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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $999 per month in Jos vs $330 in Onitsha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,380 per month in Jos vs $490 in Onitsha, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,762 per month in Jos vs $650 in Onitsha, rent included.

Jos costs about 203% 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 ₦1,735

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.94 ₦19.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 ₦6,422

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₦3,233

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

$0.37 ₦510

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦341

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.71 ₦963

Milk (1 liter)

$3.62 ₦4,923

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 ₦1,221

$2.75 ₦3,748

-67.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.30 ₦4,493

$1.39 ₦1,893

137.41%

Eggs

$3.03 ₦4,130

$2.25 ₦3,057

34.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 ₦13.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 ₦6,878

$6.66 ₦9,075

-24.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.56 ₦6,214

$6.96 ₦9,482

-34.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₦5,416

$3.98 ₦5,420

Banana (1kg)

$4.96 ₦6,753

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ₦3,771

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 ₦5,529

$3.07 ₦4,184

32.25%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,011

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ₦2,654

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₦819

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₦1,046

$0.70 ₦957

10.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$0.76 ₦1,037

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₦1,017

$1.12 ₦1,524

-33.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₦495

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 ₦1,341

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.94 ₦13.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 ₦1,313

$0.80 ₦1,091

20.00%

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

$11.0K ₦15.0M

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

$22.0K ₦29.9M

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

$101 ₦138.0K

$40.72 ₦55.5K

148.89%

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

$10.03 ₦13.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.0 ₦73.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.42 ₦53.7K

$33.22 ₦45.2K

18.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 ₦16.0K

Cinema Ticket

$8.93 ₦12.2K

$8.36 ₦11.4K

6.82%

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

$93.9 ₦127.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,009 ₦1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.86 ₦13.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.74 ₦20.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.83 ₦67.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.8 ₦69.2K

$94.8 ₦129.1K

-46.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$700 ₦952.7K

$818 ₦1.1M

-14.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 ₦631.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$875 ₦1.2M

$2,012 ₦2.7M

-56.49%

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 Onitsha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $700 in Jos versus $818 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: $999 in Jos, $330 in Onitsha – roughly 203% 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 $495 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 $999 in Jos and $330 in Onitsha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 67% 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 $330, than in Jos at $999. 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.