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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $997 per month in Jos vs $338 in Onitsha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,375 per month in Jos vs $484 in Onitsha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,753 per month in Jos vs $629 in Onitsha, rent included.

Jos costs about 195% more than Onitsha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jos and Onitsha are more affordable than the global median – Jos 25% lower, Onitsha 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.27 ₦1,748

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.10 ₦19.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 ₦6,345

Cappuccino

$2.28 ₦3,145

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

$0.35 ₦482

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦345

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.69 ₦948

Milk (1 liter)

$3.55 ₦4,898

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 ₦1,270

$2.69 ₦3,707

-65.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 ₦4,482

$1.35 ₦1,854

140.74%

Eggs

$3.02 ₦4,168

$2.32 ₦3,195

30.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 ₦13.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.87 ₦6,716

$6.88 ₦9,481

-29.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.59 ₦6,330

$6.96 ₦9,595

-34.05%

Apples (1kg)

$4.10 ₦5,646

$4.14 ₦5,704

-0.97%

Banana (1kg)

$5.05 ₦6,959

Oranges (1kg)

$2.71 ₦3,741

Tomato (1kg)

$3.87 ₦5,337

$3.02 ₦4,164

28.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₦3,118

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 ₦2,601

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.65 ₦895

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₦1,057

$0.69 ₦958

11.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.49 ₦7,566

$0.73 ₦1,007

652.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₦1,039

$1.11 ₦1,535

-32.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 ₦467

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.99 ₦1,363

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.96 ₦13.7K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 ₦1,214

$0.85 ₦1,174

3.53%

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

$10.7K ₦14.8M

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

$21.4K ₦29.5M

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

$99.2 ₦136.7K

$41.35 ₦57.0K

139.81%

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

$10.08 ₦13.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$53.8 ₦74.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.66 ₦54.7K

$33.13 ₦45.7K

19.71%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.97 ₦16.5K

Cinema Ticket

$9.16 ₦12.6K

$8.04 ₦11.1K

13.93%

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

$96.9 ₦133.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$998 ₦1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$10.03 ₦13.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$15.29 ₦21.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.7 ₦69.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.0 ₦70.3K

$94.8 ₦130.6K

-46.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 ₦958.8K

$827 ₦1.1M

-15.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$476 ₦656.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$855 ₦1.2M

$2,073 ₦2.9M

-58.77%

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

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

Last update for Jos: July 13, 2026

Last update for Onitsha: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $696 in Jos versus $827 in Onitsha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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

Monthly costs with rent: $997 in Jos, $338 in Onitsha – roughly 195% 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 $507 in Onitsha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Onitsha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $997 in Jos and $338 in Onitsha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 73% more in Jos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Onitsha, where all-in costs run around $338, than in Jos at $997. In Onitsha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.