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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $997 per month in Jos vs $443 in Benin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,375 per month in Jos vs $798 in Benin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,753 per month in Jos vs $1,153 in Benin, rent included.

Jos costs about 125% 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 ₦1,748

$2.64 ₦3,637

-51.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.10 ₦19.4K

$50.3 ₦69.3K

-71.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₦6,345

$5.43 ₦7,489

-15.29%

Cappuccino

$2.28 ₦3,145

$2.20 ₦3,037

3.64%

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

$0.35 ₦482

$0.33 ₦460

6.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦345

$0.20 ₦276

25.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.69 ₦948

$0.79 ₦1,090

-12.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₦1,993

Milk (1 liter)

$3.55 ₦4,898

$2.27 ₦3,124

56.39%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 ₦1,270

$1.24 ₦1,708

-25.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 ₦4,482

$2.34 ₦3,228

38.89%

Eggs

$3.02 ₦4,168

$1.77 ₦2,440

70.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 ₦13.7K

$6.41 ₦8,828

55.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 ₦6,716

$4.12 ₦5,681

18.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.59 ₦6,330

$5.25 ₦7,239

-12.57%

Apples (1kg)

$4.10 ₦5,646

$3.58 ₦4,939

14.53%

Banana (1kg)

$5.05 ₦6,959

$2.05 ₦2,824

146.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₦3,741

$2.13 ₦2,936

27.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.87 ₦5,337

$2.29 ₦3,155

69.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₦3,118

$2.36 ₦3,257

-4.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 ₦2,601

$1.93 ₦2,664

-2.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ₦895

$1.98 ₦2,730

-67.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₦1,057

$0.38 ₦525

102.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.31 ₦1,804

Wine (Bottle)

$5.49 ₦7,566

$2.60 ₦3,578

111.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₦1,039

$0.64 ₦886

17.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 ₦1,236

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 ₦1,363

$1.23 ₦1,701

-19.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.23 ₦3,078

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.96 ₦13.7K

$4.80 ₦6,616

107.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 ₦1,214

$0.78 ₦1,077

12.82%

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

$20.6K ₦28.3M

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

$20.5K ₦28.3M

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

$99.2 ₦136.7K

$41.15 ₦56.7K

140.97%

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

$10.08 ₦13.9K

$10.13 ₦14.0K

-0.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.53 ₦47.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.66 ₦54.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.97 ₦16.5K

Cinema Ticket

$9.16 ₦12.6K

$6.42 ₦8,854

42.68%

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

$84.0 ₦115.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$998 ₦1.4M

$2,328 ₦3.2M

-57.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.03 ₦13.8K

$19.00 ₦26.2K

-47.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.29 ₦21.1K

$24.97 ₦34.4K

-38.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.7 ₦69.9K

$64.8 ₦89.3K

-21.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.0 ₦70.3K

$57.2 ₦78.8K

-10.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 ₦958.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 ₦656.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$855 ₦1.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 ₦819.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,979 ₦2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,496 ₦2.1M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$67.9 ₦93.6K

$109 ₦150.5K

-37.82%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Benin: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 61% 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 $50.0 in Benin. Groceries tell a different story – $256 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: $997 in Jos, $443 in Benin – roughly 125% apart. Jos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,496 per month in Jos and $665 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 $50.0 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 $997 in Jos and $443 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 $443, than in Jos at $997. 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.