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: $942 in Lagos versus $250 in Ibadan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,840 in Lagos versus $558 in Ibadan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,739 in Lagos versus $866 in Ibadan.

Living in Lagos is roughly 276% more expensive than in Ibadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lagos 32% lower, Ibadan 82% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.71 ₦4,919

$1.11 ₦1,476

234.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.0 ₦66.3K

$30.24 ₦40.1K

65.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₦9,969

$6.09 ₦8,073

23.48%

Cappuccino

$2.86 ₦3,792

$0.80 ₦1,066

257.50%

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

$0.44 ₦585

$0.20 ₦265

120.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₦303

$0.12 ₦153

91.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₦1,349

$0.58 ₦771

75.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₦2,725

$1.15 ₦1,528

79.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.10 ₦4,102

$0.59 ₦787

425.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₦1,929

$0.60 ₦791

143.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ₦1,677

$1.11 ₦1,476

14.41%

Eggs

$2.27 ₦3,009

$1.53 ₦2,034

48.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.46 ₦4,583

$3.52 ₦4,667

-1.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,091

$3.89 ₦5,153

-1.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 ₦5,792

$0.75 ₦993

482.67%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 ₦2,198

$1.67 ₦2,209

-0.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ₦1,735

$1.32 ₦1,743

-0.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 ₦1,456

$1.13 ₦1,501

-2.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 ₦1,707

$0.29 ₦382

344.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,833

$0.58 ₦774

137.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,827

$0.24 ₦319

475.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ₦1,124

$0.22 ₦290

286.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦521

$0.14 ₦181

178.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.56 ₦736

$0.59 ₦784

-5.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.61 ₦3,455

$1.12 ₦1,482

133.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₦722

$0.41 ₦542

31.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₦618

$0.46 ₦616

2.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ₦537

$0.12 ₦162

241.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.88 ₦26.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 ₦861

$0.70 ₦933

-7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 ₦1,276

$0.62 ₦827

54.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₦2,963

$1.13 ₦1,492

98.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,097

$0.55 ₦734

50.91%

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

$11.2K ₦14.8M

$4,162 ₦5.5M

169.13%

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

$13.5K ₦17.9M

$14.0K ₦18.5M

-3.27%

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

$113 ₦150.2K

$11.27 ₦14.9K

905.59%

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

$16.22 ₦21.5K

$3.81 ₦5,047

325.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.40 ₦42.9K

$9.06 ₦12.0K

257.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.70 ₦36.7K

$21.77 ₦28.9K

27.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.95 ₦9,206

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 ₦6,413

$1.54 ₦2,035

214.29%

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

$680 ₦901.4K

$48.73 ₦64.6K

1295.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K ₦26.2M

$627 ₦831.4K

3046.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.96 ₦19.8K

$12.16 ₦16.1K

23.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.14 ₦24.0K

$5.80 ₦7,689

212.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.42 ₦48.3K

$15.07 ₦20.0K

141.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.47 ₦64.2K

$21.64 ₦28.7K

123.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$725 ₦960.5K

$124 ₦164.4K

484.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₦556.1K

$45.33 ₦60.1K

825.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,792 ₦3.7M

$461 ₦611.0K

505.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,494 ₦2.0M

$308 ₦408.2K

385.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,197 ₦4.2M

$875 ₦1.2M

265.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,623 ₦2.2M

$30.87 ₦40.9K

5158.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$118 ₦156.0K

$58.2 ₦77.2K

102.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.05

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

Last update for Lagos: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ibadan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $725 in Lagos and $124 in Ibadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lagos pays 102% 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 $30.00 in Ibadan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $153 vs $87.0 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 276% 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 102% 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: $725 in Lagos versus $124 in Ibadan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $680 in Lagos versus $48.73 in Ibadan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Ibadan – a meal for two runs $30.00 versus $50.0 in Lagos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $250 in Ibadan versus $942 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 276% less than in Lagos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.