Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Aba Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Aba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $942 per month in Lagos vs $411 in Aba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,840 per month in Lagos vs $662 in Aba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,739 per month in Lagos vs $912 in Aba, rent included.

Lagos costs about 129% more than Aba, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lagos and Aba are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 32% lower, Aba 70% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.71 ₦4,919

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.0 ₦66.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₦9,969

$7.68 ₦10.2K

-2.08%

Cappuccino

$2.86 ₦3,792

$0.87 ₦1,159

228.74%

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

$0.44 ₦585

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₦303

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₦1,349

$2.07 ₦2,740

-50.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₦2,725

$2.40 ₦3,187

-14.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.10 ₦4,102

$3.80 ₦5,035

-18.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₦1,929

$2.22 ₦2,941

-34.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ₦1,677

Eggs

$2.27 ₦3,009

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.46 ₦4,583

$11.55 ₦15.3K

-70.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,091

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 ₦5,792

$1.34 ₦1,771

226.12%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 ₦2,198

$5.43 ₦7,199

-69.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ₦1,735

$0.56 ₦738

133.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 ₦1,456

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 ₦1,707

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,833

$3.54 ₦4,696

-61.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,827

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ₦1,124

$1.13 ₦1,492

-24.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦521

$0.15 ₦204

160.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.56 ₦736

$1.55 ₦2,060

-63.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.61 ₦3,455

$7.27 ₦9,630

-64.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₦722

$1.28 ₦1,691

-57.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₦618

$1.40 ₦1,861

-66.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ₦537

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.88 ₦26.4K

$9.35 ₦12.4K

112.62%

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)

$0.83 ₦1,097

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

$11.2K ₦14.8M

$6,033 ₦8.0M

85.65%

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

$13.5K ₦17.9M

$7,467 ₦9.9M

80.79%

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

$113 ₦150.2K

$117 ₦154.5K

-2.76%

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

$16.22 ₦21.5K

$2.22 ₦2,944

630.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.40 ₦42.9K

$45.54 ₦60.4K

-28.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.70 ₦36.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.95 ₦9,206

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 ₦6,413

$2.13 ₦2,827

127.23%

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

$680 ₦901.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K ₦26.2M

$1,073 ₦1.4M

1740.17%

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

$15.33 ₦20.3K

137.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.47 ₦64.2K

$18.73 ₦24.8K

158.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$725 ₦960.5K

$138 ₦183.5K

423.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₦556.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,792 ₦3.7M

$456 ₦603.8K

512.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,494 ₦2.0M

$226 ₦299.0K

562.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,197 ₦4.2M

$1,077 ₦1.4M

196.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,623 ₦2.2M

$474 ₦628.6K

242.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$118 ₦156.0K

$99.0 ₦131.2K

18.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.05

50.42%

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

Last update for Lagos: September 6, 2026

Last update for Aba: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $725 in Lagos versus $138 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 19% higher in Lagos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 129%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,412 per month in Lagos and $617 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 11% 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 113% less in Aba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aba, where all-in costs run around $411, than in Lagos at $942. In Aba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Aba – 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 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.