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: $452 in Benin versus $1,687 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $810 in Benin versus $2,850 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,169 in Benin versus $4,012 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 26% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.52 ₦3,471

$2.04 ₦2,812

23.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 ₦69.9K

$44.83 ₦61.7K

13.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.43 ₦7,475

$5.70 ₦7,846

-4.74%

Cappuccino

$2.21 ₦3,045

$2.54 ₦3,501

-12.99%

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

$0.36 ₦496

$0.55 ₦760

-34.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 ₦275

$0.42 ₦573

-52.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.84 ₦1,163

$1.07 ₦1,478

-21.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₦1,906

$1.19 ₦1,639

15.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.23 ₦3,076

$3.03 ₦4,179

-26.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 ₦1,719

$1.25 ₦1,725

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 ₦3,067

$2.51 ₦3,457

-11.16%

Eggs

$1.78 ₦2,449

$1.50 ₦2,072

18.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.20 ₦8,536

$5.30 ₦7,292

16.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.17 ₦5,737

$4.60 ₦6,335

-9.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.34 ₦7,351

$3.94 ₦5,429

35.53%

Apples (1kg)

$3.60 ₦4,955

$3.07 ₦4,223

17.26%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 ₦2,882

$1.77 ₦2,442

18.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 ₦2,887

$2.19 ₦3,009

-4.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.40 ₦3,298

$1.74 ₦2,398

37.93%

Potato (1kg)

$2.34 ₦3,217

$2.16 ₦2,967

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 ₦2,650

$2.53 ₦3,486

-24.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 ₦2,677

$0.61 ₦835

218.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₦485

$0.29 ₦395

20.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.24 ₦1,714

$2.46 ₦3,390

-49.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$3.15 ₦4,338

$7.09 ₦9,760

-55.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₦931

$1.10 ₦1,518

-38.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 ₦1,226

$1.43 ₦1,964

-37.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦883

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ₦1,695

$0.91 ₦1,247

35.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.18 ₦3,001

$1.02 ₦1,408

113.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 ₦6,438

$4.29 ₦5,901

9.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₦1,024

$0.77 ₦1,060

-3.90%

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

$20.7K ₦28.5M

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

$20.8K ₦28.6M

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

$41.78 ₦57.5K

$30.29 ₦41.7K

37.93%

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

$10.22 ₦14.1K

$10.91 ₦15.0K

-6.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.62 ₦47.7K

$42.37 ₦58.3K

-18.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$43.96 ₦60.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.60 ₦14.6K

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 ₦8,508

$8.26 ₦11.4K

-25.18%

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

$82.2 ₦113.1K

$132 ₦181.5K

-37.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,304 ₦3.2M

$1,979 ₦2.7M

16.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.56 ₦26.9K

$29.71 ₦40.9K

-34.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.13 ₦34.6K

$29.33 ₦40.4K

-14.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.3 ₦88.5K

$68.0 ₦93.7K

-5.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.1 ₦78.7K

$85.3 ₦117.4K

-33.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,487 ₦3.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 ₦1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,558 ₦7.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,731 ₦3.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,141 ₦1.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,125 ₦1.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$113 ₦155.4K

$285 ₦392.1K

-60.37%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Abuja: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Abuja pays 152% 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: $51.0 in Benin vs $45.00 in Abuja. Groceries flip the comparison at $192 vs $193, with Benin cheaper for home cooking.

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 273% in total monthly costs ($452 vs $1,687 including rent). Benin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Abuja earns 152% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $82.2 in Benin versus $132 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 $51.0 versus $45.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $452 in Benin versus $1,687 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 273% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.