Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Lagos Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Lagos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $999 per month in Jos vs $1,123 in Lagos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,380 per month in Jos vs $1,882 in Lagos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,762 per month in Jos vs $2,641 in Lagos, rent included.

Jos is about 11% cheaper than Lagos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jos and Lagos are more affordable than the global median – Jos 25% lower, Lagos 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.27 ₦1,735

$2.61 ₦3,551

-51.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.94 ₦19.0K

$49.01 ₦66.7K

-71.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 ₦6,422

$5.28 ₦7,193

-10.61%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₦3,233

$2.17 ₦2,955

9.22%

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

$0.37 ₦510

$0.36 ₦492

2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦341

$0.22 ₦300

13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.71 ₦963

$0.79 ₦1,078

-10.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₦1,897

Milk (1 liter)

$3.62 ₦4,923

$2.34 ₦3,183

54.70%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₦1,221

$1.25 ₦1,698

-28.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 ₦4,493

$2.23 ₦3,037

47.98%

Eggs

$3.03 ₦4,130

$1.68 ₦2,287

80.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 ₦13.7K

$6.15 ₦8,375

62.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 ₦6,878

$4.29 ₦5,844

17.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.56 ₦6,214

$5.25 ₦7,154

-13.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₦5,416

$3.48 ₦4,742

14.37%

Banana (1kg)

$4.96 ₦6,753

$2.06 ₦2,801

140.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ₦3,771

$2.21 ₦3,011

25.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 ₦5,529

$2.28 ₦3,105

78.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,011

$2.40 ₦3,271

-7.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ₦2,654

$2.02 ₦2,753

-3.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₦819

$2.02 ₦2,746

-70.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₦1,046

$0.39 ₦529

97.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₦1,727

Wine (Bottle)

$2.49 ₦3,397

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₦1,017

$0.63 ₦856

19.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₦1,196

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ₦934

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.96 ₦50.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 ₦1,341

$1.25 ₦1,702

-21.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 ₦3,048

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.94 ₦13.5K

$4.68 ₦6,368

112.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 ₦1,313

$0.79 ₦1,070

21.52%

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

$20.2K ₦27.5M

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

$20.7K ₦28.2M

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

$101 ₦138.0K

$41.11 ₦56.0K

146.53%

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

$10.03 ₦13.7K

$10.16 ₦13.8K

-1.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.75 ₦46.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.42 ₦53.7K

$30.68 ₦41.8K

28.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 ₦16.0K

$12.80 ₦17.4K

-8.05%

Cinema Ticket

$8.93 ₦12.2K

$6.30 ₦8,577

41.75%

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

$84.5 ₦115.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,009 ₦1.4M

$2,314 ₦3.2M

-56.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.86 ₦13.4K

$19.07 ₦26.0K

-48.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.74 ₦20.1K

$24.51 ₦33.4K

-39.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.83 ₦67.9K

$65.0 ₦88.5K

-23.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.8 ₦69.2K

$57.7 ₦78.5K

-11.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$700 ₦952.7K

$1,087 ₦1.5M

-35.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 ₦631.5K

$632 ₦861.1K

-26.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$875 ₦1.2M

$2,746 ₦3.7M

-68.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₦798.9K

$1,347 ₦1.8M

-56.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,013 ₦2.7M

$3,278 ₦4.5M

-38.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,483 ₦2.0M

$1,622 ₦2.2M

-8.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$67.3 ₦91.6K

$116 ₦158.0K

-42.02%

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 2, 2026

Last update for Lagos: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $700 in Jos versus $1,087 in Lagos. 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 72% higher in Lagos, 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 $49.00 in Lagos. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Jos vs $191 in Lagos – so Lagos 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 Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $999 in Jos, $1,123 in Lagos – roughly 12% apart. Lagos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,498 per month in Jos and $1,685 in Lagos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jos, 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 $49.00 in Lagos. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $999 in Jos and $1,123 in Lagos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jos, where all-in costs run around $999, than in Lagos at $1,123. In Jos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jos – 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 Jos. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lagos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.