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: $985 in Jos versus $1,698 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,362 in Jos versus $2,805 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,739 in Jos versus $3,911 in Abuja.

Living in Jos costs roughly 42% less than in Abuja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Jos is 27% below, Abuja is 26% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.31 ₦1,782

$2.05 ₦2,792

-36.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.94 ₦18.9K

$44.38 ₦60.3K

-68.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₦6,256

$5.48 ₦7,458

-16.06%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₦3,224

$2.55 ₦3,470

-7.06%

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

$0.37 ₦507

$0.52 ₦701

-28.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₦310

$0.41 ₦561

-43.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.74 ₦1,001

$1.11 ₦1,505

-33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 ₦1,563

Milk (1 liter)

$3.53 ₦4,798

$3.14 ₦4,272

12.42%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₦1,212

$1.26 ₦1,716

-29.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.28 ₦4,458

$2.46 ₦3,347

33.33%

Eggs

$2.92 ₦3,970

$1.54 ₦2,094

89.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.98 ₦13.6K

$5.17 ₦7,031

93.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 ₦6,726

$4.61 ₦6,270

7.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.56 ₦6,195

$3.83 ₦5,207

19.06%

Apples (1kg)

$3.93 ₦5,347

$3.05 ₦4,152

28.85%

Banana (1kg)

$4.86 ₦6,602

$1.76 ₦2,388

176.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₦3,696

$2.17 ₦2,945

25.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.90 ₦5,296

$1.77 ₦2,402

120.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.20 ₦2,985

$2.06 ₦2,802

6.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 ₦2,675

$2.52 ₦3,433

-21.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 ₦807

$0.57 ₦775

3.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₦1,029

$0.29 ₦394

162.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 ₦3,337

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ₦7,720

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₦933

$1.06 ₦1,439

-34.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 ₦1,909

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦868

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 ₦1,332

$0.87 ₦1,183

12.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ₦1,388

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.17 ₦13.8K

$4.23 ₦5,747

140.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 ₦1,221

$0.84 ₦1,139

7.14%

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

$101 ₦137.3K

$30.68 ₦41.7K

229.01%

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

$9.82 ₦13.3K

$10.95 ₦14.9K

-10.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.93 ₦55.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.62 ₦55.2K

$45.64 ₦62.1K

-11.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.88 ₦16.1K

$10.57 ₦14.4K

12.39%

Cinema Ticket

$8.82 ₦12.0K

$8.46 ₦11.5K

4.26%

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

$133 ₦180.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,018 ₦1.4M

$1,986 ₦2.7M

-48.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.10 ₦13.7K

$30.31 ₦41.2K

-66.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.78 ₦20.1K

$28.98 ₦39.4K

-49.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.7 ₦69.0K

$67.6 ₦91.9K

-24.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.83 ₦67.8K

$86.1 ₦117.1K

-42.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$714 ₦970.5K

$2,414 ₦3.3M

-70.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 ₦649.9K

$1,175 ₦1.6M

-59.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$859 ₦1.2M

$5,508 ₦7.5M

-84.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₦799.7K

$2,674 ₦3.6M

-78.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,987 ₦2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,503 ₦2.0M

$366 ₦497.0K

311.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$68.4 ₦93.0K

$164 ₦222.9K

-58.28%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Abuja: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $714 in Jos and $2,414 in Abuja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 140% 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 $44.00 in Abuja. Groceries flip the comparison at $242 vs $190, 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 72% in total monthly costs ($985 vs $1,698 including rent). Jos is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Abuja earns 140% less. 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: $714 in Jos versus $2,414 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 $44.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $985 per month in Jos versus $1,698 in Abuja – a 72% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $985 in Jos versus $1,698 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 72% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.