Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Ife Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Ife

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,160 per month in Lagos vs $738 in Ife, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,898 per month in Lagos vs $1,184 in Ife, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,636 per month in Lagos vs $1,630 in Ife, rent included.

Lagos costs about 57% more than Ife, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lagos and Ife are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 13% lower, Ife 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.60 ₦3,583

$2.81 ₦3,870

-7.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 ₦69.6K

$34.94 ₦48.1K

44.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.18 ₦7,133

$5.48 ₦7,541

-5.47%

Cappuccino

$2.10 ₦2,892

$0.78 ₦1,074

169.23%

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

$0.34 ₦463

$0.50 ₦691

-32.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 ₦275

$0.26 ₦358

-23.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.83 ₦1,148

$0.95 ₦1,312

-12.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₦1,902

$1.14 ₦1,565

21.05%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₦3,089

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₦1,660

$0.73 ₦1,004

65.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 ₦3,227

$1.74 ₦2,401

34.48%

Eggs

$1.78 ₦2,453

$2.34 ₦3,216

-23.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.31 ₦8,682

$4.63 ₦6,375

36.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.20 ₦5,790

$5.06 ₦6,969

-17.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.29 ₦7,291

$4.27 ₦5,883

23.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.56 ₦4,901

$5.79 ₦7,973

-38.51%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 ₦2,814

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 ₦2,888

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 ₦3,164

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 ₦3,263

$0.90 ₦1,241

163.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 ₦2,665

$1.14 ₦1,571

70.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 ₦2,660

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₦527

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.31 ₦1,810

Wine (Bottle)

$3.13 ₦4,306

$6.93 ₦9,541

-54.83%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₦925

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₦1,285

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ₦1,029

$0.37 ₦504

102.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.73 ₦49.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₦1,648

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 ₦3,060

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₦6,607

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₦1,023

$0.41 ₦560

80.49%

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

$20.7K ₦28.6M

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

$20.2K ₦27.8M

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

$40.87 ₦56.3K

$30.15 ₦41.5K

35.56%

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

$10.35 ₦14.2K

$5.92 ₦8,148

74.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.87 ₦46.6K

$47.68 ₦65.6K

-28.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.73 ₦43.7K

$23.35 ₦32.2K

35.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.53 ₦17.2K

Cinema Ticket

$6.15 ₦8,468

$4.64 ₦6,385

32.54%

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

$82.7 ₦113.8K

$46.16 ₦63.6K

79.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,286 ₦3.1M

$424 ₦583.2K

439.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.23 ₦26.5K

$23.07 ₦31.8K

-16.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.13 ₦34.6K

$34.48 ₦47.5K

-27.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.5 ₦87.4K

$57.8 ₦79.6K

9.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.2 ₦78.7K

$69.7 ₦96.0K

-17.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,068 ₦1.5M

$586 ₦806.7K

82.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$624 ₦859.5K

$348 ₦479.1K

79.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,673 ₦3.7M

$1,151 ₦1.6M

132.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,373 ₦1.9M

$689 ₦948.7K

99.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,324 ₦4.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,809 ₦2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$130 ₦178.6K

$163 ₦224.3K

-20.36%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Ife: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,068 in Lagos versus $586 in Ife. 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 26% higher in Ife, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Lagos versus $35.00 in Ife. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $192 vs $123 – making Ife 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 Ife: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,160 in Lagos, $738 in Ife – roughly 57% apart. Lagos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,740 per month in Lagos and $1,106 in Ife. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Ife, 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 $1,160 in Lagos and $738 in Ife. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $82.7 per month in Lagos and $46.16 in Ife. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ife, where all-in costs run around $738, than in Lagos at $1,160. In Ife it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Ife – 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 Ife. 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.