Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Ilesha Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Ilesha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $985 per month in Jos vs $446 in Ilesha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,362 per month in Jos vs $796 in Ilesha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,739 per month in Jos vs $1,146 in Ilesha, rent included.

Jos costs about 121% more than Ilesha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jos and Ilesha are more affordable than the global median – Jos 27% lower, Ilesha 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.31 ₦1,779

$2.57 ₦3,488

-49.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.94 ₦18.9K

$50.5 ₦68.6K

-72.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₦6,246

$5.20 ₦7,055

-11.54%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₦3,220

$2.13 ₦2,888

11.27%

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

$0.37 ₦506

$0.33 ₦453

12.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₦310

$0.20 ₦272

15.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.74 ₦999

$0.78 ₦1,060

-5.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₦1,858

Milk (1 liter)

$3.53 ₦4,791

$2.26 ₦3,072

56.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₦1,210

$1.25 ₦1,702

-28.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.28 ₦4,451

$2.26 ₦3,062

45.13%

Eggs

$2.92 ₦3,964

$1.72 ₦2,330

69.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.98 ₦13.6K

$6.31 ₦8,568

58.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 ₦6,716

$4.20 ₦5,699

17.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.56 ₦6,186

$5.28 ₦7,167

-13.64%

Apples (1kg)

$3.93 ₦5,339

$3.47 ₦4,716

13.26%

Banana (1kg)

$4.86 ₦6,593

$2.06 ₦2,796

135.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.72 ₦3,691

$2.17 ₦2,948

25.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.90 ₦5,289

$2.31 ₦3,138

68.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.20 ₦2,981

$2.32 ₦3,147

-5.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 ₦2,671

$1.92 ₦2,609

2.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 ₦806

$1.99 ₦2,707

-70.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.76 ₦1,027

$0.35 ₦480

117.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.25 ₦1,704

Wine (Bottle)

$2.62 ₦3,557

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₦931

$0.63 ₦857

9.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₦1,258

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 ₦1,330

$1.20 ₦1,625

-18.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 ₦3,075

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.17 ₦13.8K

$4.58 ₦6,214

122.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.90 ₦1,219

$0.79 ₦1,068

13.92%

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

$20.6K ₦27.9M

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

$20.2K ₦27.4M

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

$101 ₦137.0K

$40.76 ₦55.3K

147.64%

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

$9.82 ₦13.3K

$10.05 ₦13.7K

-2.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.50 ₦46.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.62 ₦55.2K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.88 ₦16.1K

Cinema Ticket

$8.82 ₦12.0K

$6.16 ₦8,359

43.18%

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

$81.8 ₦111.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,018 ₦1.4M

$2,342 ₦3.2M

-56.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.10 ₦13.7K

$19.18 ₦26.0K

-47.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.78 ₦20.1K

$24.87 ₦33.8K

-40.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.7 ₦68.9K

$64.6 ₦87.8K

-21.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.83 ₦67.7K

$57.0 ₦77.3K

-12.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$714 ₦969.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$478 ₦648.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$859 ₦1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$588 ₦798.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,987 ₦2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,503 ₦2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$68.4 ₦92.8K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Ilesha: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jos versus $51.0 in Ilesha. Groceries tell a different story – $242 in Jos vs $190 in Ilesha – so Ilesha 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 Ilesha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Jos is pricier by about 121%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,478 per month in Jos and $669 in Ilesha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 27% more in Jos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jos and $51.0 in Ilesha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ilesha, where all-in costs run around $446, than in Jos at $985. In Ilesha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ilesha – 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 Ilesha. 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.