Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Kano Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Kano

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,137 in Lagos versus $542 in Kano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,890 in Lagos versus $866 in Kano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,643 in Lagos versus $1,190 in Kano.

Living in Lagos is roughly 110% more expensive than Kano, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lagos 15% lower, Kano 60% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.60 ₦3,510

$3.41 ₦4,599

-23.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.5 ₦68.1K

$10.19 ₦13.8K

395.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 ₦7,211

$5.29 ₦7,136

1.13%

Cappuccino

$2.17 ₦2,929

$4.57 ₦6,170

-52.52%

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

$0.36 ₦489

$0.44 ₦593

-18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 ₦270

$0.39 ₦524

-48.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.84 ₦1,129

$0.85 ₦1,148

-1.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₦1,938

$0.88 ₦1,191

63.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.26 ₦3,048

$3.49 ₦4,711

-35.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.19 ₦1,604

$1.93 ₦2,609

-38.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 ₦3,143

$2.25 ₦3,036

3.56%

Eggs

$1.72 ₦2,318

$2.07 ₦2,795

-16.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.08 ₦8,208

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.21 ₦5,685

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.33 ₦7,189

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 ₦4,687

$7.26 ₦9,796

-52.20%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 ₦2,744

$1.61 ₦2,172

26.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ₦2,986

$1.17 ₦1,577

88.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.37 ₦3,193

$1.17 ₦1,577

102.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 ₦3,195

$2.41 ₦3,257

-1.66%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 ₦2,650

$3.51 ₦4,742

-44.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.91 ₦2,575

$0.36 ₦488

430.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.36 ₦481

$0.47 ₦628

-23.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.25 ₦1,693

Wine (Bottle)

$3.30 ₦4,452

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₦850

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.94 ₦1,272

$0.83 ₦1,121

13.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 ₦939

$0.77 ₦1,042

-9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.75 ₦48.2K

$36.75 ₦49.6K

-2.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 ₦1,679

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.16 ₦2,917

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.75 ₦6,401

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₦1,000

$0.41 ₦556

80.49%

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

$20.5K ₦27.7M

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

$20.4K ₦27.5M

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

$41.47 ₦55.9K

$12.16 ₦16.4K

241.04%

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

$10.13 ₦13.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.69 ₦45.4K

$19.32 ₦26.1K

74.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.79 ₦41.5K

$33.42 ₦45.1K

-7.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.60 ₦17.0K

Cinema Ticket

$6.40 ₦8,637

$4.64 ₦6,263

37.93%

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

$81.3 ₦109.7K

$35.49 ₦47.9K

129.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,296 ₦3.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.50 ₦26.3K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.12 ₦33.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.7 ₦85.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.6 ₦76.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,074 ₦1.4M

$476 ₦642.1K

125.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 ₦846.0K

$177 ₦238.6K

254.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,744 ₦3.7M

$1,178 ₦1.6M

132.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 ₦1.8M

$357 ₦481.5K

283.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,346 ₦4.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,831 ₦2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$130 ₦175.7K

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: April 19, 2026

Last update for Kano: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,074 in Lagos and $476 in Kano. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $50 in Lagos vs $10 in Kano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $151 per month, with Kano cheaper across the board.

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 Kano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lagos and Kano differ by about 110% in total monthly costs ($1,137 vs $542 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,706 in Lagos and $813 in Kano to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,074 in Lagos versus $476 in Kano. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,137 per month in Lagos versus $542 in Kano – a 110% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kano runs roughly 3% less than in Lagos. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $542 in Kano versus $1,137 in Lagos, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kano but tight or insufficient in Lagos. The gap between the two cities makes Kano the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Lagos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.