Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Onitsha Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Onitsha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,160 per month in Lagos vs $336 in Onitsha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,898 per month in Lagos vs $491 in Onitsha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,636 per month in Lagos vs $646 in Onitsha, rent included.

Lagos costs about 245% more than Onitsha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Lagos and Onitsha are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 13% lower, Onitsha 75% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.60 ₦3,583

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.6 ₦69.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.18 ₦7,133

Cappuccino

$2.10 ₦2,892

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

$0.34 ₦463

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 ₦275

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.83 ₦1,148

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₦1,902

Milk (1 liter)

$2.24 ₦3,089

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₦1,660

$2.76 ₦3,804

-56.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 ₦3,227

$1.38 ₦1,895

69.57%

Eggs

$1.78 ₦2,453

$2.36 ₦3,243

-24.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.31 ₦8,682

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.20 ₦5,790

$6.99 ₦9,628

-39.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.29 ₦7,291

$6.91 ₦9,515

-23.44%

Apples (1kg)

$3.56 ₦4,901

$4.01 ₦5,522

-11.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 ₦2,814

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 ₦2,888

Tomato (1kg)

$2.30 ₦3,164

$2.97 ₦4,084

-22.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 ₦3,263

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 ₦2,665

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.93 ₦2,660

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₦527

$0.71 ₦977

-46.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.31 ₦1,810

Wine (Bottle)

$3.13 ₦4,306

$0.73 ₦1,007

328.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 ₦925

$1.08 ₦1,483

-37.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ₦1,285

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 ₦1,029

$0.36 ₦498

108.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.73 ₦49.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₦1,648

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.22 ₦3,060

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 ₦6,607

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₦1,023

$0.79 ₦1,091

-6.33%

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

$20.7K ₦28.6M

$11.0K ₦15.2M

87.76%

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

$20.2K ₦27.8M

$21.7K ₦29.9M

-7.23%

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

$40.87 ₦56.3K

$41.18 ₦56.7K

-0.75%

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

$10.35 ₦14.2K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.87 ₦46.6K

$54.5 ₦75.0K

-37.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.73 ₦43.7K

$32.88 ₦45.3K

-3.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.53 ₦17.2K

Cinema Ticket

$6.15 ₦8,468

$8.16 ₦11.2K

-24.63%

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

$82.7 ₦113.8K

$95.6 ₦131.6K

-13.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,286 ₦3.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.23 ₦26.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.13 ₦34.6K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.5 ₦87.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.2 ₦78.7K

$94.1 ₦129.5K

-39.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,068 ₦1.5M

$831 ₦1.1M

28.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$624 ₦859.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,673 ₦3.7M

$2,035 ₦2.8M

31.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,373 ₦1.9M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,324 ₦4.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,809 ₦2.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$130 ₦178.6K

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Onitsha: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,068 in Lagos versus $831 in Onitsha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Onitsha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lagos costs about 245% more than Onitsha, 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 $1,740 per month in Lagos and $504 in Onitsha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Onitsha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,160 in Lagos and $336 in Onitsha. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 29% 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 Onitsha, where all-in costs run around $336, than in Lagos at $1,160. In Onitsha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Onitsha – 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 Onitsha. 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.