Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Onitsha Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Onitsha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $539 per month in Jos vs $0.79 in Onitsha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,124 per month in Jos vs $1.00 in Onitsha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,709 per month in Jos vs $1.95 in Onitsha, rent included.

Jos costs about 68138% more than Onitsha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jos and Onitsha are more affordable than the global median – Jos 61% lower, Onitsha 100% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jos
Onitsha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.13 ₦2,824
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.77 ₦40.9K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.69 ₦6,228
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.41 ₦4,536
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 ₦675
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 ₦958
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.02 ₦1,354
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19 ₦2,907
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jos
Onitsha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.71 ₦4,929
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 ₦1,127
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ₦2,990
-
-
Eggs
$1.82 ₦2,419
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₦13.1K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.91 ₦6,522
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.21 ₦5,599
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 ₦2,634
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 ₦1,930
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 ₦1,981
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.34 ₦3,105
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.81 ₦2,403
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.44 ₦3,245
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 ₦733
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₦498
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97 ₦2,621
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$5.98 ₦7,940
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 ₦1,572
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₦2,376
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Jos
Onitsha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.20 ₦271
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 ₦764
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 ₦1,130
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.93 ₦2,569
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.54 ₦720
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K ₦34.1M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ₦24.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jos
Onitsha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$99.5 ₦132.2K
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.42 ₦8,522
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.73 ₦38.2K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jos
Onitsha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.37 ₦52.3K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.08 ₦16.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.89 ₦6,495
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jos
Onitsha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$45.71 ₦60.7K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$997 ₦1.3M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jos
Onitsha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.94 ₦13.2K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.16 ₦20.1K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.6 ₦67.2K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$50.9 ₦67.6K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jos
Onitsha
Difference
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$568 ₦755.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$483 ₦641.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,033 ₦2.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,484 ₦2.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jos
Onitsha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$98.8 ₦131.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
22.5
0
-

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

Last update for Jos: September 13, 2026

Last update for Onitsha: September 15, 2026

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 Onitsha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Jos and in Onitsha compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $539 in Jos, $0.79 in Onitsha – roughly 68138% apart. Jos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Jos compared to Onitsha?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $809 per month in Jos and $1.19 in Onitsha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How far does $1,000 go in Jos compared to Onitsha?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $539 in Jos and $0.79 in Onitsha, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Jos or Onitsha?
Families tend to lean toward Onitsha – 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 Onitsha?
If budget matters most, go with Onitsha. 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.

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