Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and KanoCost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Kano
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,002 per month in Jos vs $557 in Kano, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,365 per month in Jos vs $874 in Kano, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,728 per month in Jos vs $1,190 in Kano, rent included.
😐Jos costs about 80% more than Kano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Jos and Kano are more affordable than the global median – Jos25% lower, Kano58% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jos
Kano
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.29₦1,775
$3.44₦4,741
-62.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$13.85₦19.1K
$10.55₦14.5K
31.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.70₦6,472
$5.49₦7,557
-14.39%
Cappuccino
$2.33₦3,203
$4.83₦6,645
-51.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34₦474
$0.40₦552
-15.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25₦345
$0.39₦532
-35.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.69₦948
$0.86₦1,178
-19.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.89₦1,231
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jos
Kano
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.65₦5,030
$3.44₦4,735
6.10%
White Bread(500g)
$0.95₦1,310
$1.95₦2,684
-51.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.29₦4,528
$2.27₦3,126
44.93%
Eggs
$2.95₦4,062
$2.11₦2,905
39.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.91₦13.6K
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.11₦7,042
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.59₦6,316
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$4.11₦5,653
$7.19₦9,900
-42.84%
Banana(1kg)
$4.89₦6,734
$1.67₦2,299
192.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.72₦3,748
$1.19₦1,644
128.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.03₦5,543
$1.20₦1,652
235.83%
Potato(1kg)
$2.28₦3,143
$2.31₦3,178
-1.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98₦2,720
$3.50₦4,813
-43.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64₦877
$0.34₦461
88.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71₦982
$0.49₦676
44.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.98₦5,486
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.74₦1,012
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.85₦1,167
-
🚌 Getting Around
Jos
Kano
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.85₦1,165
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$36.78₦50.6K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.01₦1,393
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.14₦14.0K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96₦1,323
$0.42₦577
128.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jos
Kano
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.7₦135.9K
$12.11₦16.7K
715.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.98₦13.7K
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$19.57₦26.9K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jos
Kano
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.33₦54.2K
$33.65₦46.3K
16.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.15₦16.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.77₦12.1K
$4.74₦6,528
85.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jos
Kano
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$35.02₦48.2K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$990₦1.4M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jos
Kano
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.01₦13.8K
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$14.95₦20.6K
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.1₦69.0K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.78₦68.5K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jos
Kano
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$697₦959.0K
$477₦656.6K
46.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$475₦654.6K
$179₦246.4K
165.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$875₦1.2M
$1,163₦1.6M
-24.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$603₦829.6K
$351₦482.7K
71.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,960₦2.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,521₦2.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jos
Kano
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$108₦149.3K
-
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jos: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kano: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $697 in Jos versus $477 in Kano. 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 $14.00 in Jos versus $11.00 in Kano. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $255 vs $151 – making Kano the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Kano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Jos and Kano compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,002 in Jos, $557 in Kano – roughly 80% apart. Jos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Jos compared to Kano?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Jos and $836 in Kano. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Jos and Kano?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kano, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jos and $11.00 in Kano. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Jos or Kano?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,002 in Jos and $557 in Kano. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kano, where all-in costs run around $557, than in Jos at $1,002. In Kano it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Jos or Kano?
Families tend to lean toward Kano – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Jos and Kano?
If budget matters most, go with Kano. 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.