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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,123 per month in Lagos vs $191 in Maiduguri, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,882 per month in Lagos vs $345 in Maiduguri, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,641 per month in Lagos vs $498 in Maiduguri, rent included.

Lagos costs about 487% more than Maiduguri, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lagos and Maiduguri are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 16% lower, Maiduguri 86% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.61 ₦3,551

$1.53 ₦2,083

70.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.01 ₦66.7K

$11.78 ₦16.0K

316.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 ₦7,193

$2.71 ₦3,691

94.83%

Cappuccino

$2.17 ₦2,955

$1.36 ₦1,846

59.56%

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

$0.36 ₦492

$0.37 ₦509

-2.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ₦300

$0.29 ₦400

-24.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.79 ₦1,078

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₦1,897

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₦3,183

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₦1,698

$1.01 ₦1,381

23.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ₦3,037

$1.95 ₦2,650

14.36%

Eggs

$1.68 ₦2,287

$1.76 ₦2,397

-4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 ₦8,375

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 ₦5,844

$5.07 ₦6,910

-15.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.25 ₦7,154

$3.99 ₦5,433

31.58%

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₦4,742

$3.89 ₦5,294

-10.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ₦2,801

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,011

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₦3,105

$1.01 ₦1,379

125.74%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 ₦3,271

$1.52 ₦2,074

57.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 ₦2,753

$1.03 ₦1,401

96.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₦2,746

$0.39 ₦525

417.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦529

$0.31 ₦428

25.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₦1,727

Wine (Bottle)

$2.49 ₦3,397

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₦856

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₦1,196

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ₦934

$0.53 ₦721

30.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.96 ₦50.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 ₦1,702

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 ₦3,048

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 ₦6,368

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₦1,070

$0.37 ₦498

113.51%

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

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

$10.16 ₦13.8K

$7.89 ₦10.7K

28.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.75 ₦46.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.68 ₦41.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.80 ₦17.4K

$7.83 ₦10.7K

63.47%

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 ₦8,577

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

$84.5 ₦115.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,314 ₦3.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.07 ₦26.0K

$20.15 ₦27.4K

-5.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.51 ₦33.4K

$18.34 ₦25.0K

33.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ₦88.5K

$25.49 ₦34.7K

155.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.7 ₦78.5K

$24.89 ₦33.9K

131.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 ₦1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₦861.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,746 ₦3.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,347 ₦1.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,278 ₦4.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,622 ₦2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$116 ₦158.0K

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 Maiduguri: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Lagos versus $12.00 in Maiduguri. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $99.0 – 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 487% more than Maiduguri, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,685 per month in Lagos and $287 in Maiduguri. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,123 in Lagos and $191 in Maiduguri. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 93% 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 $191, than in Lagos at $1,123. 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.