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: $1,120 in Lagos versus $553 in Kano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,893 in Lagos versus $865 in Kano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,666 in Lagos versus $1,176 in Kano.

Living in Lagos is roughly 102% more expensive than in Kano, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lagos 16% lower, Kano 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.65 ₦3,612

$3.56 ₦4,846

-25.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.1 ₦68.3K

$10.40 ₦14.2K

381.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.48 ₦7,463

$5.19 ₦7,080

5.59%

Cappuccino

$2.12 ₦2,890

$4.73 ₦6,448

-55.18%

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

$0.34 ₦458

$0.43 ₦587

-20.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ₦300

$0.38 ₦525

-42.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.85 ₦1,152

$0.86 ₦1,170

-1.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₦1,881

$0.83 ₦1,130

66.27%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.27 ₦3,088

$3.50 ₦4,773

-35.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 ₦1,690

$1.96 ₦2,678

-36.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 ₦3,062

$2.18 ₦2,972

3.21%

Eggs

$1.69 ₦2,301

$2.17 ₦2,957

-22.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.22 ₦8,478

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.30 ₦5,856

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.30 ₦7,224

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 ₦4,682

$6.97 ₦9,507

-50.79%

Banana (1kg)

$2.12 ₦2,889

$1.69 ₦2,298

25.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,945

$1.16 ₦1,580

86.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 ₦3,176

$1.15 ₦1,568

102.61%

Potato (1kg)

$2.36 ₦3,223

$2.39 ₦3,259

-1.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.96 ₦2,674

$3.58 ₦4,874

-45.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 ₦2,621

$0.34 ₦459

464.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₦479

$0.50 ₦684

-30.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.31 ₦1,785

Wine (Bottle)

$2.54 ₦3,460

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₦856

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 ₦1,213

$0.90 ₦1,221

-1.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ₦1,018

$0.83 ₦1,129

-9.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.90 ₦48.9K

$37.04 ₦50.5K

-3.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₦1,638

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.16 ₦2,946

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 ₦6,501

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 ₦1,085

$0.45 ₦607

77.78%

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

$20.7K ₦28.3M

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

$20.5K ₦28.0M

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

$41.95 ₦57.2K

$12.09 ₦16.5K

246.98%

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

$9.98 ₦13.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.59 ₦45.8K

$19.63 ₦26.8K

71.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.93 ₦42.2K

$34.47 ₦47.0K

-10.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.54 ₦17.1K

Cinema Ticket

$6.31 ₦8,605

$4.77 ₦6,499

32.29%

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

$82.6 ₦112.5K

$35.31 ₦48.1K

133.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,338 ₦3.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.86 ₦25.7K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.28 ₦33.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.5 ₦87.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.5 ₦78.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 ₦1.5M

$469 ₦639.5K

131.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 ₦848.1K

$180 ₦244.8K

246.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,735 ₦3.7M

$1,175 ₦1.6M

132.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 ₦1.8M

$353 ₦481.7K

279.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,181 ₦4.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,622 ₦2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$120 ₦163.2K

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Kano: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,087 in Lagos and $469 in Kano. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $50.0 in Lagos vs $10.00 in Kano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 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 102% in total monthly costs ($1,120 vs $553 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,680 in Lagos and $830 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: $1,087 in Lagos versus $469 in Kano. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,120 per month in Lagos versus $553 in Kano – a 102% 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 $553 in Kano versus $1,120 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 102% less than in Lagos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.