😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,160 in Lagos versus $631 in Ado-ekiti.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,898 in Lagos versus $1,223 in Ado-ekiti.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,636 in Lagos versus $1,815 in Ado-ekiti.
😐Living in Lagos is roughly 84% more expensive than Ado-ekiti, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Lagos13% lower, Ado-ekiti53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lagos
Ado-ekiti
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.60₦3,583
$2.65₦3,647
-1.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.6₦69.6K
$50.5₦69.6K
0.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.18₦7,133
$5.40₦7,429
-4.07%
Cappuccino
$2.10₦2,892
$1.98₦2,732
6.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34₦463
$0.34₦464
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20₦275
$0.16₦217
25.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.83₦1,148
$0.67₦924
23.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38₦1,902
$1.37₦1,888
0.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lagos
Ado-ekiti
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.24₦3,089
$2.27₦3,127
-1.32%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21₦1,660
$1.07₦1,471
13.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34₦3,227
$2.24₦3,087
4.46%
Eggs
$1.78₦2,453
$1.70₦2,338
4.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.31₦8,682
$2.56₦3,529
146.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.20₦5,790
$3.67₦5,058
14.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.29₦7,291
$3.89₦5,363
35.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.56₦4,901
$1.88₦2,588
89.36%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04₦2,814
$2.06₦2,834
-0.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.10₦2,888
$0.97₦1,336
116.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30₦3,164
$2.17₦2,990
5.99%
Potato(1kg)
$2.37₦3,263
$1.01₦1,395
134.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94₦2,665
$1.96₦2,701
-1.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93₦2,660
$1.02₦1,410
89.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.38₦527
$0.36₦489
5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.31₦1,810
$0.58₦799
125.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.13₦4,306
$3.16₦4,357
-0.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.67₦925
$0.68₦930
-1.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.93₦1,285
$0.88₦1,211
5.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Lagos
Ado-ekiti
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.75₦1,029
$0.48₦662
56.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.73₦49.2K
$64.4₦88.7K
-44.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.20₦1,648
$0.48₦663
150.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.22₦3,060
$2.16₦2,977
2.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.80₦6,607
$4.81₦6,627
-0.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74₦1,023
$0.61₦834
21.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K₦28.6M
$20.6K₦28.3M
0.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2K₦27.8M
$19.3K₦26.5M
4.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lagos
Ado-ekiti
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.87₦56.3K
$41.12₦56.6K
-0.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.35₦14.2K
$5.72₦7,874
80.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.87₦46.6K
$34.73₦47.8K
-2.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lagos
Ado-ekiti
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.73₦43.7K
$7.81₦10.8K
306.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.53₦17.2K
$3.03₦4,173
313.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.15₦8,468
$6.32₦8,704
-2.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lagos
Ado-ekiti
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$82.7₦113.8K
$82.0₦113.0K
0.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,286₦3.1M
$1,481₦2.0M
54.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lagos
Ado-ekiti
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.23₦26.5K
$10.11₦13.9K
90.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.13₦34.6K
$22.10₦30.4K
13.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.5₦87.4K
$59.6₦82.0K
6.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2₦78.7K
$29.97₦41.3K
90.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lagos
Ado-ekiti
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,068₦1.5M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$624₦859.5K
$182₦250.4K
243.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,673₦3.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,373₦1.9M
$632₦870.5K
117.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,324₦4.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,809₦2.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lagos
Ado-ekiti
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$130₦178.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.33
16.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lagos: April 26, 2026
Last update for Ado-ekiti: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $51.0 in Lagos vs $51.0 in Ado-ekiti. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 vs $150, with Ado-ekiti cheaper for home cooking.
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 Ado-ekiti: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lagos and Ado-ekiti?
Lagos and Ado-ekiti differ by about 84% in total monthly costs ($1,160 vs $631 including rent). Ado-ekiti is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lagos compared to Ado-ekiti?
You'd need roughly $1,740 in Lagos and $946 in Ado-ekiti 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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Lagos. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ado-ekiti – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $51.0 in Lagos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $631 in Ado-ekiti versus $1,160 in Lagos, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ado-ekiti but tight or insufficient in Lagos. The gap between the two cities makes Ado-ekiti the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lagos and Ado-ekiti?
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.
Where should expats move: Lagos or Ado-ekiti?
Expats usually find Ado-ekiti gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Lagos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.