Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Aba

For one person, living is cheaper in Aba: $402 a month against $952 in Lagos, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

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Cost of Living Index in Lagos
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Lagos Living Index

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Lagos

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$952

/mo nomad

Aba

🇳🇬 Nigeria

$402

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Lagos and in Aba

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lagos and in Aba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $952 per month in Lagos vs $402 in Aba, rent included.

Lagos $952
Aba $402

A couple spends around $1,852 per month in Lagos vs $653 in Aba, rent included.

Lagos $1,852
Aba $653

A family of three spends $2,753 per month in Lagos vs $904 in Aba, rent included.

Lagos $2,753
Aba $904

Lagos costs about 137% more than Aba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Lagos and Aba are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 30% lower, Aba 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.62 ₦4,851

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.7 ₦67.9K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.67 ₦10.3K

$7.21 ₦9,667

6.38%

Cappuccino

$2.82 ₦3,778

$0.87 ₦1,172

224.14%

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

$0.43 ₦578

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 ₦324

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 ₦1,305

$2.07 ₦2,770

-53.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 ₦2,619

$2.42 ₦3,243

-19.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.20 ₦4,293

$3.71 ₦4,968

-13.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.49 ₦1,997

$2.21 ₦2,960

-32.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 ₦1,692

Eggs

$2.27 ₦3,044

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 ₦4,587

$11.26 ₦15.1K

-69.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 ₦5,050

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.36 ₦5,843

$1.27 ₦1,700

243.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 ₦2,187

$5.14 ₦6,889

-68.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 ₦1,779

$0.55 ₦735

141.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.13 ₦1,514

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 ₦1,999

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 ₦2,158

$3.44 ₦4,614

-53.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.52 ₦2,037

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 ₦1,190

$1.15 ₦1,541

-22.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 ₦531

$0.16 ₦209

150.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.55 ₦735

$1.45 ₦1,947

-62.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.37 ₦3,179

$7.18 ₦9,628

-66.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₦719

$1.24 ₦1,657

-56.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₦666

$1.43 ₦1,922

-65.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 ₦512

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.99 ₦29.5K

$9.28 ₦12.4K

136.96%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 ₦934

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.97 ₦1,296

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 ₦2,821

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 ₦1,137

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

$11.3K ₦15.2M

$6,017 ₦8.1M

87.92%

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

$29.0K ₦38.9M

$7,453 ₦10.0M

289.01%

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

$112 ₦149.6K

$113 ₦151.4K

-1.16%

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

$14.92 ₦20.0K

$2.19 ₦2,941

581.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.44 ₦43.5K

$44.64 ₦59.8K

-27.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.80 ₦37.3K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.91 ₦9,263

Cinema Ticket

$6.23 ₦8,350

$2.13 ₦2,861

192.49%

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

$654 ₦876.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.1K ₦26.9M

$1,047 ₦1.4M

1816.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.83 ₦19.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.94 ₦24.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.62 ₦49.1K

$15.04 ₦20.2K

143.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.49 ₦63.6K

$18.61 ₦24.9K

155.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$704 ₦943.8K

$136 ₦181.8K

419.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$417 ₦559.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,809 ₦3.8M

$443 ₦594.3K

533.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,498 ₦2.0M

$221 ₦296.8K

576.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,242 ₦4.3M

$1,057 ₦1.4M

206.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,607 ₦2.2M

$461 ₦618.2K

248.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$118 ₦157.9K

$95.0 ₦127.3K

24.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.39

53.25%

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

Last update for Lagos: October 26, 2026

Last update for Aba: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Lagos

$417 43.9%

Aba

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Lagos

$159 16.7%

Aba

–

Groceries & Markets

Lagos

$156 16.4%

Aba

–

Eating Out

Lagos

$97 10.2%

Aba

–

Clothing & Footwear

Lagos

$53 5.5%

Aba

–

Sport & Entertainment

Lagos

$40 4.2%

Aba

–

Getting Around

Lagos

$29 3.1%

Aba

–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $704 in Lagos versus $136 in Aba. 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 24% higher in Lagos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know

🇳🇬 Lagos

🇳🇬 Aba

🕒 Local time

18:40 6:40 PM

Same time as Lagos

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

10,404,112

1,020,900

💱 Currency

Nigerian Naira NGN ₦

📈 Exchange rate

10,000 NGN = 7.46 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.7 EUR

10,000 NGN = 7.46 USD

10,000 NGN = 6.7 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

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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

Lagos vs Aba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Lagos is pricier by about 137%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,427 per month in Lagos and $603 in Aba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aba, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $136 there versus $704 in Lagos.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Lagos – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Public transport costs about 58% less in Aba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

It depends on your priorities. Lagos has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $402 in Aba to $952 in Lagos. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Aba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lagos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.