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: $190 in Maiduguri versus $1,661 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $344 in Maiduguri versus $2,819 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $499 in Maiduguri versus $3,976 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 24% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.51 ₦2,086

$2.03 ₦2,794

-25.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.04 ₦16.6K

$44.41 ₦61.2K

-72.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.76 ₦3,808

$5.60 ₦7,714

-50.71%

Cappuccino

$1.31 ₦1,808

$2.56 ₦3,525

-48.83%

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

$0.34 ₦471

$0.50 ₦695

-32.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦402

$0.39 ₦535

-25.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.11 ₦1,534

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₦1,560

Milk (1 liter)

$3.12 ₦4,305

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 ₦1,404

$1.30 ₦1,798

-21.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 ₦2,805

$2.51 ₦3,458

-18.73%

Eggs

$1.83 ₦2,519

$1.56 ₦2,155

17.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.26 ₦7,252

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 ₦6,698

$4.62 ₦6,367

5.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.02 ₦5,541

$4.00 ₦5,508

0.50%

Apples (1kg)

$4.07 ₦5,611

$3.00 ₦4,128

35.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 ₦2,419

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 ₦3,008

Tomato (1kg)

$1.02 ₦1,410

$1.69 ₦2,329

-39.64%

Potato (1kg)

$1.51 ₦2,087

$2.05 ₦2,831

-26.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ₦1,399

$2.44 ₦3,368

-58.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 ₦527

$0.58 ₦795

-34.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 ₦428

$0.29 ₦393

6.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ₦3,390

Wine (Bottle)

$5.48 ₦7,545

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 ₦1,457

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₦1,998

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 ₦723

$0.70 ₦958

-25.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 ₦1,254

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.08 ₦1,486

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.42 ₦6,092

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.39 ₦541

$0.81 ₦1,118

-51.85%

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

$30.08 ₦41.5K

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

$7.79 ₦10.7K

$10.81 ₦14.9K

-27.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.89 ₦56.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.03 ₦60.7K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.20 ₦11.3K

$10.63 ₦14.6K

-22.86%

Cinema Ticket

$8.27 ₦11.4K

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

$133 ₦183.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,996 ₦2.8M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.35 ₦28.0K

$30.06 ₦41.4K

-32.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.91 ₦24.7K

$28.56 ₦39.4K

-37.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.28 ₦34.8K

$67.9 ₦93.6K

-62.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.36 ₦34.9K

$85.5 ₦117.8K

-70.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,418 ₦3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,167 ₦1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,536 ₦7.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,634 ₦3.6M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$688 ₦947.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$367 ₦506.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$166 ₦229.2K

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Abuja: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $12.00 in Maiduguri vs $44.00 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 773% in total monthly costs ($190 vs $1,661 including rent). Maiduguri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $286 in Maiduguri and $2,492 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 $44.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $190 per month in Maiduguri versus $1,661 in Abuja – a 773% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $190 in Maiduguri versus $1,661 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 773% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.