Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Ife Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Ife

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,025 per month in Jos vs $731 in Ife, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,409 per month in Jos vs $1,166 in Ife, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,792 per month in Jos vs $1,601 in Ife, rent included.

Jos costs about 40% more than Ife, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jos and Ife are more affordable than the global median – Jos 23% lower, Ife 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.31 ₦1,789

$2.81 ₦3,834

-53.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.82 ₦18.8K

$35.69 ₦48.7K

-61.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 ₦6,209

$5.19 ₦7,081

-12.14%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₦3,218

$0.84 ₦1,150

180.95%

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

$0.34 ₦469

$0.47 ₦638

-27.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦343

$0.26 ₦350

-3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.69 ₦934

$0.97 ₦1,322

-28.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.20 ₦1,636

Milk (1 liter)

$3.61 ₦4,920

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₦1,213

$0.68 ₦925

30.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 ₦4,658

$1.74 ₦2,375

96.55%

Eggs

$2.92 ₦3,978

$2.34 ₦3,185

24.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 ₦13.7K

$4.57 ₦6,233

120.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 ₦6,782

$5.10 ₦6,953

-2.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.41 ₦6,016

$4.23 ₦5,760

4.26%

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 ₦5,609

$5.97 ₦8,132

-31.16%

Banana (1kg)

$4.97 ₦6,774

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 ₦3,736

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 ₦5,381

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 ₦3,139

$0.92 ₦1,250

150.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 ₦2,686

$1.18 ₦1,611

66.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ₦874

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₦1,056

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 ₦7,881

$2.21 ₦3,013

161.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₦1,015

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 ₦499

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 ₦1,330

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.88 ₦13.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 ₦1,197

$0.38 ₦517

131.58%

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

$100 ₦136.9K

$30.54 ₦41.6K

228.81%

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

$9.95 ₦13.6K

$6.16 ₦8,397

61.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.01 ₦64.1K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.13 ₦54.7K

$23.17 ₦31.6K

73.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.12 ₦16.5K

Cinema Ticket

$9.23 ₦12.6K

$4.58 ₦6,237

101.53%

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

$46.22 ₦63.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$985 ₦1.3M

$421 ₦574.1K

133.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.94 ₦13.5K

$23.23 ₦31.7K

-57.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.79 ₦20.2K

$34.89 ₦47.6K

-57.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.9 ₦69.3K

$59.2 ₦80.6K

-14.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.6 ₦68.9K

$69.7 ₦94.9K

-27.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 ₦949.0K

$586 ₦799.1K

18.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 ₦642.7K

$344 ₦469.5K

36.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$850 ₦1.2M

$1,159 ₦1.6M

-26.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ₦826.6K

$702 ₦956.6K

-13.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,033 ₦2.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,478 ₦2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$68.2 ₦92.9K

$50.8 ₦69.2K

34.31%

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

Last update for Jos: July 28, 2026

Last update for Ife: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $696 in Jos versus $586 in Ife. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 34% higher in Jos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jos versus $36.00 in Ife. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Jos vs $114 in Ife – so Ife wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Ife: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,025 in Jos, $731 in Ife – roughly 40% apart. Jos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,538 per month in Jos and $1,097 in Ife. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ife, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jos and $36.00 in Ife. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,025 in Jos and $731 in Ife. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ife, where all-in costs run around $731, than in Jos at $1,025. In Ife it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ife – 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 Ife. 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.