Cost of Living Comparison Between Nigeria and IndiaCost of Living Comparison Between Nigeria and India
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $524 in Nigeria versus $388 in India.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $875 in Nigeria versus $617 in India.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,225 in Nigeria versus $846 in India.
😐Living in Nigeria is roughly 35% more expensive than India on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Nigeria61% lower, India71% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nigeria
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.06₦2,801
$2.49₹237
-17.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.27₦43.9K
$14.20₹1,353
127.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.20₦7,078
$3.98₹379
30.65%
Cappuccino
$2.08₦2,834
$1.88₹179
10.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39₦533
$0.44₹41.98
-11.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25₦342
$0.19₹18.57
31.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.87₦1,185
$2.02₹192
-56.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26₦1,717
$3.45₹329
-63.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nigeria
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.78₦3,785
$0.72₹68.3
286.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22₦1,661
$0.52₹49.26
134.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.29₦3,117
$0.72₹68.7
218.06%
Eggs
$1.90₦2,585
$0.93₹88.8
104.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.92₦6,698
$5.24₹499
-6.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.30₦5,859
$3.07₹292
40.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.53₦6,169
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.45₦4,697
$2.17₹207
58.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04₦2,781
$0.76₹72.2
168.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64₦2,240
$1.05₹100
56.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.81₦2,465
$0.53₹50.7
241.51%
Potato(1kg)
$2.03₦2,767
$0.39₹37.53
420.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81₦2,468
$0.49₹46.81
269.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88₦1,196
$0.52₹49.35
69.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49₦671
$0.33₹31.13
48.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.28₦1,740
$4.05₹386
-68.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$2.51₦3,423
$7.39₹704
-66.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87₦1,179
$1.84₹175
-52.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08₦1,475
$2.90₹277
-62.76%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.65₹538
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nigeria
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53₦715
$0.36₹34.59
47.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.90₦46.2K
$9.74₹928
248.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87₦1,185
$0.95₹90.6
-8.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.73₦2,352
$0.30₹28.64
476.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.40₦5,992
$1.73₹165
154.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.71₦967
$1.23₹117
-42.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.9K₦23.0M
$13.9K₹1.3M
21.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0K₦30.0M
$22.6K₹2.2M
-2.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nigeria
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$29.90₦40.7K
$40.88₹3,894
-26.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.80₦13.3K
$3.91₹372
150.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.10₦42.3K
$7.81₹744
298.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nigeria
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.57₦43.0K
$16.15₹1,538
95.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.52₦11.6K
$7.49₹713
13.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.38₦8,694
$3.42₹326
86.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nigeria
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$74.2₦101.1K
$69.9₹6,660
6.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,644₦2.2M
$1,793₹170.8K
-8.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nigeria
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.12₦24.7K
$25.83₹2,460
-29.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.71₦36.4K
$26.61₹2,535
0.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$55.2₦75.1K
$45.24₹4,309
21.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.8₦77.4K
$33.68₹3,208
68.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nigeria
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$904₦1.2M
$178₹17.0K
407.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$580₦789.3K
$115₹10.9K
405.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,184₦3.0M
$407₹38.8K
436.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,177₦1.6M
$264₹25.1K
346.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,473₦3.4M
$1,240₹118.1K
99.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,051₦1.4M
$631₹60.1K
66.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nigeria
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$79.9₦108.8K
$432₹41.2K
-81.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.33
9.02
81.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nigeria: June 1, 2026
Last update for India: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $376 in Nigeria, $127 in India. Capital cities: $2,485 in Abuja vs $239 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $68.0 in Nigeria, $398 in India. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 196% higher in Nigeria.
⭐Dining out costs 136% more in Nigeria.
⭐Public transport is 29% more expensive in India.
⭐Salaries are 485% higher in India, giving India stronger purchasing power.
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
Nigeria vs India: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Nigeria?
At $576 per month in India and $850 in Nigeria, there's a 48% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
India is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Nigeria beats India across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in India or Nigeria?
In India, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Nigeria, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to India or Nigeria?
It depends on what you're after. India wins on affordability; Nigeria may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.