Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Port Harcourt Cost of Living Comparison Between Lagos and Port Harcourt

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,123 per month in Lagos vs $904 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,882 per month in Lagos vs $1,482 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,641 per month in Lagos vs $2,061 in Port Harcourt, rent included.

Lagos costs about 24% more than Port Harcourt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Lagos and Port Harcourt are more affordable than the global median – Lagos 16% lower, Port Harcourt 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.61 ₦3,551

$2.82 ₦3,837

-7.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.01 ₦66.7K

$35.36 ₦48.2K

38.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 ₦7,193

$8.30 ₦11.3K

-36.39%

Cappuccino

$2.17 ₦2,955

$2.06 ₦2,802

5.34%

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

$0.36 ₦492

$0.53 ₦728

-32.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ₦300

$0.47 ₦635

-53.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.79 ₦1,078

$1.26 ₦1,722

-37.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 ₦1,897

$1.61 ₦2,191

-13.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.34 ₦3,183

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₦1,698

$1.49 ₦2,025

-16.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ₦3,037

$2.73 ₦3,713

-18.32%

Eggs

$1.68 ₦2,287

$2.28 ₦3,109

-26.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.15 ₦8,375

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.29 ₦5,844

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.25 ₦7,154

Apples (1kg)

$3.48 ₦4,742

$2.05 ₦2,790

69.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 ₦2,801

$2.81 ₦3,831

-26.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,011

$1.95 ₦2,651

13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.28 ₦3,105

$1.88 ₦2,563

21.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.40 ₦3,271

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 ₦2,753

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.02 ₦2,746

$1.18 ₦1,609

71.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦529

$0.52 ₦711

-25.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₦1,727

Wine (Bottle)

$2.49 ₦3,397

$4.96 ₦6,754

-49.80%

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

$0.14 ₦186

392.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.96 ₦50.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 ₦1,702

$0.78 ₦1,059

60.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.24 ₦3,048

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 ₦6,368

$3.54 ₦4,816

32.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 ₦1,070

$0.64 ₦875

23.44%

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

$12.83 ₦17.5K

-20.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.75 ₦46.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.68 ₦41.8K

$36.49 ₦49.7K

-15.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.80 ₦17.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 ₦8,577

$6.28 ₦8,558

0.32%

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

$84.5 ₦115.1K

$58.3 ₦79.4K

45.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,314 ₦3.2M

$1,114 ₦1.5M

107.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.07 ₦26.0K

$9.30 ₦12.7K

105.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.51 ₦33.4K

$10.17 ₦13.8K

141.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.0 ₦88.5K

$72.4 ₦98.6K

-10.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.7 ₦78.5K

$67.2 ₦91.5K

-14.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 ₦1.5M

$487 ₦662.9K

123.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₦861.1K

$609 ₦829.1K

3.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,746 ₦3.7M

$1,912 ₦2.6M

43.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,347 ₦1.8M

$1,208 ₦1.6M

11.55%

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

$55.2 ₦75.1K

110.39%

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 Port Harcourt: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,087 in Lagos versus $487 in Port Harcourt. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 110% 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 $49.00 in Lagos versus $35.00 in Port Harcourt. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $100 – making Port Harcourt 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 Port Harcourt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lagos costs about 24% more than Port Harcourt, 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 $1,356 in Port Harcourt. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Lagos and $35.00 in Port Harcourt. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 91% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Harcourt, where all-in costs run around $904, than in Lagos at $1,123. In Port Harcourt it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Port Harcourt – 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 Port Harcourt. 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.