Cost of Living Comparison Between Maiduguri and Abuja Cost of Living Comparison Between Maiduguri and Abuja

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $191 in Maiduguri versus $1,700 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $345 in Maiduguri versus $2,793 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $498 in Maiduguri versus $3,886 in Abuja.

Living in Maiduguri costs roughly 89% less than in Abuja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Maiduguri is 86% below, Abuja is 27% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.53 ₦2,083

$1.97 ₦2,684

-22.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.78 ₦16.0K

$45.77 ₦62.3K

-74.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.71 ₦3,691

$5.68 ₦7,732

-52.29%

Cappuccino

$1.36 ₦1,846

$2.52 ₦3,426

-46.03%

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

$0.37 ₦509

$0.50 ₦687

-26.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦400

$0.42 ₦566

-30.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 ₦1,506

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.14 ₦1,551

Milk (1 liter)

$3.06 ₦4,161

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 ₦1,381

$1.32 ₦1,793

-23.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 ₦2,650

$2.38 ₦3,244

-18.07%

Eggs

$1.76 ₦2,397

$1.57 ₦2,132

12.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.39 ₦7,339

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 ₦6,910

$4.45 ₦6,058

13.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.99 ₦5,433

$3.88 ₦5,287

2.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 ₦5,294

$3.10 ₦4,222

25.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 ₦2,414

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 ₦2,869

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 ₦1,379

$1.68 ₦2,285

-39.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ₦2,074

$2.14 ₦2,908

-28.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 ₦1,401

$2.53 ₦3,447

-59.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 ₦525

$0.58 ₦788

-32.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦428

$0.31 ₦427

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.43 ₦3,305

Wine (Bottle)

$5.68 ₦7,741

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₦1,445

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 ₦1,928

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₦721

$0.64 ₦877

-17.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₦1,234

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.06 ₦1,445

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.40 ₦5,991

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.37 ₦498

$0.83 ₦1,132

-55.42%

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

$31.22 ₦42.5K

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

$7.89 ₦10.7K

$10.68 ₦14.5K

-26.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.07 ₦57.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.35 ₦60.4K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.83 ₦10.7K

$10.95 ₦14.9K

-28.49%

Cinema Ticket

$8.16 ₦11.1K

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

$133 ₦180.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,969 ₦2.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.15 ₦27.4K

$29.33 ₦39.9K

-31.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.34 ₦25.0K

$28.29 ₦38.5K

-35.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.49 ₦34.7K

$68.6 ₦93.4K

-62.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$24.89 ₦33.9K

$84.8 ₦115.5K

-70.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,485 ₦3.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 ₦1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,456 ₦7.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,666 ₦3.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,106 ₦1.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$362 ₦493.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$168 ₦228.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Maiduguri: May 31, 2026

Last update for Abuja: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $12.00 in Maiduguri vs $46.00 in Abuja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $99.0 vs $190 per month, with Maiduguri cheaper across the board.

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

Maiduguri vs Abuja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maiduguri and Abuja differ by about 789% in total monthly costs ($191 vs $1,700 including rent). Maiduguri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $287 in Maiduguri and $2,550 in Abuja to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Maiduguri – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $46.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $191 per month in Maiduguri versus $1,700 in Abuja – a 789% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $191 in Maiduguri versus $1,700 in Abuja, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maiduguri but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Maiduguri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Maiduguri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 789% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.