦35.1M

$6,033 ₦8.0M

338.81%

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

$18.3K ₦24.3M

$7,467 ₦9.9M

145.41%

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

$101 ₦134.5K

$117 ₦154.5K

-12.93%

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

$6.36 ₦8,428

$2.22 ₦2,944

186.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.56 ₦37.9K

$45.54 ₦60.4K

-37.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.25 ₦52.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.21 ₦16.2K

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 ₦6,523

$2.13 ₦2,827

130.99%

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

$44.31 ₦58.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,017 ₦1.3M

$1,073 ₦1.4M

-5.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.88 ₦13.1K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.03 ₦19.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.9 ₦67.4K

$15.33 ₦20.3K

231.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.03 ₦65.0K

$18.73 ₦24.8K

161.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$138 ₦183.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₦727.6K

$456 ₦603.8K

20.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₦646.9K

$226 ₦299.0K

116.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,040 ₦2.7M

$1,077 ₦1.4M

89.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,481 ₦2.0M

$474 ₦628.6K

212.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$100 ₦132.6K

$99.0 ₦131.2K

1.08%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

87.50%

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

Last update for Jos: September 5, 2026

Last update for Aba: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 1% higher in Jos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 28%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $792 per month in Jos and $617 in Aba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $528 in Jos and $411 in Aba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 20% more in Jos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $528 in Jos and $411 in Aba, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.