Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Ibadan Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Ibadan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,123 in Lagos versus $812 in Ibadan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,882 in Lagos versus $1,520 in Ibadan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,641 in Lagos versus $2,229 in Ibadan.

Living in Lagos is roughly 38% more expensive than Ibadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lagos 16% lower, Ibadan 39% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.61 ₦3,541

$1.83 ₦2,488

42.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.01 ₦66.6K

$29.27 ₦39.8K

67.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 ₦7,174

$5.47 ₦7,426

-3.47%

Cappuccino

$2.17 ₦2,948

$1.03 ₦1,405

110.68%

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

$0.36 ₦491

$0.29 ₦395

24.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ₦299

$0.19 ₦260

15.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.79 ₦1,075

$0.76 ₦1,035

3.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₦1,892

$1.26 ₦1,714

10.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₦3,175

$2.35 ₦3,187

-0.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₦1,693

$1.15 ₦1,563

8.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ₦3,030

$2.06 ₦2,802

8.25%

Eggs

$1.68 ₦2,281

$1.72 ₦2,330

-2.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 ₦8,354

$4.37 ₦5,943

40.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 ₦5,829

$4.29 ₦5,827

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.25 ₦7,136

$4.18 ₦5,684

25.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₦4,730

$2.47 ₦3,357

40.89%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ₦2,794

$1.21 ₦1,648

70.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,003

$1.24 ₦1,679

78.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₦3,097

$1.63 ₦2,214

39.88%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 ₦3,263

$2.16 ₦2,934

11.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 ₦2,746

$1.55 ₦2,109

30.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₦2,739

$0.92 ₦1,254

119.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦528

$0.32 ₦439

21.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₦1,723

$1.26 ₦1,705

0.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.49 ₦3,388

$1.02 ₦1,384

144.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₦854

$0.63 ₦858

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₦1,193

$0.89 ₦1,211

-1.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ₦931

$0.36 ₦483

91.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.96 ₦50.2K

$36.42 ₦49.5K

1.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 ₦1,697

$1.24 ₦1,681

0.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 ₦3,041

$1.04 ₦1,417

115.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 ₦6,352

$3.68 ₦5,005

27.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₦1,067

$0.57 ₦769

38.60%

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

$20.2K ₦27.4M

$9,512 ₦12.9M

112.32%

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

$20.7K ₦28.2M

$14.2K ₦19.2M

46.40%

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

$41.11 ₦55.8K

$20.99 ₦28.5K

95.86%

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

$10.16 ₦13.8K

$7.46 ₦10.1K

36.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.75 ₦45.8K

$19.75 ₦26.8K

70.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.68 ₦41.7K

$29.50 ₦40.1K

4.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.80 ₦17.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 ₦8,555

$2.67 ₦3,628

135.96%

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

$84.5 ₦114.8K

$50.4 ₦68.5K

67.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,314 ₦3.1M

$1,910 ₦2.6M

21.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.07 ₦25.9K

$18.37 ₦24.9K

3.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.51 ₦33.3K

$24.43 ₦33.2K

0.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ₦88.3K

$43.76 ₦59.4K

48.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.7 ₦78.3K

$29.58 ₦40.2K

95.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 ₦1.5M

$451 ₦612.8K

140.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₦858.9K

$433 ₦588.5K

45.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,746 ₦3.7M

$1,214 ₦1.6M

126.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,347 ₦1.8M

$1,291 ₦1.8M

4.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,278 ₦4.5M

$846 ₦1.1M

287.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,622 ₦2.2M

$28.82 ₦39.1K

5526.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$116 ₦157.6K

$55.9 ₦75.9K

107.72%

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 Ibadan: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,087 in Lagos and $451 in Ibadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lagos pays 108% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $49.00 in Lagos vs $29.00 in Ibadan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $154 per month, with Ibadan 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

Lagos vs Ibadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ibadan wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Lagos. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ibadan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Lagos pays 108% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,087 in Lagos versus $451 in Ibadan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $84.5 in Lagos versus $50.4 in Ibadan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 24% higher in Lagos. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $812 in Ibadan versus $1,123 in Lagos, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ibadan but tight or insufficient in Lagos. The gap between the two cities makes Ibadan 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 Ibadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Lagos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.