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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $942 per month in Lagos vs $279 in Ife, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,840 per month in Lagos vs $426 in Ife, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,739 per month in Lagos vs $573 in Ife, rent included.

Lagos costs about 237% more than Ife, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lagos and Ife are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 32% lower, Ife 80% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.71 ₦4,919

$1.60 ₦2,118

131.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.0 ₦66.3K

$11.13 ₦14.7K

349.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₦9,969

$3.66 ₦4,856

105.46%

Cappuccino

$2.86 ₦3,792

$0.27 ₦361

959.26%

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

$0.44 ₦585

$0.33 ₦441

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₦303

$0.19 ₦255

21.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₦1,349

$0.29 ₦378

251.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₦2,725

$0.35 ₦470

488.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.10 ₦4,102

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₦1,929

$0.23 ₦305

534.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ₦1,677

$0.58 ₦775

118.97%

Eggs

$2.27 ₦3,009

$1.32 ₦1,749

71.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.46 ₦4,583

$1.47 ₦1,946

135.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,091

$1.62 ₦2,153

137.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 ₦5,792

$1.30 ₦1,727

236.15%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 ₦2,198

$1.90 ₦2,521

-12.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ₦1,735

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 ₦1,456

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 ₦1,707

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,833

$0.31 ₦411

345.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,827

$0.35 ₦469

294.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ₦1,124

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦521

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.56 ₦736

Wine (Bottle)

$2.61 ₦3,455

$2.21 ₦2,934

18.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₦722

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₦618

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ₦537

$0.12 ₦158

241.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.88 ₦26.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 ₦861

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 ₦1,276

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₦2,963

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,097

$0.14 ₦182

492.86%

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

$11.2K ₦14.8M

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

$13.5K ₦17.9M

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

$113 ₦150.2K

$30.32 ₦40.2K

273.78%

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

$16.22 ₦21.5K

$6.05 ₦8,019

168.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.40 ₦42.9K

$15.07 ₦20.0K

115.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.70 ₦36.7K

$7.34 ₦9,721

277.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.95 ₦9,206

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 ₦6,413

$1.51 ₦2,006

220.53%

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

$680 ₦901.4K

$15.14 ₦20.1K

4392.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K ₦26.2M

$135 ₦179.5K

14474.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.96 ₦19.8K

$7.62 ₦10.1K

96.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.14 ₦24.0K

$11.23 ₦14.9K

61.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.42 ₦48.3K

$18.87 ₦25.0K

93.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.47 ₦64.2K

$22.29 ₦29.5K

117.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$725 ₦960.5K

$184 ₦244.5K

292.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₦556.1K

$111 ₦147.0K

278.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,792 ₦3.7M

$373 ₦493.9K

649.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,494 ₦2.0M

$226 ₦299.6K

560.98%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,197 ₦4.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,623 ₦2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$118 ₦156.0K

$52.4 ₦69.4K

124.70%

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 Ife: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $725 in Lagos versus $184 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 125% higher in Lagos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Lagos versus $11.00 in Ife. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $153 vs $42.00 – 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: $942 in Lagos, $279 in Ife – roughly 237% apart. Lagos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,412 per month in Lagos and $419 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 $942 in Lagos and $279 in Ife. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $680 per month in Lagos and $15.14 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 $279, than in Lagos at $942. 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.