Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Ikeja Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Ikeja

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $942 per month in Lagos vs $2,411 in Ikeja, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,840 per month in Lagos vs $4,102 in Ikeja, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,739 per month in Lagos vs $5,792 in Ikeja, rent included.

Lagos is about 61% cheaper than Ikeja, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Lagos sits 32% below the global median, while Ikeja is 75% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.71 ₦4,919

$0.53 ₦706

600.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.0 ₦66.3K

$11.37 ₦15.1K

340.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₦9,969

$7.41 ₦9,821

1.48%

Cappuccino

$2.86 ₦3,792

$2.72 ₦3,600

5.15%

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

$0.44 ₦585

$0.15 ₦196

193.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₦303

$0.06 ₦81.8

283.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₦1,349

$0.31 ₦412

229.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₦2,725

$2.02 ₦2,677

1.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.10 ₦4,102

$0.72 ₦956

330.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₦1,929

$0.72 ₦953

102.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ₦1,677

$1.20 ₦1,594

5.83%

Eggs

$2.27 ₦3,009

$2.23 ₦2,955

1.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.46 ₦4,583

$3.56 ₦4,719

-2.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,091

$3.98 ₦5,272

-3.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 ₦5,792

$4.43 ₦5,869

-1.35%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 ₦2,198

$1.70 ₦2,257

-2.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ₦1,735

$1.29 ₦1,712

1.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 ₦1,456

$1.13 ₦1,499

-2.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 ₦1,707

$1.27 ₦1,679

1.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,833

$1.32 ₦1,745

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,827

$1.30 ₦1,717

6.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ₦1,124

$0.83 ₦1,104

2.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦521

$0.39 ₦519

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.56 ₦736

$0.55 ₦724

1.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.61 ₦3,455

$2.68 ₦3,553

-2.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₦722

$0.54 ₦720

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₦618

$0.46 ₦608

2.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ₦537

$0.10 ₦131

310.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.88 ₦26.4K

$3.44 ₦4,562

477.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 ₦861

$0.70 ₦921

-7.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 ₦1,276

$0.92 ₦1,213

4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₦2,963

$2.23 ₦2,961

0.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,097

$0.14 ₦186

492.86%

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

$11.2K ₦14.8M

$11.2K ₦14.9M

-0.38%

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

$13.5K ₦17.9M

$13.4K ₦17.7M

0.96%

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

$113 ₦150.2K

$110 ₦145.3K

3.36%

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

$16.22 ₦21.5K

$16.20 ₦21.5K

0.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.40 ₦42.9K

$33.03 ₦43.8K

-1.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.70 ₦36.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.95 ₦9,206

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 ₦6,413

$4.67 ₦6,193

3.64%

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

$680 ₦901.4K

$662 ₦877.0K

2.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K ₦26.2M

$19.6K ₦26.0M

0.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.96 ₦19.8K

$14.46 ₦19.2K

3.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.14 ₦24.0K

$18.41 ₦24.4K

-1.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.42 ₦48.3K

$35.95 ₦47.6K

1.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.47 ₦64.2K

$47.64 ₦63.1K

1.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$725 ₦960.5K

$3,447 ₦4.6M

-78.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₦556.1K

$1,984 ₦2.6M

-78.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,792 ₦3.7M

$6,568 ₦8.7M

-57.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,494 ₦2.0M

$4,908 ₦6.5M

-69.56%

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

$74.0 ₦98.1K

59.12%

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 Ikeja: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $725 in Lagos versus $3,447 in Ikeja. 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 59% higher in Lagos, 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 $50.0 in Lagos versus $11.00 in Ikeja. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $153 vs $123 – making Ikeja 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 Ikeja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ikeja costs about 156% more than Lagos, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,412 per month in Lagos and $3,617 in Ikeja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Lagos, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 25% cheaper in Ikeja – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Lagos and $11.00 in Ikeja. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lagos, where all-in costs run around $942, than in Ikeja at $2,411. In Lagos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ikeja it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lagos – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Lagos. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ikeja makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.