Cost of Living Comparison Between Benin and Lagos Cost of Living Comparison Between Benin and Lagos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $441 per month in Benin vs $1,123 in Lagos, rent included.

A couple spends around $809 per month in Benin vs $1,882 in Lagos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,177 per month in Benin vs $2,641 in Lagos, rent included.

Benin is about 61% cheaper than Lagos, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Benin and Lagos are more affordable than the global median – Benin 67% lower, Lagos 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.51 ₦3,417

$2.61 ₦3,551

-3.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.30 ₦67.1K

$49.01 ₦66.7K

0.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 ₦7,402

$5.28 ₦7,193

3.03%

Cappuccino

$2.20 ₦2,989

$2.17 ₦2,955

1.38%

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

$0.33 ₦454

$0.36 ₦492

-8.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ₦300

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.80 ₦1,092

$0.79 ₦1,078

1.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 ₦1,961

$1.39 ₦1,897

3.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.28 ₦3,104

$2.34 ₦3,183

-2.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 ₦1,638

$1.25 ₦1,698

-4.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 ₦3,029

$2.23 ₦3,037

-0.45%

Eggs

$1.72 ₦2,337

$1.68 ₦2,287

2.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.34 ₦8,627

$6.15 ₦8,375

3.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 ₦5,876

$4.29 ₦5,844

0.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.32 ₦7,241

$5.25 ₦7,154

1.33%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 ₦4,675

$3.48 ₦4,742

-1.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 ₦2,873

$2.06 ₦2,801

2.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,948

$2.21 ₦3,011

-2.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.31 ₦3,141

$2.28 ₦3,105

1.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.37 ₦3,221

$2.40 ₦3,271

-1.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 ₦2,631

$2.02 ₦2,753

-4.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.99 ₦2,704

$2.02 ₦2,746

-1.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₦528

$0.39 ₦529

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.27 ₦1,728

$1.27 ₦1,727

Wine (Bottle)

$2.62 ₦3,568

$2.49 ₦3,397

5.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 ₦856

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₦1,199

$0.88 ₦1,196

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 ₦934

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.96 ₦50.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 ₦1,683

$1.25 ₦1,702

-0.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 ₦3,072

$2.24 ₦3,048

0.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 ₦6,248

$4.68 ₦6,368

-1.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 ₦1,059

$0.79 ₦1,070

-1.27%

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

$20.7K ₦28.2M

$20.2K ₦27.5M

2.72%

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

$20.9K ₦28.4M

$20.7K ₦28.2M

0.66%

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

$41.88 ₦57.0K

$41.11 ₦56.0K

1.87%

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

$10.07 ₦13.7K

$10.16 ₦13.8K

-0.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.35 ₦46.8K

$33.75 ₦46.0K

1.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.68 ₦41.8K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.80 ₦17.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.29 ₦8,570

$6.30 ₦8,577

-0.16%

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

$84.5 ₦115.0K

$84.5 ₦115.1K

-0.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,332 ₦3.2M

$2,314 ₦3.2M

0.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.31 ₦26.3K

$19.07 ₦26.0K

1.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.64 ₦33.6K

$24.51 ₦33.4K

0.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.4 ₦89.1K

$65.0 ₦88.5K

0.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.6 ₦78.4K

$57.7 ₦78.5K

-0.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 ₦1.5M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 ₦861.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,746 ₦3.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,347 ₦1.8M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,278 ₦4.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,622 ₦2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$109 ₦148.1K

$116 ₦158.0K

-6.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

16.33

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

Last update for Benin: June 2, 2026

Last update for Lagos: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 7% higher in Lagos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Benin versus $49.00 in Lagos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $191 – making Benin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lagos costs about 154% more than Benin, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $662 per month in Benin and $1,685 in Lagos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Benin and $49.00 in Lagos. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Lagos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Benin, where all-in costs run around $441, than in Lagos at $1,123. In Benin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Benin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lagos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.