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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,129 per month in Lagos vs $715 in Ife, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,903 per month in Lagos vs $1,174 in Ife, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,677 per month in Lagos vs $1,633 in Ife, rent included.

Lagos costs about 58% more than Ife, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lagos and Ife are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 16% lower, Ife 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lagos
Ife
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.54 ₦3,457
$2.77 ₦3,767
-8.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.1 ₦68.2K
$35.63 ₦48.4K
40.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.44 ₦7,393
$5.19 ₦7,064
4.82%
Cappuccino
$2.19 ₦2,983
$0.85 ₦1,152
157.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₦454
$0.47 ₦636
-29.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 ₦300
$0.28 ₦382
-21.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.80 ₦1,091
$0.92 ₦1,250
-13.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 ₦1,971
$1.15 ₦1,567
26.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lagos
Ife
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.32 ₦3,155
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 ₦1,634
$0.73 ₦998
64.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.35 ₦3,189
$1.78 ₦2,417
32.02%
Eggs
$1.77 ₦2,410
$2.37 ₦3,221
-25.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.14 ₦8,346
$4.61 ₦6,269
33.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.21 ₦5,719
$5.26 ₦7,151
-19.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.37 ₦7,296
$4.26 ₦5,791
26.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 ₦4,831
$5.71 ₦7,769
-37.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.05 ₦2,783
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 ₦2,985
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 ₦3,114
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.29 ₦3,109
$0.93 ₦1,262
146.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.92 ₦2,614
$1.19 ₦1,624
61.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.90 ₦2,585
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35 ₦479
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.25 ₦1,703
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$2.51 ₦3,418
$2.15 ₦2,925
16.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₦853
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 ₦1,207
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Lagos
Ife
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 ₦936
$0.36 ₦491
91.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.65 ₦48.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.21 ₦1,644
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.22 ₦3,021
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.77 ₦6,481
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 ₦996
$0.38 ₦516
92.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.1K ₦27.3M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K ₦28.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lagos
Ife
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.56 ₦56.5K
$29.64 ₦40.3K
40.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.00 ₦13.6K
$5.86 ₦7,975
70.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.83 ₦46.0K
$46.69 ₦63.5K
-27.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lagos
Ife
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.18 ₦42.4K
$23.04 ₦31.3K
35.33%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.70 ₦17.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.32 ₦8,600
$4.74 ₦6,451
33.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lagos
Ife
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$84.5 ₦114.9K
$46.67 ₦63.5K
81.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,289 ₦3.1M
$415 ₦564.0K
451.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lagos
Ife
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.86 ₦25.7K
$23.43 ₦31.9K
-19.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.55 ₦33.4K
$35.55 ₦48.3K
-30.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.0 ₦88.4K
$58.3 ₦79.2K
11.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.8 ₦78.6K
$70.9 ₦96.4K
-18.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lagos
Ife
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,094 ₦1.5M
$597 ₦811.5K
83.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$618 ₦839.7K
$357 ₦485.6K
72.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,681 ₦3.6M
$1,187 ₦1.6M
125.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,382 ₦1.9M
$706 ₦960.0K
95.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,187 ₦4.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,613 ₦2.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lagos
Ife
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$119 ₦162.0K
$52.3 ₦71.1K
127.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.33
0
-

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

Last update for Lagos: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ife: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,094 in Lagos versus $597 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 128% 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 $36.00 in Ife. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $115 – 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
How do living costs in Lagos and Ife compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,129 in Lagos, $715 in Ife – roughly 58% apart. Lagos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Lagos compared to Ife?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,693 per month in Lagos and $1,073 in Ife. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Lagos and Ife?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lagos or Ife?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,129 in Lagos and $715 in Ife. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Lagos and Ife?
Kindergarten costs $84.5 per month in Lagos and $46.67 in Ife. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Ife, where all-in costs run around $715, than in Lagos at $1,129. In Ife it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Lagos or Ife?
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.
How do I decide between Lagos and Ife?
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.

Lagos vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities