Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Benin Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Benin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $942 per month in Lagos vs $441 in Benin, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,840 per month in Lagos vs $745 in Benin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,739 per month in Lagos vs $1,049 in Benin, rent included.

Lagos costs about 114% more than Benin, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Lagos and Benin are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 32% lower, Benin 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.71 ₦4,919

$1.38 ₦1,825

168.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.0 ₦66.3K

$50.9 ₦67.5K

-1.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.52 ₦9,969

$5.78 ₦7,655

30.10%

Cappuccino

$2.86 ₦3,792

$2.89 ₦3,831

-1.04%

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

$0.44 ₦585

$0.29 ₦388

51.72%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 ₦303

$0.16 ₦218

43.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.02 ₦1,349

$0.97 ₦1,291

5.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 ₦2,725

$1.01 ₦1,342

103.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.10 ₦4,102

$3.05 ₦4,039

1.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 ₦1,929

$0.78 ₦1,031

87.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 ₦1,677

$1.21 ₦1,603

4.96%

Eggs

$2.27 ₦3,009

$2.28 ₦3,019

-0.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.46 ₦4,583

$3.50 ₦4,644

-1.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,091

$3.82 ₦5,064

0.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 ₦5,792

$4.38 ₦5,799

-0.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.66 ₦2,198

$1.69 ₦2,243

-1.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 ₦1,735

$1.26 ₦1,673

3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 ₦1,456

$1.15 ₦1,526

-4.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 ₦1,707

$1.28 ₦1,693

0.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,833

$1.33 ₦1,760

3.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 ₦1,827

$1.32 ₦1,756

4.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 ₦1,124

$0.86 ₦1,134

-1.16%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦521

$0.37 ₦489

5.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.56 ₦736

$0.54 ₦719

3.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.61 ₦3,455

$2.70 ₦3,583

-3.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 ₦722

$0.55 ₦723

-1.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₦618

$0.47 ₦619

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 ₦537

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.88 ₦26.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 ₦861

$0.65 ₦856

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 ₦1,276

$0.99 ₦1,307

-3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 ₦2,963

$2.22 ₦2,937

0.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ₦1,097

$0.74 ₦978

12.16%

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

$11.2K ₦14.8M

$11.5K ₦15.3M

-3.00%

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

$13.5K ₦17.9M

$13.6K ₦18.1M

-0.90%

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

$113 ₦150.2K

$112 ₦147.9K

1.56%

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

$16.22 ₦21.5K

$16.10 ₦21.3K

0.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.40 ₦42.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.70 ₦36.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.95 ₦9,206

Cinema Ticket

$4.84 ₦6,413

$4.80 ₦6,363

0.83%

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

$680 ₦901.4K

$661 ₦875.9K

2.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.7K ₦26.2M

$20.0K ₦26.5M

-1.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.96 ₦19.8K

$14.73 ₦19.5K

1.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.14 ₦24.0K

$18.08 ₦24.0K

0.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.42 ₦48.3K

$36.46 ₦48.3K

-0.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.47 ₦64.2K

$49.61 ₦65.7K

-2.30%

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

$114 ₦150.9K

3.43%

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 Benin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 3% higher in Lagos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Lagos versus $51.0 in Benin. Groceries tell a different story – $153 in Lagos vs $146 in Benin – so Benin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Benin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lagos costs about 114% more than Benin, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,412 per month in Lagos and $661 in Benin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Lagos and $51.0 in Benin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Benin, where all-in costs run around $441, than in Lagos at $942. In Benin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Benin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Benin. 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.