Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Benin Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Benin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $999 per month in Jos vs $441 in Benin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,380 per month in Jos vs $809 in Benin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,762 per month in Jos vs $1,177 in Benin, rent included.

Jos costs about 126% more than Benin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jos and Benin are more affordable than the global median – Jos 25% lower, Benin 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.27 ₦1,735

$2.51 ₦3,417

-49.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.94 ₦19.0K

$49.30 ₦67.1K

-71.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 ₦6,422

$5.44 ₦7,402

-13.24%

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₦3,233

$2.20 ₦2,989

7.73%

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

$0.37 ₦510

$0.33 ₦454

12.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦341

$0.22 ₦300

13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.71 ₦963

$0.80 ₦1,092

-11.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₦1,961

Milk (1 liter)

$3.62 ₦4,923

$2.28 ₦3,104

58.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₦1,221

$1.20 ₦1,638

-25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 ₦4,493

$2.22 ₦3,029

48.65%

Eggs

$3.03 ₦4,130

$1.72 ₦2,337

76.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 ₦13.7K

$6.34 ₦8,627

58.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 ₦6,878

$4.32 ₦5,876

16.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.56 ₦6,214

$5.32 ₦7,241

-14.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₦5,416

$3.43 ₦4,675

16.03%

Banana (1kg)

$4.96 ₦6,753

$2.11 ₦2,873

135.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ₦3,771

$2.16 ₦2,948

28.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 ₦5,529

$2.31 ₦3,141

75.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,011

$2.37 ₦3,221

-6.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ₦2,654

$1.93 ₦2,631

1.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₦819

$1.99 ₦2,704

-69.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₦1,046

$0.39 ₦528

97.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₦1,728

Wine (Bottle)

$2.62 ₦3,568

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₦1,017

$0.63 ₦856

19.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₦1,199

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 ₦1,341

$1.24 ₦1,683

-20.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 ₦3,072

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.94 ₦13.5K

$4.59 ₦6,248

116.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 ₦1,313

$0.78 ₦1,059

23.08%

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

$20.7K ₦28.2M

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

$20.9K ₦28.4M

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

$101 ₦138.0K

$41.88 ₦57.0K

142.00%

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

$10.03 ₦13.7K

$10.07 ₦13.7K

-0.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.35 ₦46.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.42 ₦53.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 ₦16.0K

Cinema Ticket

$8.93 ₦12.2K

$6.29 ₦8,570

41.97%

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

$84.5 ₦115.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,009 ₦1.4M

$2,332 ₦3.2M

-56.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.86 ₦13.4K

$19.31 ₦26.3K

-48.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.74 ₦20.1K

$24.64 ₦33.6K

-40.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.83 ₦67.9K

$65.4 ₦89.1K

-23.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.8 ₦69.2K

$57.6 ₦78.4K

-11.77%

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

$109 ₦148.1K

-38.14%

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 Benin: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 62% higher in Benin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jos versus $49.00 in Benin. Groceries tell a different story – $246 in Jos vs $191 in Benin – so Benin 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 Benin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $999 in Jos, $441 in Benin – roughly 126% 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 $662 in Benin. 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 $49.00 in Benin. 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 $441 in Benin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Benin, where all-in costs run around $441, than in Jos at $999. In Benin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Benin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Benin. 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.