Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Port Harcourt Cost of Living Comparison Between Jos and Port Harcourt

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,025 per month in Jos vs $922 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,409 per month in Jos vs $1,482 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,792 per month in Jos vs $2,041 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

Jos costs about 11% more than Port Harcourt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jos and Port Harcourt are more affordable than the global median – Jos 23% lower, Port Harcourt 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.31 ₦1,789

$2.73 ₦3,717

-52.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.82 ₦18.8K

$34.62 ₦47.2K

-60.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.56 ₦6,209

$8.05 ₦11.0K

-43.35%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₦3,218

$2.08 ₦2,829

13.46%

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

$0.34 ₦469

$0.49 ₦669

-30.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦343

$0.47 ₦637

-46.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.69 ₦934

$1.25 ₦1,707

-44.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₦2,177

Milk (1 liter)

$3.61 ₦4,920

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 ₦1,213

$1.47 ₦2,008

-39.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.42 ₦4,658

$2.73 ₦3,723

25.27%

Eggs

$2.92 ₦3,978

$2.19 ₦2,988

33.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 ₦13.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.98 ₦6,782

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.41 ₦6,016

Apples (1kg)

$4.11 ₦5,609

$2.05 ₦2,800

100.49%

Banana (1kg)

$4.97 ₦6,774

$2.81 ₦3,831

76.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.74 ₦3,736

$1.91 ₦2,605

43.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 ₦5,381

$1.88 ₦2,561

110.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 ₦3,139

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 ₦2,686

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 ₦874

$1.23 ₦1,680

-47.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 ₦1,056

$0.49 ₦662

57.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.78 ₦7,881

$5.24 ₦7,137

10.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 ₦1,015

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 ₦153

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 ₦1,330

$0.79 ₦1,079

24.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.88 ₦13.5K

$3.54 ₦4,830

179.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 ₦1,197

$0.67 ₦914

31.34%

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

$100 ₦136.9K

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

$9.95 ₦13.6K

$13.05 ₦17.8K

-23.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.13 ₦54.7K

$36.21 ₦49.4K

10.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.12 ₦16.5K

Cinema Ticket

$9.23 ₦12.6K

$6.52 ₦8,887

41.56%

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

$58.6 ₦79.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$985 ₦1.3M

$1,120 ₦1.5M

-12.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.94 ₦13.5K

$9.74 ₦13.3K

2.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.79 ₦20.2K

$10.26 ₦14.0K

44.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.9 ₦69.3K

$72.6 ₦98.9K

-29.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$50.6 ₦68.9K

$67.3 ₦91.8K

-24.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$696 ₦949.0K

$502 ₦684.0K

38.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$472 ₦642.7K

$601 ₦818.9K

-21.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$850 ₦1.2M

$1,926 ₦2.6M

-55.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 ₦826.6K

$1,207 ₦1.6M

-49.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,033 ₦2.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,478 ₦2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$68.2 ₦92.9K

$54.4 ₦74.2K

25.20%

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

Last update for Jos: July 28, 2026

Last update for Port Harcourt: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $696 in Jos versus $502 in Port Harcourt. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 25% higher in Jos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jos versus $35.00 in Port Harcourt. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Jos vs $100 in Port Harcourt – so Port Harcourt 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 Port Harcourt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,025 in Jos, $922 in Port Harcourt – roughly 11% apart. Jos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,538 per month in Jos and $1,383 in Port Harcourt. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Jos and $35.00 in Port Harcourt. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,025 in Jos and $922 in Port Harcourt. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Harcourt, where all-in costs run around $922, than in Jos at $1,025. In Port Harcourt it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Port Harcourt – 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 Port Harcourt. 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.