Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Maiduguri Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Maiduguri

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $999 per month in Jos vs $191 in Maiduguri, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,380 per month in Jos vs $345 in Maiduguri, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,762 per month in Jos vs $498 in Maiduguri, rent included.

Jos costs about 422% more than Maiduguri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jos and Maiduguri are more affordable than the global median – Jos 25% lower, Maiduguri 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.27 ₦1,735

$1.53 ₦2,083

-16.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.94 ₦19.0K

$11.78 ₦16.0K

18.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 ₦6,422

$2.71 ₦3,691

74.17%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₦3,233

$1.36 ₦1,846

74.26%

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

$0.37 ₦510

$0.37 ₦509

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦341

$0.29 ₦400

-13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.71 ₦963

Milk (1 liter)

$3.62 ₦4,923

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₦1,221

$1.01 ₦1,381

-10.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 ₦4,493

$1.95 ₦2,650

69.23%

Eggs

$3.03 ₦4,130

$1.76 ₦2,397

72.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 ₦13.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 ₦6,878

$5.07 ₦6,910

-0.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.56 ₦6,214

$3.99 ₦5,433

14.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₦5,416

$3.89 ₦5,294

2.31%

Banana (1kg)

$4.96 ₦6,753

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ₦3,771

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 ₦5,529

$1.01 ₦1,379

301.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,011

$1.52 ₦2,074

45.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ₦2,654

$1.03 ₦1,401

89.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₦819

$0.39 ₦525

53.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₦1,046

$0.31 ₦428

148.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₦1,017

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₦721

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 ₦1,341

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.94 ₦13.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 ₦1,313

$0.37 ₦498

159.46%

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

$101 ₦138.0K

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

$10.03 ₦13.7K

$7.89 ₦10.7K

27.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.42 ₦53.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 ₦16.0K

$7.83 ₦10.7K

50.32%

Cinema Ticket

$8.93 ₦12.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,009 ₦1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.86 ₦13.4K

$20.15 ₦27.4K

-51.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.74 ₦20.1K

$18.34 ₦25.0K

-19.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.83 ₦67.9K

$25.49 ₦34.7K

95.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.8 ₦69.2K

$24.89 ₦33.9K

104.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$700 ₦952.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 ₦631.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$875 ₦1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₦798.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,013 ₦2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,483 ₦2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$67.3 ₦91.6K

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

Last update for Jos: June 2, 2026

Last update for Maiduguri: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jos versus $12.00 in Maiduguri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $99.0 – making Maiduguri 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 Maiduguri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $999 in Jos, $191 in Maiduguri – roughly 422% apart. Jos 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 $287 in Maiduguri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jos and $12.00 in Maiduguri. 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 $191 in Maiduguri. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maiduguri, where all-in costs run around $191, than in Jos at $999. In Maiduguri it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Maiduguri – 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 Maiduguri. 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.