Cost of Living Comparison Between Maiduguri and Jos Cost of Living Comparison Between Maiduguri and Jos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $172 per month in Maiduguri vs $536 in Jos, rent included.

A couple spends around $292 per month in Maiduguri vs $1,088 in Jos, rent included.

A family of three spends $412 per month in Maiduguri vs $1,640 in Jos, rent included.

Maiduguri is about 68% cheaper than Jos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Maiduguri and Jos are more affordable than the global median – Maiduguri 88% lower, Jos 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maiduguri
Jos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.53 ₦706
$2.19 ₦2,891
-75.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$3.79 ₦4,999
$29.90 ₦39.5K
-87.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$1.90 ₦2,508
$4.49 ₦5,925
-57.68%
Cappuccino
$0.93 ₦1,223
$3.43 ₦4,534
-72.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 ₦291
$0.54 ₦718
-59.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.19 ₦255
$0.71 ₦944
-73.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.03 ₦1,359
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.16 ₦2,849
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maiduguri
Jos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$3.74 ₦4,939
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 ₦1,355
$0.92 ₦1,220
11.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 ₦2,590
$2.27 ₦2,992
-13.66%
Eggs
$1.85 ₦2,437
$1.86 ₦2,462
-0.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$9.95 ₦13.1K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.88 ₦6,449
$4.99 ₦6,588
-2.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.04 ₦5,334
$4.05 ₦5,349
-0.25%
Apples (1kg)
$3.93 ₦5,188
$1.97 ₦2,605
99.49%
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.49 ₦1,972
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.46 ₦1,926
-
Tomato (1kg)
$0.99 ₦1,302
$2.33 ₦3,077
-57.51%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ₦2,002
$1.77 ₦2,340
-14.12%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 ₦1,343
$2.35 ₦3,106
-56.60%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 ₦551
$0.56 ₦735
-25.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.29 ₦378
$0.36 ₦480
-19.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.94 ₦2,566
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.85 ₦7,729
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.18 ₦1,558
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.84 ₦2,433
-
🚌 Getting Around
Maiduguri
Jos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 ₦467
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.63 ₦831
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.82 ₦1,080
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.92 ₦2,534
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.27 ₦360
$0.58 ₦771
-53.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$25.8K ₦34.1M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$18.4K ₦24.3M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maiduguri
Jos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$98.8 ₦130.4K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.83 ₦10.3K
$6.49 ₦8,566
20.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.45 ₦38.9K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maiduguri
Jos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$40.77 ₦53.8K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.11 ₦10.7K
$11.91 ₦15.7K
-31.91%
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.90 ₦6,476
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maiduguri
Jos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$45.50 ₦60.1K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$987 ₦1.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maiduguri
Jos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.91 ₦26.3K
$10.08 ₦13.3K
97.52%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.28 ₦24.1K
$15.25 ₦20.1K
19.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$25.39 ₦33.5K
$50.3 ₦66.4K
-49.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$25.12 ₦33.2K
$49.12 ₦64.9K
-48.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maiduguri
Jos
Difference
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$563 ₦743.2K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$494 ₦651.7K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,966 ₦2.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,470 ₦1.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maiduguri
Jos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$99.1 ₦130.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
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 Jos: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $4.00 in Maiduguri versus $30.00 in Jos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $204 – making Maiduguri 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
Maiduguri vs Jos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Maiduguri and in Jos compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $172 in Maiduguri, $536 in Jos – roughly 212% apart. Jos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Maiduguri compared to Jos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $257 per month in Maiduguri and $804 in Jos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $4.00 in Maiduguri and $30.00 in Jos. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Maiduguri or Jos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $172 in Maiduguri and $536 in Jos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $1,000 go in Maiduguri compared to Jos?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $172 in Maiduguri and $536 in Jos, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Maiduguri or Jos?
Families tend to lean toward Maiduguri – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Maiduguri and Jos?
If budget matters most, go with Maiduguri. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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