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 $528 per month in Jos vs $398 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,094 per month in Jos vs $821 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,660 per month in Jos vs $1,243 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

Jos costs about 33% more than Port Harcourt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jos and Port Harcourt are more affordable than the global median – Jos 62% lower, Port Harcourt 71% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jos
Port Harcourt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14 ₦2,835
$2.07 ₦2,746
3.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.30 ₦38.8K
$30.35 ₦40.2K
-3.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.60 ₦6,094
$4.73 ₦6,271
-2.75%
Cappuccino
$3.40 ₦4,508
$1.70 ₦2,254
100.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₦730
$0.58 ₦763
-5.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₦928
$0.65 ₦863
7.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.07 ₦1,421
$1.48 ₦1,968
-27.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 ₦2,779
$3.08 ₦4,081
-31.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jos
Port Harcourt
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.63 ₦4,811
$2.60 ₦3,443
39.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 ₦1,128
$0.97 ₦1,290
-12.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ₦2,979
$3.25 ₦4,304
-30.77%
Eggs
$1.86 ₦2,461
$1.73 ₦2,295
7.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 ₦13.2K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.12 ₦6,780
$1.94 ₦2,566
163.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.02 ₦5,324
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 ₦2,622
$2.56 ₦3,389
-22.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 ₦1,975
$2.31 ₦3,066
-35.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 ₦2,026
$1.87 ₦2,474
-18.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 ₦3,028
$3.01 ₦3,993
-23.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.80 ₦2,381
$2.30 ₦3,043
-21.74%
Onion (1kg)
$2.43 ₦3,222
$1.54 ₦2,043
57.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 ₦769
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₦488
$0.67 ₦894
-44.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04 ₦2,697
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$5.77 ₦7,642
$5.41 ₦7,171
6.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₦1,632
$0.75 ₦989
64.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₦2,378
$1.52 ₦2,020
17.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Jos
Port Harcourt
Difference
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.58 ₦774
$0.36 ₦480
61.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 ₦1,054
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.83 ₦2,427
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.58 ₦768
$0.58 ₦768
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K ₦35.1M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.3K ₦24.3M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jos
Port Harcourt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 ₦134.5K
$30.65 ₦40.6K
231.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.36 ₦8,428
$3.81 ₦5,048
66.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.56 ₦37.9K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jos
Port Harcourt
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.25 ₦52.0K
$14.42 ₦19.1K
172.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.21 ₦16.2K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 ₦6,523
$4.11 ₦5,451
19.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jos
Port Harcourt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$44.31 ₦58.7K
$25.27 ₦33.5K
75.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,017 ₦1.3M
$812 ₦1.1M
25.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jos
Port Harcourt
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.88 ₦13.1K
$7.24 ₦9,594
36.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.03 ₦19.9K
$11.61 ₦15.4K
29.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.9 ₦67.4K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.03 ₦65.0K
$15.23 ₦20.2K
221.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jos
Port Harcourt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$149 ₦197.3K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$108 ₦143.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$549 ₦727.6K
$1,155 ₦1.5M
-52.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$488 ₦646.9K
$509 ₦674.3K
-4.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,040 ₦2.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,481 ₦2.0M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jos
Port Harcourt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$100 ₦132.6K
$57.7 ₦76.5K
73.32%
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 5, 2026

Last update for Port Harcourt: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 73% 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 $29.00 in Jos versus $30.00 in Port Harcourt. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Jos vs $150 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
How do living costs in Jos and in Port Harcourt compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $528 in Jos, $398 in Port Harcourt – roughly 33% apart. Jos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Jos compared to Port Harcourt?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $792 per month in Jos and $598 in Port Harcourt. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Jos and $30.00 in Port Harcourt. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 35% more in Jos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How far does $1,200 go in Jos compared to Port Harcourt?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $528 in Jos and $398 in Port Harcourt, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Jos or Port Harcourt?
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.
How do I decide between Jos and Port Harcourt?
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.

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