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: $1,146 in Lagos versus $800 in Ibadan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,925 in Lagos versus $1,491 in Ibadan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,704 in Lagos versus $2,182 in Ibadan.

Living in Lagos is roughly 43% more expensive than in Ibadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lagos 14% lower, Ibadan 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.55 ₦3,501

$1.82 ₦2,509

40.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.52 ₦68.1K

$28.21 ₦38.8K

75.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 ₦7,474

$5.42 ₦7,453

0.18%

Cappuccino

$2.18 ₦3,001

$1.00 ₦1,376

118.00%

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

$0.34 ₦466

$0.29 ₦403

17.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ₦303

$0.17 ₦228

29.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.84 ₦1,161

$0.81 ₦1,115

3.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₦1,899

$1.26 ₦1,737

9.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₦3,214

$2.29 ₦3,148

2.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ₦1,654

$1.15 ₦1,586

4.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 ₦3,209

$2.11 ₦2,898

10.43%

Eggs

$1.75 ₦2,403

$1.76 ₦2,426

-0.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.31 ₦8,677

$4.27 ₦5,877

47.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 ₦5,907

$4.16 ₦5,727

3.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.38 ₦7,400

$4.02 ₦5,530

33.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.53 ₦4,861

$2.43 ₦3,338

45.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 ₦2,777

$1.17 ₦1,605

72.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 ₦2,999

$1.23 ₦1,695

77.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₦3,310

$1.69 ₦2,319

42.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 ₦3,168

$2.15 ₦2,963

6.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ₦2,679

$1.51 ₦2,078

29.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 ₦2,635

$0.98 ₦1,342

95.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 ₦493

$0.33 ₦448

9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.30 ₦1,784

$1.26 ₦1,727

3.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.48 ₦3,405

$0.94 ₦1,287

163.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₦869

$0.67 ₦924

-5.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 ₦1,272

$0.88 ₦1,207

4.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 ₦1,023

$0.32 ₦445

131.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.56 ₦50.3K

$35.59 ₦49.0K

2.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 ₦1,718

$1.20 ₦1,653

4.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.25 ₦3,094

$1.05 ₦1,438

114.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.81 ₦6,616

$3.68 ₦5,062

30.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₦1,083

$0.54 ₦743

46.30%

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

$20.5K ₦28.3M

$9,612 ₦13.2M

113.77%

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

$20.3K ₦28.0M

$14.4K ₦19.8M

40.97%

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

$41.41 ₦57.0K

$21.37 ₦29.4K

93.78%

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

$10.12 ₦13.9K

$7.64 ₦10.5K

32.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.36 ₦47.3K

$20.19 ₦27.8K

70.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.49 ₦43.3K

$30.06 ₦41.3K

4.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.38 ₦17.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 ₦8,779

$2.58 ₦3,555

147.29%

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

$83.1 ₦114.4K

$49.94 ₦68.7K

66.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,314 ₦3.2M

$1,865 ₦2.6M

24.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.39 ₦26.7K

$18.39 ₦25.3K

5.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.20 ₦33.3K

$24.84 ₦34.2K

-2.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.7 ₦90.4K

$43.22 ₦59.5K

52.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.2 ₦77.3K

$30.12 ₦41.4K

86.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,083 ₦1.5M

$449 ₦617.8K

141.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 ₦870.7K

$423 ₦581.7K

49.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,698 ₦3.7M

$1,235 ₦1.7M

118.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,381 ₦1.9M

$1,282 ₦1.8M

7.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,219 ₦4.4M

$835 ₦1.1M

285.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,598 ₦2.2M

$29.39 ₦40.4K

5337.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$118 ₦162.7K

$54.9 ₦75.5K

115.58%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ibadan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,083 in Lagos and $449 in Ibadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lagos pays 116% 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: $50.0 in Lagos vs $28.00 in Ibadan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $152 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 43% 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.

Average pay runs 116% higher in Lagos, 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: $1,083 in Lagos versus $449 in Ibadan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $83.1 in Lagos versus $49.94 in Ibadan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Lagos. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $800 in Ibadan versus $1,146 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 43% less than in Lagos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.