Cost of Living Comparison Between Kano and Lagos Cost of Living Comparison Between Kano and Lagos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $542 in Kano versus $1,137 in Lagos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $866 in Kano versus $1,890 in Lagos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,190 in Kano versus $2,643 in Lagos.

Living in Kano costs roughly 52% less than in Lagos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kano 60% lower, Lagos 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.41 ₦4,599

$2.60 ₦3,510

31.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.19 ₦13.8K

$50.5 ₦68.1K

-79.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 ₦7,136

$5.35 ₦7,211

-1.12%

Cappuccino

$4.57 ₦6,170

$2.17 ₦2,929

110.60%

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

$0.44 ₦593

$0.36 ₦489

22.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦524

$0.20 ₦270

95.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.85 ₦1,148

$0.84 ₦1,129

1.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₦1,191

$1.44 ₦1,938

-38.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.49 ₦4,711

$2.26 ₦3,048

54.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.93 ₦2,609

$1.19 ₦1,604

62.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₦3,036

$2.33 ₦3,143

-3.43%

Eggs

$2.07 ₦2,795

$1.72 ₦2,318

20.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.08 ₦8,208

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.21 ₦5,685

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.33 ₦7,189

Apples (1kg)

$7.26 ₦9,796

$3.47 ₦4,687

109.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₦2,172

$2.03 ₦2,744

-20.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.17 ₦1,577

$2.21 ₦2,986

-47.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₦1,577

$2.37 ₦3,193

-50.63%

Potato (1kg)

$2.41 ₦3,257

$2.37 ₦3,195

1.69%

Onion (1kg)

$3.51 ₦4,742

$1.96 ₦2,650

79.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.36 ₦488

$1.91 ₦2,575

-81.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₦628

$0.36 ₦481

30.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.25 ₦1,693

Wine (Bottle)

$3.30 ₦4,452

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₦850

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₦1,121

$0.94 ₦1,272

-11.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 ₦1,042

$0.70 ₦939

10.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.75 ₦49.6K

$35.75 ₦48.2K

2.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 ₦1,679

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.16 ₦2,917

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.75 ₦6,401

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.41 ₦556

$0.74 ₦1,000

-44.59%

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

$20.5K ₦27.7M

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

$20.4K ₦27.5M

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

$12.16 ₦16.4K

$41.47 ₦55.9K

-70.68%

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

$10.13 ₦13.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.32 ₦26.1K

$33.69 ₦45.4K

-42.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.42 ₦45.1K

$30.79 ₦41.5K

8.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.60 ₦17.0K

Cinema Ticket

$4.64 ₦6,263

$6.40 ₦8,637

-27.50%

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

$35.49 ₦47.9K

$81.3 ₦109.7K

-56.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,296 ₦3.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.50 ₦26.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.12 ₦33.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.7 ₦85.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 ₦76.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 ₦642.1K

$1,074 ₦1.4M

-55.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 ₦238.6K

$627 ₦846.0K

-71.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,178 ₦1.6M

$2,744 ₦3.7M

-57.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 ₦481.5K

$1,367 ₦1.8M

-73.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,346 ₦4.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,831 ₦2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$130 ₦175.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

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

Last update for Kano: April 21, 2026

Last update for Lagos: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Kano and $1,074 in Lagos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $10 in Kano vs $50 in Lagos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $151 vs $191 per month, with Kano cheaper across the board.

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

Kano vs Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kano and Lagos differ by about 110% in total monthly costs ($542 vs $1,137 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $813 in Kano and $1,706 in Lagos to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Kano versus $1,074 in Lagos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $542 per month in Kano versus $1,137 in Lagos – a 110% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kano runs roughly 3% less than in Lagos. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $542 in Kano versus $1,137 in Lagos, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kano but tight or insufficient in Lagos. The gap between the two cities makes Kano the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Lagos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.