Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Ikeja

For one person, living is cheaper in Jos: $534 a month against $2,392 in Ikeja, rent and utilities included – about $22,300 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ikeja outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Jos, Nigeria
Ikeja, Nigeria
Jos
🇳🇬 Nigeria
$534
/mo nomad
Ikeja
🇳🇬 Nigeria
$2,392
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jos and in Ikeja

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jos and in Ikeja actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $534 per month in Jos vs $2,392 in Ikeja, rent included.

  • Jos $534
  • Ikeja $2,392

A couple spends around $1,097 per month in Jos vs $4,077 in Ikeja, rent included.

  • Jos $1,097
  • Ikeja $4,077

A family of three spends $1,661 per month in Jos vs $5,762 in Ikeja, rent included.

  • Jos $1,661
  • Ikeja $5,762

Jos is about 78% cheaper than Ikeja, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Jos sits 61% below the global median, while Ikeja is 76% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jos
Ikeja
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.04 ₦2,729
$0.49 ₦663
316.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.16 ₦40.4K
$11.21 ₦15.0K
169.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.97 ₦5,325
$7.56 ₦10.1K
-47.49%
Cappuccino
$3.25 ₦4,357
$2.84 ₦3,802
14.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43 ₦571
$0.14 ₦182
207.14%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 ₦896
$0.07 ₦96.1
857.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 ₦1,366
$0.29 ₦387
251.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 ₦2,658
$2.02 ₦2,704
-1.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jos
Ikeja
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.70 ₦4,958
$0.72 ₦960
413.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.87 ₦1,171
$0.77 ₦1,027
12.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.19 ₦2,931
$1.26 ₦1,692
73.81%
Eggs
$1.79 ₦2,397
$2.25 ₦3,016
-20.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.95 ₦13.3K
$3.59 ₦4,809
177.16%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.02 ₦6,728
$3.81 ₦5,106
31.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.02 ₦5,384
$4.56 ₦6,110
-11.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 ₦2,674
$1.68 ₦2,252
19.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₦1,940
$1.32 ₦1,775
9.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 ₦2,025
$1.13 ₦1,510
33.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 ₦3,046
$1.54 ₦2,069
47.40%
Potato (1kg)
$1.78 ₦2,390
$1.59 ₦2,128
11.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.41 ₦3,229
$1.56 ₦2,096
54.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ₦785
$0.84 ₦1,122
-29.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 ₦534
$0.36 ₦485
11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95 ₦2,619
$0.59 ₦788
230.51%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.93 ₦7,949
$2.36 ₦3,161
151.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 ₦1,605
$0.54 ₦719
122.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 ₦2,371
$0.50 ₦671
254.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Jos
Ikeja
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.09 ₦126
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$3.33 ₦4,468
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.58 ₦780
$0.70 ₦938
-17.14%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.87 ₦1,166
$0.90 ₦1,207
-3.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.83 ₦2,453
$2.18 ₦2,923
-16.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.54 ₦723
$0.13 ₦176
315.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K ₦34.4M
$11.2K ₦15.0M
129.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K ₦48.6M
$28.2K ₦37.8M
28.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jos
Ikeja
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$100 ₦134.5K
$110 ₦147.5K
-8.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.50 ₦8,712
$14.51 ₦19.5K
-55.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.97 ₦38.8K
$33.25 ₦44.6K
-12.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jos
Ikeja
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.52 ₦53.0K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.03 ₦16.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.22 ₦8,331
$6.33 ₦8,485
-1.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jos
Ikeja
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$44.67 ₦59.9K
$667 ₦894.3K
-93.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,001 ₦1.3M
$19.5K ₦26.1M
-94.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jos
Ikeja
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.09 ₦13.5K
$14.51 ₦19.4K
-30.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.98 ₦20.1K
$18.28 ₦24.5K
-18.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$51.0 ₦68.3K
$36.38 ₦48.8K
40.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.1 ₦67.1K
$48.13 ₦64.5K
4.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jos
Ikeja
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$3,483 ₦4.7M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,968 ₦2.6M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$554 ₦743.1K
$6,383 ₦8.6M
-91.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$483 ₦646.7K
$4,948 ₦6.6M
-90.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,030 ₦2.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,485 ₦2.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jos
Ikeja
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$102 ₦136.4K
$73.8 ₦98.9K
37.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.5
18.39
22.35%

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

Last update for Jos: October 26, 2026

Last update for Ikeja: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Jos
$203
Ikeja
$125 38.6% $78
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jos
$136
Ikeja
$158 16.2% $22
Eating Out
Jos
$81
Ikeja
$67 16.9% $14
Clothing & Footwear
Jos
$57
Ikeja
$53 7% $4
Sport & Entertainment
Jos
$52
Ikeja
$13 * 75.6% $39
Getting Around
Jos
$4.9 *
Ikeja
$8.9 80.7% $4
Accommodation & Living
Jos
- *
Ikeja
$2K

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 38% higher in Jos, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30 in Jos versus $11 in Ikeja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $125 – making Ikeja the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇳🇬 Jos
🇳🇬 Ikeja
🕒 Local time
11:20 11:20 AM
11:20 11:20 AM
Same time as Jos
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
900,000
861,300
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to NGN – Nigerian Naira Converter

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1,340 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.46 USD). 1 EUR = 1,492 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.7 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Jos Ikeja 710 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Jos
  • Ikeja

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ikeja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jos or Ikeja?
Ikeja costs about 348% more than Jos, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from utilities. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Jos and in Ikeja?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $800 per month in Jos and $3,589 in Ikeja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do dining costs compare in Jos and in Ikeja?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $30 in Jos and $11 in Ikeja. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Jos or in Ikeja?
Interestingly, groceries are about 39% cheaper in Ikeja – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Jos or in Ikeja?
A $1,200 monthly budget goes further in Jos, where all-in costs run around $534, than in Ikeja at $2,392. In Jos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ikeja it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Jos or Ikeja?
It depends on your priorities. Ikeja has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $534 in Jos to $2,392 in Ikeja. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Jos vs other spots: cost of living compared

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