Cost of Living Comparison Between Benin and Abuja Cost of Living Comparison Between Benin and Abuja

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $447 in Benin versus $1,650 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $812 in Benin versus $2,777 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,177 in Benin versus $3,905 in Abuja.

Living in Benin costs roughly 73% less than in Abuja, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Benin is 66% below, Abuja is 24% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.65 ₦3,612

$2.02 ₦2,760

31.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.12 ₦67.0K

$44.61 ₦60.9K

10.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.45 ₦7,432

$5.61 ₦7,652

-2.85%

Cappuccino

$2.18 ₦2,971

$2.56 ₦3,498

-14.84%

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

$0.34 ₦463

$0.50 ₦688

-32.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ₦301

$0.39 ₦526

-43.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.86 ₦1,168

$1.06 ₦1,444

-18.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₦1,969

$1.18 ₦1,612

22.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₦3,172

$3.12 ₦4,253

-25.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₦1,645

$1.30 ₦1,769

-6.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 ₦3,023

$2.41 ₦3,294

-7.88%

Eggs

$1.75 ₦2,385

$1.49 ₦2,030

17.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.19 ₦8,446

$5.12 ₦6,982

20.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.26 ₦5,818

$4.62 ₦6,306

-7.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.51 ₦7,518

$3.84 ₦5,244

43.49%

Apples (1kg)

$3.58 ₦4,881

$2.97 ₦4,046

20.54%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 ₦2,755

$1.70 ₦2,315

18.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,010

$2.16 ₦2,948

2.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₦3,294

$1.77 ₦2,414

36.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 ₦3,161

$2.04 ₦2,784

13.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 ₦2,630

$2.54 ₦3,470

-24.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 ₦2,615

$0.57 ₦775

236.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₦520

$0.31 ₦428

22.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.24 ₦1,697

$2.52 ₦3,438

-50.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.51 ₦3,419

$5.74 ₦7,824

-56.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 ₦936

$1.05 ₦1,438

-34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 ₦1,299

$1.45 ₦1,983

-34.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 ₦932

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₦1,637

$0.86 ₦1,171

39.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 ₦2,975

$1.04 ₦1,417

109.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.74 ₦6,461

$4.27 ₦5,821

11.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₦1,007

$0.83 ₦1,131

-10.84%

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

$20.0K ₦27.2M

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

$21.0K ₦28.6M

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

$42.23 ₦57.6K

$30.33 ₦41.4K

39.24%

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

$10.28 ₦14.0K

$11.03 ₦15.1K

-6.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.44 ₦47.0K

$41.89 ₦57.2K

-17.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.38 ₦61.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.65 ₦14.5K

Cinema Ticket

$6.31 ₦8,612

$8.22 ₦11.2K

-23.24%

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

$83.7 ₦114.1K

$133 ₦181.8K

-37.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,255 ₦3.1M

$1,974 ₦2.7M

14.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.41 ₦26.5K

$30.26 ₦41.3K

-35.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.78 ₦33.8K

$29.11 ₦39.7K

-14.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.4 ₦89.2K

$67.6 ₦92.2K

-3.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.1 ₦77.9K

$86.9 ₦118.5K

-34.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,445 ₦3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,158 ₦1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,503 ₦7.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,717 ₦3.7M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$700 ₦955.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$366 ₦499.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$110 ₦149.9K

$167 ₦228.1K

-34.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

22.5

-27.42%

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

Last update for Benin: July 26, 2026

Last update for Abuja: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Abuja pays 52% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $49.00 in Benin vs $45.00 in Abuja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $189 per month, with Abuja 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

Benin vs Abuja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Benin and Abuja differ by about 269% in total monthly costs ($447 vs $1,650 including rent). Benin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 52% lower in Abuja. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $83.7 in Benin versus $133 in Abuja. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Benin – a meal for two runs $49.00 versus $45.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $447 in Benin versus $1,650 in Abuja, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Benin but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Benin 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.

Safety-wise, Benin and Abuja are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Benin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 269% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.