Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Abuja Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Abuja

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,025 in Jos versus $1,650 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Jos versus $2,777 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,792 in Jos versus $3,905 in Abuja.

Living in Jos costs roughly 38% less than in Abuja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Jos is 23% below, Abuja is 24% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.31 ₦1,789

$2.02 ₦2,757

-35.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.82 ₦18.8K

$44.61 ₦60.8K

-69.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 ₦6,209

$5.61 ₦7,646

-18.72%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₦3,218

$2.56 ₦3,495

-7.81%

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

$0.34 ₦469

$0.50 ₦688

-32.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦343

$0.39 ₦526

-35.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.69 ₦934

$1.06 ₦1,443

-34.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.18 ₦1,611

Milk (1 liter)

$3.61 ₦4,920

$3.12 ₦4,250

15.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₦1,213

$1.30 ₦1,767

-31.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 ₦4,658

$2.41 ₦3,291

41.91%

Eggs

$2.92 ₦3,978

$1.49 ₦2,029

95.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 ₦13.7K

$5.12 ₦6,977

96.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 ₦6,782

$4.62 ₦6,301

7.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.41 ₦6,016

$3.84 ₦5,240

14.84%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 ₦5,609

$2.97 ₦4,043

38.38%

Banana (1kg)

$4.97 ₦6,774

$1.70 ₦2,313

192.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 ₦3,736

$2.16 ₦2,946

26.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 ₦5,381

$1.77 ₦2,412

123.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 ₦3,139

$2.04 ₦2,781

12.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 ₦2,686

$2.54 ₦3,468

-22.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ₦874

$0.57 ₦774

12.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₦1,056

$0.31 ₦428

148.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 ₦3,435

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 ₦7,881

$5.74 ₦7,818

0.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₦1,015

$1.05 ₦1,436

-29.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₦1,982

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 ₦931

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 ₦1,330

$0.86 ₦1,170

13.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ₦1,416

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.88 ₦13.5K

$4.27 ₦5,816

131.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 ₦1,197

$0.83 ₦1,130

6.02%

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

$100 ₦136.9K

$30.33 ₦41.3K

231.09%

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

$9.95 ₦13.6K

$11.03 ₦15.0K

-9.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.89 ₦57.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.13 ₦54.7K

$45.38 ₦61.9K

-11.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.12 ₦16.5K

$10.65 ₦14.5K

13.80%

Cinema Ticket

$9.23 ₦12.6K

$8.22 ₦11.2K

12.29%

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

$133 ₦181.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$985 ₦1.3M

$1,974 ₦2.7M

-50.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.94 ₦13.5K

$30.26 ₦41.3K

-67.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.79 ₦20.2K

$29.11 ₦39.7K

-49.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.9 ₦69.3K

$67.6 ₦92.1K

-24.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.6 ₦68.9K

$86.9 ₦118.4K

-41.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 ₦949.0K

$2,445 ₦3.3M

-71.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 ₦642.7K

$1,158 ₦1.6M

-59.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$850 ₦1.2M

$5,503 ₦7.5M

-84.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ₦826.6K

$2,717 ₦3.7M

-77.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,033 ₦2.8M

$700 ₦954.3K

190.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,478 ₦2.0M

$366 ₦498.6K

304.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$68.2 ₦92.9K

$167 ₦227.9K

-59.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

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

Last update for Jos: July 28, 2026

Last update for Abuja: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $696 in Jos and $2,445 in Abuja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 145% 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: $14.00 in Jos vs $45.00 in Abuja. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $189, with Abuja cheaper for home cooking.

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 Abuja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jos and Abuja differ by about 61% in total monthly costs ($1,025 vs $1,650 including rent). Jos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 145% 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: $696 in Jos versus $2,445 in Abuja. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Jos – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $45.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,025 per month in Jos versus $1,650 in Abuja – a 61% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,025 in Jos versus $1,650 in Abuja, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Jos but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Jos 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.

Expats usually find Jos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.