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: $942 in Lagos versus $106 in Kano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,840 in Lagos versus $186 in Kano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,739 in Lagos versus $266 in Kano.

Living in Lagos is roughly 792% more expensive than in Kano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Lagos 32% lower, Kano 92% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.71 ₦4,919

$1.72 ₦2,281

115.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.0 ₦66.3K

$14.75 ₦19.5K

239.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₦9,969

$6.17 ₦8,174

21.88%

Cappuccino

$2.86 ₦3,792

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

$0.44 ₦585

$0.20 ₦267

120.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₦303

$0.15 ₦205

53.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₦1,349

$0.31 ₦411

229.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₦2,725

$0.31 ₦416

564.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.10 ₦4,102

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₦1,929

$0.65 ₦861

124.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ₦1,677

$0.54 ₦716

135.19%

Eggs

$2.27 ₦3,009

$0.87 ₦1,148

160.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.46 ₦4,583

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,091

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 ₦5,792

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 ₦2,198

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ₦1,735

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 ₦1,456

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 ₦1,707

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,833

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,827

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ₦1,124

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦521

$0.58 ₦774

-32.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.56 ₦736

Wine (Bottle)

$2.61 ₦3,455

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₦722

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₦618

$0.31 ₦416

51.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ₦537

$0.29 ₦387

41.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.88 ₦26.4K

$12.38 ₦16.4K

60.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 ₦861

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 ₦1,276

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₦2,963

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,097

$0.52 ₦687

59.62%

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

$11.2K ₦14.8M

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

$13.5K ₦17.9M

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

$113 ₦150.2K

$7.39 ₦9,798

1433.56%

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

$16.22 ₦21.5K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.40 ₦42.9K

$6.41 ₦8,498

405.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.70 ₦36.7K

$20.66 ₦27.4K

34.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.95 ₦9,206

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 ₦6,413

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

$680 ₦901.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K ₦26.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.96 ₦19.8K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.14 ₦24.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.42 ₦48.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.47 ₦64.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$725 ₦960.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 ₦556.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,792 ₦3.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,494 ₦2.0M

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

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 Kano: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $50.0 in Lagos vs $15.00 in Kano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $153 vs $20.00 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 792% in total monthly costs ($942 vs $106 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,412 in Lagos and $158 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.

Dining out is cheaper in Kano – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $50.0 in Lagos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Kano runs roughly 61% less than in Lagos. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $106 in Kano versus $942 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 792% less than in Lagos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.