Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Ibadan Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Ibadan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $997 in Jos versus $800 in Ibadan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,375 in Jos versus $1,491 in Ibadan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,753 in Jos versus $2,182 in Ibadan.

Living in Jos is roughly 25% more expensive than in Ibadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jos 25% lower, Ibadan 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.27 ₦1,745

$1.82 ₦2,509

-30.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.10 ₦19.4K

$28.21 ₦38.8K

-50.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₦6,333

$5.42 ₦7,453

-15.13%

Cappuccino

$2.28 ₦3,139

$1.00 ₦1,376

128.00%

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

$0.35 ₦481

$0.29 ₦403

20.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦344

$0.17 ₦228

47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.69 ₦946

$0.81 ₦1,115

-14.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.26 ₦1,737

Milk (1 liter)

$3.55 ₦4,889

$2.29 ₦3,148

55.02%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 ₦1,268

$1.15 ₦1,586

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 ₦4,474

$2.11 ₦2,898

54.03%

Eggs

$3.02 ₦4,160

$1.76 ₦2,426

71.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 ₦13.7K

$4.27 ₦5,877

132.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 ₦6,704

$4.16 ₦5,727

17.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.59 ₦6,319

$4.02 ₦5,530

14.18%

Apples (1kg)

$4.10 ₦5,635

$2.43 ₦3,338

68.72%

Banana (1kg)

$5.05 ₦6,946

$1.17 ₦1,605

331.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₦3,735

$1.23 ₦1,695

120.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.87 ₦5,327

$1.69 ₦2,319

128.99%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₦3,112

$2.15 ₦2,963

5.12%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 ₦2,596

$1.51 ₦2,078

25.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ₦894

$0.98 ₦1,342

-33.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₦1,055

$0.33 ₦448

133.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.26 ₦1,727

Wine (Bottle)

$5.49 ₦7,552

$0.94 ₦1,287

484.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₦1,037

$0.67 ₦924

11.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₦1,207

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 ₦445

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.59 ₦49.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 ₦1,361

$1.20 ₦1,653

-17.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.05 ₦1,438

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.96 ₦13.7K

$3.68 ₦5,062

170.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 ₦1,212

$0.54 ₦743

62.96%

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

$9,612 ₦13.2M

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

$14.4K ₦19.8M

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

$99.2 ₦136.4K

$21.37 ₦29.4K

364.01%

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

$10.08 ₦13.9K

$7.64 ₦10.5K

31.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.19 ₦27.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.66 ₦54.6K

$30.06 ₦41.3K

31.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.97 ₦16.5K

Cinema Ticket

$9.16 ₦12.6K

$2.58 ₦3,555

255.04%

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

$49.94 ₦68.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$998 ₦1.4M

$1,865 ₦2.6M

-46.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.03 ₦13.8K

$18.39 ₦25.3K

-45.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.29 ₦21.0K

$24.84 ₦34.2K

-38.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.7 ₦69.7K

$43.22 ₦59.5K

17.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.0 ₦70.1K

$30.12 ₦41.4K

69.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 ₦957.0K

$449 ₦617.8K

54.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 ₦655.4K

$423 ₦581.7K

12.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$855 ₦1.2M

$1,235 ₦1.7M

-30.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 ₦818.0K

$1,282 ₦1.8M

-53.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,979 ₦2.7M

$835 ₦1.1M

137.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,496 ₦2.1M

$29.39 ₦40.4K

4990.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$67.9 ₦93.4K

$54.9 ₦75.5K

23.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

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

Last update for Jos: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ibadan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $696 in Jos and $449 in Ibadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jos pays 24% 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 $28.00 in Ibadan. Groceries flip the comparison at $256 vs $152, with Ibadan 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 Ibadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ibadan wins on cost – living expenses run 25% lower than in Jos. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ibadan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 24% higher in Jos, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $696 in Jos versus $449 in Ibadan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $997 per month in Jos versus $800 in Ibadan – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 68% higher in Jos. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $800 in Ibadan versus $997 in Jos, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ibadan but tight or insufficient in Jos. The gap between the two cities makes Ibadan 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 Ibadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Jos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.