Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Jos Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Jos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,123 per month in Lagos vs $999 in Jos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,882 per month in Lagos vs $1,380 in Jos, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,641 per month in Lagos vs $1,762 in Jos, rent included.

Lagos costs about 12% more than Jos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lagos and Jos are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 16% lower, Jos 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.61 ₦3,551

$1.27 ₦1,735

105.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.01 ₦66.7K

$13.94 ₦19.0K

251.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 ₦7,193

$4.72 ₦6,422

11.86%

Cappuccino

$2.17 ₦2,955

$2.37 ₦3,233

-8.44%

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

$0.36 ₦492

$0.37 ₦510

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ₦300

$0.25 ₦341

-12.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.79 ₦1,078

$0.71 ₦963

11.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₦1,897

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₦3,183

$3.62 ₦4,923

-35.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₦1,698

$0.90 ₦1,221

38.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ₦3,037

$3.30 ₦4,493

-32.42%

Eggs

$1.68 ₦2,287

$3.03 ₦4,130

-44.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 ₦8,375

$10.02 ₦13.7K

-38.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 ₦5,844

$5.05 ₦6,878

-15.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.25 ₦7,154

$4.56 ₦6,214

15.13%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₦4,742

$3.98 ₦5,416

-12.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ₦2,801

$4.96 ₦6,753

-58.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,011

$2.77 ₦3,771

-20.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₦3,105

$4.06 ₦5,529

-43.84%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 ₦3,271

$2.21 ₦3,011

8.60%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 ₦2,753

$1.95 ₦2,654

3.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₦2,746

$0.60 ₦819

236.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦529

$0.77 ₦1,046

-49.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₦1,727

Wine (Bottle)

$2.49 ₦3,397

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₦856

$0.75 ₦1,017

-16.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₦1,196

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ₦934

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.96 ₦50.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 ₦1,702

$0.98 ₦1,341

27.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 ₦3,048

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 ₦6,368

$9.94 ₦13.5K

-52.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₦1,070

$0.96 ₦1,313

-17.71%

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

$20.2K ₦27.5M

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

$20.7K ₦28.2M

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

$41.11 ₦56.0K

$101 ₦138.0K

-59.44%

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

$10.16 ₦13.8K

$10.03 ₦13.7K

1.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.75 ₦46.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.68 ₦41.8K

$39.42 ₦53.7K

-22.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.80 ₦17.4K

$11.77 ₦16.0K

8.75%

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 ₦8,577

$8.93 ₦12.2K

-29.45%

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

$84.5 ₦115.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,314 ₦3.2M

$1,009 ₦1.4M

129.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.07 ₦26.0K

$9.86 ₦13.4K

93.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.51 ₦33.4K

$14.74 ₦20.1K

66.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ₦88.5K

$49.83 ₦67.9K

30.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.7 ₦78.5K

$50.8 ₦69.2K

13.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 ₦1.5M

$700 ₦952.7K

55.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₦861.1K

$464 ₦631.5K

36.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,746 ₦3.7M

$875 ₦1.2M

213.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,347 ₦1.8M

$587 ₦798.9K

129.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,278 ₦4.5M

$2,013 ₦2.7M

62.88%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,622 ₦2.2M

$1,483 ₦2.0M

9.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$116 ₦158.0K

$67.3 ₦91.6K

72.48%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Jos: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,087 in Lagos versus $700 in Jos. 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 72% 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 $49.00 in Lagos versus $14.00 in Jos. Groceries tell a different story – $191 in Lagos vs $246 in Jos – so Lagos wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Jos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,123 in Lagos, $999 in Jos – roughly 12% apart. Lagos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,685 per month in Lagos and $1,498 in Jos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Lagos and $14.00 in Jos. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,123 in Lagos and $999 in Jos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jos, where all-in costs run around $999, than in Lagos at $1,123. In Jos it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jos – 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 Jos. 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.