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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,123 per month in Lagos vs $513 in Aba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,882 per month in Lagos vs $744 in Aba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,641 per month in Lagos vs $975 in Aba, rent included.

Lagos costs about 119% more than Aba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lagos and Aba are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 16% lower, Aba 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.61 ₦3,551

$5.30 ₦7,213

-50.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.01 ₦66.7K

$10.48 ₦14.3K

367.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 ₦7,193

$5.20 ₦7,084

1.54%

Cappuccino

$2.17 ₦2,955

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

$0.36 ₦492

$0.38 ₦514

-5.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ₦300

$0.27 ₦368

-18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.79 ₦1,078

$1.02 ₦1,391

-22.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₦1,897

$1.28 ₦1,743

8.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₦3,183

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₦1,698

$2.05 ₦2,788

-39.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ₦3,037

$4.11 ₦5,596

-45.74%

Eggs

$1.68 ₦2,287

$2.44 ₦3,321

-31.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 ₦8,375

$1.50 ₦2,049

310.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 ₦5,844

$5.30 ₦7,222

-19.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.25 ₦7,154

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₦4,742

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ₦2,801

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,011

$0.41 ₦552

439.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₦3,105

$0.51 ₦690

347.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 ₦3,271

$1.28 ₦1,749

87.50%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 ₦2,753

$0.55 ₦743

267.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₦2,746

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦529

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₦1,727

$1.19 ₦1,620

6.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.49 ₦3,397

$7.36 ₦10.0K

-66.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₦856

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₦1,196

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ₦934

$0.55 ₦743

25.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.96 ₦50.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 ₦1,702

$0.51 ₦688

145.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 ₦3,048

$0.48 ₦657

366.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 ₦6,368

$2.10 ₦2,856

122.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₦1,070

$0.68 ₦925

16.18%

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

$20.2K ₦27.5M

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

$20.7K ₦28.2M

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

$41.11 ₦56.0K

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

$10.16 ₦13.8K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.75 ₦46.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.68 ₦41.8K

$12.78 ₦17.4K

140.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.80 ₦17.4K

$6.46 ₦8,801

98.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 ₦8,577

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

$84.5 ₦115.1K

$92.0 ₦125.3K

-8.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,314 ₦3.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.07 ₦26.0K

$21.13 ₦28.8K

-9.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.51 ₦33.4K

$15.60 ₦21.3K

57.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ₦88.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.7 ₦78.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 ₦1.5M

$519 ₦706.7K

109.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₦861.1K

$314 ₦428.2K

101.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,746 ₦3.7M

$792 ₦1.1M

246.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,347 ₦1.8M

$469 ₦638.1K

187.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,278 ₦4.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,622 ₦2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$116 ₦158.0K

$95.1 ₦129.5K

22.01%

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 Lagos: June 1, 2026

Last update for Aba: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,087 in Lagos versus $519 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 22% higher in Lagos, 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 $49.00 in Lagos versus $10.00 in Aba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $102 – making Aba the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 119%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,685 per month in Lagos and $770 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,123 in Lagos and $513 in Aba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $84.5 per month in Lagos and $92.0 in Aba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aba, where all-in costs run around $513, than in Lagos at $1,123. 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.