Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Maiduguri Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Maiduguri

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $960 per month in Lagos vs $172 in Maiduguri, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,873 per month in Lagos vs $292 in Maiduguri, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,785 per month in Lagos vs $412 in Maiduguri, rent included.

Lagos costs about 460% more than Maiduguri, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lagos and Maiduguri are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 30% lower, Maiduguri 88% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.74 ₦4,980

$0.53 ₦712

605.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.00 ₦65.2K

$3.79 ₦5,037

1192.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.51 ₦9,988

$1.90 ₦2,527

295.26%

Cappuccino

$2.88 ₦3,830

$0.93 ₦1,232

209.68%

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

$0.42 ₦555

$0.22 ₦293

90.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦335

$0.19 ₦257

31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ₦1,301

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 ₦2,623

Milk (1 liter)

$3.17 ₦4,219

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 ₦1,873

$1.03 ₦1,365

36.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 ₦1,609

$1.96 ₦2,609

-38.27%

Eggs

$2.28 ₦3,028

$1.85 ₦2,455

23.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.43 ₦4,566

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.80 ₦5,052

$4.88 ₦6,497

-22.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.50 ₦5,988

$4.04 ₦5,374

11.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.63 ₦2,170

$3.93 ₦5,227

-58.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 ₦1,660

Oranges (1kg)

$1.09 ₦1,446

Tomato (1kg)

$1.33 ₦1,764

$0.99 ₦1,311

34.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 ₦1,823

$1.52 ₦2,017

-9.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 ₦1,803

$1.02 ₦1,353

33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₦1,200

$0.42 ₦555

114.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₦492

$0.29 ₦381

27.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.57 ₦763

Wine (Bottle)

$2.58 ₦3,435

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₦671

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 ₦607

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ₦567

$0.35 ₦470

22.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ₦25.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.70 ₦934

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 ₦1,277

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 ₦2,956

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 ₦1,113

$0.27 ₦363

211.11%

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

$11.2K ₦14.9M

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

$13.6K ₦18.0M

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

$110 ₦146.8K

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

$16.11 ₦21.4K

$7.83 ₦10.4K

105.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.07 ₦42.7K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.82 ₦35.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.67 ₦8,879

$8.11 ₦10.8K

-17.76%

Cinema Ticket

$4.63 ₦6,155

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

$672 ₦894.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.2K ₦26.9M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.78 ₦19.7K

$19.91 ₦26.5K

-25.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.02 ₦24.0K

$18.28 ₦24.3K

-1.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.66 ₦47.4K

$25.39 ₦33.8K

40.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.67 ₦63.4K

$25.12 ₦33.4K

89.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$715 ₦950.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$424 ₦563.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,808 ₦3.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,483 ₦2.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,185 ₦4.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,622 ₦2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$119 ₦158.6K

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Maiduguri: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Lagos versus $4.00 in Maiduguri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $153 vs $98.0 – making Maiduguri 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 Maiduguri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lagos costs about 460% more than Maiduguri, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,441 per month in Lagos and $257 in Maiduguri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $960 in Lagos and $172 in Maiduguri. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 55% more in Lagos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maiduguri, where all-in costs run around $172, than in Lagos at $960. In Maiduguri it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Maiduguri – 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 Maiduguri. 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.