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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,012 per month in Jos vs $454 in Ilesha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,400 per month in Jos vs $801 in Ilesha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,789 per month in Jos vs $1,148 in Ilesha, rent included.

Jos costs about 123% more than Ilesha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jos and Ilesha are more affordable than the global median – Jos 25% lower, Ilesha 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.28 ₦1,727

$2.51 ₦3,387

-49.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.21 ₦19.2K

$50.7 ₦68.3K

-71.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.71 ₦6,354

$5.39 ₦7,268

-12.62%

Cappuccino

$2.30 ₦3,099

$2.20 ₦2,965

4.55%

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

$0.34 ₦463

$0.37 ₦494

-8.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦338

$0.20 ₦269

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.70 ₦949

$0.80 ₦1,074

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 ₦1,852

Milk (1 liter)

$3.53 ₦4,759

$2.27 ₦3,063

55.51%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 ₦1,168

$1.25 ₦1,683

-30.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.44 ₦4,635

$2.34 ₦3,157

47.01%

Eggs

$2.96 ₦3,987

$1.70 ₦2,287

74.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.10 ₦13.6K

$6.41 ₦8,646

57.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 ₦6,724

$4.28 ₦5,774

16.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.49 ₦6,051

$5.52 ₦7,442

-18.66%

Apples (1kg)

$4.02 ₦5,424

$3.60 ₦4,859

11.67%

Banana (1kg)

$5.04 ₦6,797

$2.11 ₦2,847

138.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 ₦3,619

$2.18 ₦2,942

22.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.01 ₦5,405

$2.39 ₦3,226

67.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.20 ₦2,967

$2.29 ₦3,094

-3.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 ₦2,675

$2.03 ₦2,739

-2.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ₦873

$2.02 ₦2,723

-67.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₦1,042

$0.38 ₦516

102.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.26 ₦1,700

Wine (Bottle)

$3.98 ₦5,369

$3.25 ₦4,379

22.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₦998

$0.69 ₦928

7.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₦1,188

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.01 ₦1,365

$1.19 ₦1,612

-15.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.16 ₦2,919

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.05 ₦13.6K

$4.57 ₦6,167

119.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 ₦1,268

$0.75 ₦1,012

25.33%

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

$20.5K ₦27.7M

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

$20.7K ₦28.0M

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

$100 ₦135.5K

$41.91 ₦56.5K

139.70%

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

$10.12 ₦13.7K

$10.35 ₦14.0K

-2.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.40 ₦46.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.25 ₦54.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.86 ₦16.0K

Cinema Ticket

$9.14 ₦12.3K

$6.51 ₦8,776

40.40%

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

$83.1 ₦112.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$990 ₦1.3M

$2,275 ₦3.1M

-56.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.09 ₦13.6K

$19.02 ₦25.7K

-46.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.87 ₦20.1K

$24.91 ₦33.6K

-40.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.94 ₦67.4K

$64.1 ₦86.5K

-22.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.6 ₦68.3K

$57.2 ₦77.1K

-11.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 ₦965.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$465 ₦626.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$867 ₦1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 ₦811.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,009 ₦2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,511 ₦2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$111 ₦149.6K

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: April 22, 2026

Last update for Ilesha: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Jos versus $0 in Ilesha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14 in Jos versus $51 in Ilesha. Groceries tell a different story – $253 in Jos vs $195 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 123%, 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 $1,517 per month in Jos and $680 in Ilesha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 30% 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 $454, than in Jos at $1,012. 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.