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: $106 in Kano versus $942 in Lagos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $186 in Kano versus $1,840 in Lagos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $266 in Kano versus $2,739 in Lagos.

Living in Kano costs roughly 89% less than in Lagos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Kano 92% lower, Lagos 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 ₦2,281

$3.71 ₦4,919

-53.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.75 ₦19.5K

$50.0 ₦66.3K

-70.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.17 ₦8,174

$7.52 ₦9,969

-17.95%

Cappuccino

$2.86 ₦3,792

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

$0.20 ₦267

$0.44 ₦585

-54.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 ₦205

$0.23 ₦303

-34.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.31 ₦411

$1.02 ₦1,349

-69.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦416

$2.06 ₦2,725

-84.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.10 ₦4,102

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 ₦861

$1.46 ₦1,929

-55.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.54 ₦716

$1.27 ₦1,677

-57.48%

Eggs

$0.87 ₦1,148

$2.27 ₦3,009

-61.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.46 ₦4,583

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,091

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 ₦5,792

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 ₦2,198

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ₦1,735

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 ₦1,456

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 ₦1,707

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,833

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,827

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ₦1,124

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 ₦774

$0.39 ₦521

48.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.56 ₦736

Wine (Bottle)

$2.61 ₦3,455

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₦722

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦416

$0.47 ₦618

-34.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 ₦387

$0.41 ₦537

-29.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.38 ₦16.4K

$19.88 ₦26.4K

-37.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 ₦861

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 ₦1,276

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₦2,963

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 ₦687

$0.83 ₦1,097

-37.35%

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

$11.2K ₦14.8M

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

$13.5K ₦17.9M

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

$7.39 ₦9,798

$113 ₦150.2K

-93.48%

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

$16.22 ₦21.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$6.41 ₦8,498

$32.40 ₦42.9K

-80.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.66 ₦27.4K

$27.70 ₦36.7K

-25.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.95 ₦9,206

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 ₦6,413

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

$680 ₦901.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K ₦26.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.96 ₦19.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.14 ₦24.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.42 ₦48.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.47 ₦64.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$725 ₦960.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₦556.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,792 ₦3.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,494 ₦2.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,197 ₦4.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,623 ₦2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$118 ₦156.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.05

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

Last update for Kano: September 6, 2026

Last update for Lagos: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $15.00 in Kano vs $50.0 in Lagos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $20.00 vs $153 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 792% in total monthly costs ($106 vs $942 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $158 in Kano and $1,412 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Kano – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $50.0 in Lagos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Kano runs roughly 61% less than in Lagos. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $106 in Kano versus $942 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 792% less than in Lagos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.