Cost of Living Comparison Between Benin and Jos Cost of Living Comparison Between Benin and Jos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $441 per month in Benin vs $999 in Jos, rent included.

A couple spends around $809 per month in Benin vs $1,380 in Jos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,177 per month in Benin vs $1,762 in Jos, rent included.

Benin is about 56% cheaper than Jos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Benin and Jos are more affordable than the global median – Benin 67% lower, Jos 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Benin
Jos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.51 ₦3,417
$1.27 ₦1,735
97.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.30 ₦67.1K
$13.94 ₦19.0K
253.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.44 ₦7,402
$4.72 ₦6,422
15.25%
Cappuccino
$2.20 ₦2,989
$2.37 ₦3,233
-7.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 ₦454
$0.37 ₦510
-10.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22 ₦300
$0.25 ₦341
-12.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.80 ₦1,092
$0.71 ₦963
12.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 ₦1,961
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benin
Jos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.28 ₦3,104
$3.62 ₦4,923
-37.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 ₦1,638
$0.90 ₦1,221
33.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.22 ₦3,029
$3.30 ₦4,493
-32.73%
Eggs
$1.72 ₦2,337
$3.03 ₦4,130
-43.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.34 ₦8,627
$10.02 ₦13.7K
-36.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 ₦5,876
$5.05 ₦6,878
-14.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.32 ₦7,241
$4.56 ₦6,214
16.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.43 ₦4,675
$3.98 ₦5,416
-13.82%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 ₦2,873
$4.96 ₦6,753
-57.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 ₦2,948
$2.77 ₦3,771
-22.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 ₦3,141
$4.06 ₦5,529
-43.10%
Potato (1kg)
$2.37 ₦3,221
$2.21 ₦3,011
7.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 ₦2,631
$1.95 ₦2,654
-1.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 ₦2,704
$0.60 ₦819
231.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₦528
$0.77 ₦1,046
-49.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.27 ₦1,728
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$2.62 ₦3,568
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₦856
$0.75 ₦1,017
-16.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88 ₦1,199
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Benin
Jos
Difference
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.24 ₦1,683
$0.98 ₦1,341
26.53%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.26 ₦3,072
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.59 ₦6,248
$9.94 ₦13.5K
-53.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 ₦1,059
$0.96 ₦1,313
-18.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K ₦28.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K ₦28.4M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benin
Jos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.88 ₦57.0K
$101 ₦138.0K
-58.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.07 ₦13.7K
$10.03 ₦13.7K
0.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.35 ₦46.8K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benin
Jos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$39.42 ₦53.7K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$11.77 ₦16.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.29 ₦8,570
$8.93 ₦12.2K
-29.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benin
Jos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$84.5 ₦115.0K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,332 ₦3.2M
$1,009 ₦1.4M
131.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benin
Jos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.31 ₦26.3K
$9.86 ₦13.4K
95.84%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.64 ₦33.6K
$14.74 ₦20.1K
67.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.4 ₦89.1K
$49.83 ₦67.9K
31.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.6 ₦78.4K
$50.8 ₦69.2K
13.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benin
Jos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$700 ₦952.7K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$464 ₦631.5K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$875 ₦1.2M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$587 ₦798.9K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,013 ₦2.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,483 ₦2.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benin
Jos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$109 ₦148.1K
$67.3 ₦91.6K
61.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.33
0
-

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

Last update for Benin: June 2, 2026

Last update for Jos: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 62% higher in Benin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Benin versus $14.00 in Jos. Groceries tell a different story – $191 in Benin vs $246 in Jos – so Benin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Jos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Benin and Jos compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $441 in Benin, $999 in Jos – roughly 126% apart. Jos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Benin compared to Jos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $662 per month in Benin and $1,498 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 $49.00 in Benin and $14.00 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: Benin or Jos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $441 in Benin and $999 in Jos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Benin, where all-in costs run around $441, than in Jos at $999. In Benin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Benin or Jos?
Families tend to lean toward Benin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Benin or Jos safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Benin and Jos?
If budget matters most, go with Benin. 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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