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: $443 in Benin versus $1,698 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $795 in Benin versus $2,805 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,147 in Benin versus $3,911 in Abuja.

Living in Benin costs roughly 74% less than in Abuja, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Benin is 67% below, Abuja is 26% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.52 ₦3,427

$2.05 ₦2,792

22.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.18 ₦66.9K

$44.38 ₦60.3K

10.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.46 ₦7,430

$5.48 ₦7,458

-0.36%

Cappuccino

$2.15 ₦2,923

$2.55 ₦3,470

-15.69%

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

$0.34 ₦461

$0.52 ₦701

-34.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ₦300

$0.41 ₦561

-46.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.85 ₦1,151

$1.11 ₦1,505

-23.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 ₦1,870

$1.15 ₦1,563

20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.25 ₦3,065

$3.14 ₦4,272

-28.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 ₦1,687

$1.26 ₦1,716

-1.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 ₦3,175

$2.46 ₦3,347

-5.28%

Eggs

$1.75 ₦2,386

$1.54 ₦2,094

13.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.42 ₦8,734

$5.17 ₦7,031

24.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.20 ₦5,712

$4.61 ₦6,270

-8.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.48 ₦7,449

$3.83 ₦5,207

43.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.49 ₦4,748

$3.05 ₦4,152

14.43%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 ₦2,756

$1.76 ₦2,388

15.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,010

$2.17 ₦2,945

1.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 ₦3,276

$1.77 ₦2,402

36.16%

Potato (1kg)

$2.39 ₦3,256

$2.06 ₦2,802

16.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.00 ₦2,718

$2.52 ₦3,433

-20.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.92 ₦2,612

$0.57 ₦775

236.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₦521

$0.29 ₦394

31.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.29 ₦1,758

$2.45 ₦3,337

-47.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.60 ₦3,536

$5.68 ₦7,720

-54.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₦857

$1.06 ₦1,439

-40.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₦1,198

$1.40 ₦1,909

-37.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 ₦868

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.20 ₦1,630

$0.87 ₦1,183

37.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.25 ₦3,059

$1.02 ₦1,388

120.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 ₦6,302

$4.23 ₦5,747

9.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 ₦982

$0.84 ₦1,139

-14.29%

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

$20.2K ₦27.4M

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

$20.6K ₦28.0M

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

$41.15 ₦56.0K

$30.68 ₦41.7K

34.13%

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

$10.16 ₦13.8K

$10.95 ₦14.9K

-7.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.79 ₦45.9K

$40.93 ₦55.6K

-17.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.64 ₦62.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.57 ₦14.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.37 ₦8,667

$8.46 ₦11.5K

-24.70%

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

$82.1 ₦111.6K

$133 ₦180.8K

-38.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,287 ₦3.1M

$1,986 ₦2.7M

15.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.21 ₦26.1K

$30.31 ₦41.2K

-36.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.49 ₦33.3K

$28.98 ₦39.4K

-15.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.8 ₦88.0K

$67.6 ₦91.9K

-4.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.7 ₦78.4K

$86.1 ₦117.1K

-33.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,414 ₦3.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,175 ₦1.6M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$5,508 ₦7.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,674 ₦3.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$366 ₦497.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$112 ₦152.6K

$164 ₦222.9K

-31.51%

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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Abuja: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Abuja pays 46% 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 $44.00 in Abuja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $190 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 284% in total monthly costs ($443 vs $1,698 including rent). Benin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Abuja earns 46% 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 $82.1 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 $44.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $443 in Benin versus $1,698 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 284% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.