Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Ilesha Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Ilesha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,137 per month in Lagos vs $454 in Ilesha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,890 per month in Lagos vs $801 in Ilesha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,643 per month in Lagos vs $1,148 in Ilesha, rent included.

Lagos costs about 151% more than Ilesha, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Lagos and Ilesha are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 15% lower, Ilesha 66% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lagos
Ilesha
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.60 ₦3,510
$2.51 ₦3,387
3.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.5 ₦68.1K
$50.7 ₦68.3K
-0.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.35 ₦7,211
$5.39 ₦7,268
-0.74%
Cappuccino
$2.17 ₦2,929
$2.20 ₦2,965
-1.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₦489
$0.37 ₦494
-2.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 ₦270
$0.20 ₦269
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.84 ₦1,129
$0.80 ₦1,074
5.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 ₦1,938
$1.37 ₦1,852
5.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lagos
Ilesha
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.26 ₦3,048
$2.27 ₦3,063
-0.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.19 ₦1,604
$1.25 ₦1,683
-4.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.33 ₦3,143
$2.34 ₦3,157
-0.43%
Eggs
$1.72 ₦2,318
$1.70 ₦2,287
1.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.08 ₦8,208
$6.41 ₦8,646
-5.15%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.21 ₦5,685
$4.28 ₦5,774
-1.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.33 ₦7,189
$5.52 ₦7,442
-3.44%
Apples (1kg)
$3.47 ₦4,687
$3.60 ₦4,859
-3.61%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 ₦2,744
$2.11 ₦2,847
-3.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.21 ₦2,986
$2.18 ₦2,942
1.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.37 ₦3,193
$2.39 ₦3,226
-0.84%
Potato (1kg)
$2.37 ₦3,195
$2.29 ₦3,094
3.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 ₦2,650
$2.03 ₦2,739
-3.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.91 ₦2,575
$2.02 ₦2,723
-5.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 ₦481
$0.38 ₦516
-5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.25 ₦1,693
$1.26 ₦1,700
-0.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.30 ₦4,452
$3.25 ₦4,379
1.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₦850
$0.69 ₦928
-8.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 ₦1,272
$0.88 ₦1,188
6.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Lagos
Ilesha
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 ₦939
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.75 ₦48.2K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.24 ₦1,679
$1.19 ₦1,612
4.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 ₦2,917
$2.16 ₦2,919
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.75 ₦6,401
$4.57 ₦6,167
3.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.74 ₦1,000
$0.75 ₦1,012
-1.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K ₦27.7M
$20.5K ₦27.7M
0.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K ₦27.5M
$20.7K ₦28.0M
-1.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lagos
Ilesha
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.47 ₦55.9K
$41.91 ₦56.5K
-1.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.13 ₦13.7K
$10.35 ₦14.0K
-2.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.69 ₦45.4K
$34.40 ₦46.4K
-2.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lagos
Ilesha
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.79 ₦41.5K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.60 ₦17.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 ₦8,637
$6.51 ₦8,776
-1.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lagos
Ilesha
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$81.3 ₦109.7K
$83.1 ₦112.1K
-2.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,296 ₦3.1M
$2,275 ₦3.1M
0.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lagos
Ilesha
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.50 ₦26.3K
$19.02 ₦25.7K
2.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.12 ₦33.9K
$24.91 ₦33.6K
0.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.7 ₦85.9K
$64.1 ₦86.5K
-0.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.6 ₦76.3K
$57.2 ₦77.1K
-1.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lagos
Ilesha
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,074 ₦1.4M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$627 ₦846.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,744 ₦3.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,367 ₦1.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,346 ₦4.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,831 ₦2.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lagos
Ilesha
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$130 ₦175.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.33
16.33
-

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

Last update for Lagos: April 19, 2026

Last update for Ilesha: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,074 in Lagos versus $0 in Ilesha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50 in Lagos versus $51 in Ilesha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $195 – making Lagos 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 Ilesha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ilesha cheaper than Lagos?
Yes – Lagos is pricier by about 151%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,706 per month in Lagos and $680 in Ilesha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Lagos or Ilesha?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Lagos and $51.0 in Ilesha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Lagos and Ilesha?
Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in Lagos – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lagos or Ilesha?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ilesha, where all-in costs run around $454, than in Lagos at $1,137. In Ilesha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Lagos or Ilesha more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ilesha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ilesha. 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.

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