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: $528 in Jos versus $1,095 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,094 in Jos versus $2,028 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,660 in Jos versus $2,962 in Abuja.

Living in Jos costs roughly 52% less than in Abuja, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jos 62% lower, Abuja 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.14 ₦2,835

$2.19 ₦2,897

-2.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.30 ₦38.8K

$30.48 ₦40.4K

-3.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₦6,094

$4.46 ₦5,908

3.14%

Cappuccino

$3.40 ₦4,508

$3.28 ₦4,352

3.66%

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

$0.55 ₦730

$0.55 ₦736

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₦928

$0.72 ₦961

-2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,421

$1.07 ₦1,415

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₦2,779

$2.11 ₦2,790

-0.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.63 ₦4,811

$3.63 ₦4,817

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 ₦1,128

$1.30 ₦1,724

-34.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₦2,979

$2.19 ₦2,897

2.74%

Eggs

$1.86 ₦2,461

$1.88 ₦2,495

-1.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.99 ₦13.2K

$11.16 ₦14.8K

-10.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 ₦6,780

$5.21 ₦6,901

-1.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.02 ₦5,324

$5.98 ₦7,925

-32.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 ₦2,622

$1.99 ₦2,639

-0.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₦1,975

$1.43 ₦1,895

4.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ₦2,026

$1.54 ₦2,041

-0.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.29 ₦3,028

$2.33 ₦3,093

-1.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 ₦2,381

$1.87 ₦2,482

-3.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.43 ₦3,222

$2.46 ₦3,256

-1.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 ₦769

$0.60 ₦794

-3.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₦488

$0.38 ₦503

-2.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.04 ₦2,697

$2.06 ₦2,725

-0.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.77 ₦7,642

$5.80 ₦7,687

-0.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 ₦1,632

$1.19 ₦1,576

3.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 ₦2,378

$1.85 ₦2,447

-3.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.40 ₦525

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.32 ₦44.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 ₦774

$0.58 ₦772

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.80 ₦1,054

$0.81 ₦1,076

-1.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 ₦2,427

$1.94 ₦2,570

-5.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.58 ₦768

$0.55 ₦726

5.45%

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

$26.5K ₦35.1M

-0.15%

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

$18.3K ₦24.3M

-0.04%

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

$101 ₦134.5K

$113 ₦149.6K

-10.12%

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

$6.36 ₦8,428

$6.56 ₦8,691

-3.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.56 ₦37.9K

$29.15 ₦38.6K

-2.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.25 ₦52.0K

$35.66 ₦47.3K

10.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.21 ₦16.2K

$10.81 ₦14.3K

12.95%

Cinema Ticket

$4.92 ₦6,523

$4.90 ₦6,488

0.41%

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

$44.31 ₦58.7K

$45.43 ₦60.2K

-2.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,017 ₦1.3M

$3,219 ₦4.3M

-68.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.88 ₦13.1K

$25.57 ₦33.9K

-61.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.03 ₦19.9K

$61.1 ₦81.0K

-75.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.9 ₦67.4K

$78.2 ₦103.6K

-34.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.03 ₦65.0K

$107 ₦142.1K

-54.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,426 ₦1.9M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$439 ₦581.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$549 ₦727.6K

$3,407 ₦4.5M

-83.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$488 ₦646.9K

$1,515 ₦2.0M

-67.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,040 ₦2.7M

$712 ₦943.7K

186.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,481 ₦2.0M

$374 ₦496.2K

295.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$100 ₦132.6K

$166 ₦220.0K

-39.72%

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: September 5, 2026

Last update for Abuja: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Abuja pays 66% 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: $29.00 in Jos vs $30.00 in Abuja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $218 per month, with Jos 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

Jos vs Abuja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jos and Abuja differ by about 107% in total monthly costs ($528 vs $1,095 including rent). Jos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 66% 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.

Childcare runs $44.31 in Jos versus $45.43 in Abuja. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Jos – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $30.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $528 in Jos versus $1,095 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 107% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.