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: $445 in Benin versus $1,121 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $755 in Benin versus $2,034 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,065 in Benin versus $2,947 in Abuja.

Living in Benin costs roughly 60% less than in Abuja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Benin 67% lower, Abuja 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.37 ₦1,823

$2.22 ₦2,947

-38.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.55 ₦65.8K

$30.30 ₦40.2K

63.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.60 ₦7,443

$4.44 ₦5,904

26.13%

Cappuccino

$2.89 ₦3,842

$3.33 ₦4,418

-13.21%

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

$0.27 ₦356

$0.51 ₦683

-47.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 ₦228

$0.71 ₦945

-76.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 ₦1,286

$1.07 ₦1,417

-9.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 ₦1,298

$2.09 ₦2,774

-53.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.23 ₦4,294

$3.62 ₦4,807

-10.77%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 ₦1,036

$1.31 ₦1,738

-40.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 ₦1,671

$2.17 ₦2,888

-41.94%

Eggs

$2.28 ₦3,030

$1.88 ₦2,495

21.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.56 ₦4,729

$11.16 ₦14.8K

-68.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.01 ₦5,325

$5.39 ₦7,161

-25.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.56 ₦6,057

$5.90 ₦7,843

-22.71%

Apples (1kg)

$1.72 ₦2,291

$2.07 ₦2,748

-16.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 ₦1,701

$1.43 ₦1,896

-10.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.11 ₦1,472

$1.51 ₦2,008

-26.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 ₦1,760

$2.36 ₦3,139

-44.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ₦1,772

$1.81 ₦2,403

-26.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 ₦1,797

$2.49 ₦3,303

-45.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ₦1,140

$0.56 ₦743

53.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₦489

$0.37 ₦494

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.60 ₦791

$2.02 ₦2,678

-70.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.57 ₦3,415

$5.71 ₦7,586

-54.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₦662

$1.19 ₦1,586

-57.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₦657

$1.85 ₦2,458

-73.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₦482

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.36 ₦43.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.69 ₦920

$0.62 ₦823

11.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 ₦1,212

$0.88 ₦1,166

3.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.21 ₦2,931

$1.87 ₦2,489

18.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 ₦952

$0.54 ₦721

33.33%

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

$11.3K ₦15.0M

$25.8K ₦34.3M

-56.39%

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

$13.5K ₦17.9M

$18.2K ₦24.2M

-25.73%

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

$111 ₦146.9K

$111 ₦147.1K

-0.10%

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

$16.20 ₦21.5K

$6.61 ₦8,780

145.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.13 ₦44.0K

$28.79 ₦38.2K

15.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.48 ₦48.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ₦14.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.68 ₦6,222

$4.98 ₦6,619

-6.02%

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

$662 ₦879.2K

$44.89 ₦59.6K

1374.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$19.9K ₦26.4M

$3,151 ₦4.2M

531.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.74 ₦19.6K

$25.50 ₦33.9K

-42.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.95 ₦23.8K

$60.6 ₦80.5K

-70.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.93 ₦47.7K

$77.5 ₦103.0K

-53.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$47.96 ₦63.7K

$106 ₦140.6K

-54.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,391 ₦1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 ₦604.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,403 ₦4.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 ₦2.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$701 ₦930.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$380 ₦505.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$115 ₦152.2K

$165 ₦218.9K

-30.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.05

22.5

-19.78%

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

Last update for Benin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Abuja: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Abuja pays 44% 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: $50.0 in Benin vs $30.00 in Abuja. Groceries flip the comparison at $149 vs $219, 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 152% in total monthly costs ($445 vs $1,121 including rent). Benin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 44% 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 $662 in Benin versus $44.89 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 $50.0 versus $30.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $445 in Benin versus $1,121 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 152% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.