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: $172 in Maiduguri versus $1,087 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $292 in Maiduguri versus $2,038 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $412 in Maiduguri versus $2,990 in Abuja.

Living in Maiduguri costs roughly 84% less than in Abuja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maiduguri 88% lower, Abuja 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$0.53 ₦706

$2.19 ₦2,896

-75.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$3.79 ₦4,999

$29.76 ₦39.3K

-87.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$1.90 ₦2,508

$4.59 ₦6,062

-58.61%

Cappuccino

$0.93 ₦1,223

$3.37 ₦4,446

-72.40%

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

$0.22 ₦291

$0.52 ₦686

-57.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 ₦255

$0.70 ₦927

-72.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 ₦1,406

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 ₦2,819

Milk (1 liter)

$3.61 ₦4,771

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 ₦1,355

$1.27 ₦1,681

-18.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 ₦2,590

$2.25 ₦2,972

-12.89%

Eggs

$1.85 ₦2,437

$1.84 ₦2,426

0.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 ₦14.5K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.88 ₦6,449

$5.29 ₦6,986

-7.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.04 ₦5,334

$5.78 ₦7,639

-30.10%

Apples (1kg)

$3.93 ₦5,188

$1.96 ₦2,593

100.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 ₦1,965

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ₦2,024

Tomato (1kg)

$0.99 ₦1,302

$2.33 ₦3,077

-57.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 ₦2,002

$1.85 ₦2,443

-17.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 ₦1,343

$2.36 ₦3,112

-56.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 ₦551

$0.54 ₦719

-22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 ₦378

$0.37 ₦483

-21.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.03 ₦2,676

Wine (Bottle)

$5.87 ₦7,752

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₦1,639

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₦2,446

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 ₦467

$0.38 ₦505

-7.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.15 ₦42.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.59 ₦773

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.81 ₦1,073

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.92 ₦2,530

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.27 ₦360

$0.54 ₦712

-50.00%

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

$26.6K ₦35.1M

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

$17.8K ₦23.6M

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

$112 ₦147.9K

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

$7.83 ₦10.3K

$6.27 ₦8,284

24.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.02 ₦38.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.34 ₦48.0K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.11 ₦10.7K

$10.87 ₦14.4K

-25.39%

Cinema Ticket

$4.83 ₦6,375

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

$45.61 ₦60.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,087 ₦4.1M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.91 ₦26.3K

$25.48 ₦33.6K

-21.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.28 ₦24.1K

$60.2 ₦79.5K

-69.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$25.39 ₦33.5K

$78.8 ₦104.1K

-67.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.12 ₦33.2K

$106 ₦139.8K

-76.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,374 ₦1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 ₦590.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,314 ₦4.4M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,546 ₦2.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$690 ₦911.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$368 ₦485.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$170 ₦224.3K

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Abuja: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $4.00 in Maiduguri vs $30.00 in Abuja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $98.0 vs $217 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 533% in total monthly costs ($172 vs $1,087 including rent). Maiduguri is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $257 in Maiduguri and $1,630 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 $4.00 versus $30.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $172 per month in Maiduguri versus $1,087 in Abuja – a 533% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $172 in Maiduguri versus $1,087 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 533% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.