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Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Nigeria and India
For one person, living is cheaper in India: $399 a month against $750 in Nigeria, rent and utilities included – about $4,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Nigeria and in India actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $750 in Nigeria versus $399 in India.
Nigeria $750
India $399
Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,279 in Nigeria versus $639 in India.
Nigeria $1,279
India $639
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,807 in Nigeria versus $879 in India.
Nigeria $1,807
India $879
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Nigeria: monthly costs span $1 to $2,392, compared to $230–$813 in India. City choice carries more weight in Nigeria.
🌍
Living in Nigeria is roughly 88% more expensive than in India on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: Nigeria 45% lower, India 71% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Nigeria
India
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.85₦2,484
$2.14₹204
-13.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.70₦39.8K
$10.46₹995
183.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.37₦5,864
$3.80₹361
15.00%
Cappuccino
$2.41₦3,230
$1.68₹160
43.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33₦447
$0.38₹35.99
-13.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22₦295
$0.15₹14.60
46.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.84₦1,127
$1.87₹178
-55.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28₦1,716
$3.18₹303
-59.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nigeria
India
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.92₦3,912
$0.62₹59.2
370.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00₦1,343
$0.50₹47.76
100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49₦1,996
$0.63₹60.3
136.51%
Eggs
$1.67₦2,232
$0.96₹91.3
73.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.02₦8,067
$4.85₹461
24.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.44₦5,953
$2.84₹271
56.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.98₦5,330
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.38₦3,188
$2.00₹190
19.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31₦1,755
$0.65₹61.4
101.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.19₦1,593
$0.97₹92.3
22.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58₦2,117
$0.47₹44.30
236.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60₦2,146
$0.34₹31.87
370.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35₦1,811
$0.42₹39.73
221.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67₦893
$0.47₹44.39
42.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37₦490
$0.31₹29.67
19.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.72₦965
$5.08₹483
-85.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.92₦5,249
$7.31₹695
-46.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.68₦907
$1.63₹155
-58.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87₦1,164
$2.76₹262
-68.48%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.11₹486
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nigeria
India
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38₦510
$0.26₹24.86
46.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.71₦19.7K
$8.58₹816
71.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.58₦773
$1.00₹94.7
-42.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.06₦1,426
$0.27₹25.74
292.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.11₦2,831
$1.54₹146
37.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63₦841
$1.07₹102
-41.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.0K₦14.7M
$11.2K₹1.1M
-2.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K₦39.1M
$20.1K₹1.9M
45.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nigeria
India
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.2₦92.8K
$37.08₹3,527
86.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.08₦6,808
$3.58₹340
41.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.18₦29.7K
$7.15₹680
210.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nigeria
India
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.73₦26.4K
$15.00₹1,427
31.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.91₦9,257
$7.17₹682
-3.63%
Cinema Ticket
$4.51₦6,051
$3.20₹304
40.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nigeria
India
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$63.7₦85.4K
$58.8₹5,592
8.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,124₦5.5M
$1,667₹158.5K
147.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nigeria
India
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.68₦17.0K
$23.03₹2,191
-44.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.21₦25.7K
$24.17₹2,299
-20.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$34.96₦46.9K
$41.20₹3,918
-15.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$36.74₦49.2K
$29.62₹2,817
24.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nigeria
India
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$484₦649.0K
$146₹13.9K
230.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$327₦437.6K
$96.4₹9,165
238.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,462₦2.0M
$343₹32.6K
326.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$827₦1.1M
$234₹22.2K
253.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,624₦3.5M
$1,177₹111.9K
122.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,173₦1.6M
$633₹60.2K
85.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nigeria
India
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$90.1₦120.8K
$409₹38.9K
-77.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.8
8.93
99.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nigeria: October 25, 2026
Last update for India: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Nigeria
$327 43.5%
India
$96 24.1% ↓ 70.5%$230
🛒Groceries & Markets
Nigeria
$164 21.9%
India
$102 25.6% ↓ 37.7%$62
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nigeria
$96 12.9%
India
$48 12% ↓ 50.4%$49
🍽Eating Out
Nigeria
$66 8.8%
India
$67 16.7% ↑ 1%$0.7
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Nigeria
$47 6.2%
India
$53 13.3% ↑ 13.9%$6.5
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Nigeria
$29 3.8%
India
$21 5.4% ↓ 25.6%$7.4
🚌Getting Around
Nigeria
$22 3%
India
$12 3% ↓ 45.8%$10
🏠Accommodation & Living
Nigeria
$827 45.8%
India
$234 26.6% ↓ 71.7%$594
🛒Groceries & Markets
Nigeria
$388 21.5%
India
$220 25.1% ↓ 43.2%$168
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nigeria
$102 5.6%
India
$51 5.9% ↓ 49.4%$50
🍽Eating Out
Nigeria
$277 15.3%
India
$181 20.6% ↓ 34.6%$96
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Nigeria
$104 5.7%
India
$118 13.4% ↑ 13.9%$14
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Nigeria
$64 3.6%
India
$50 5.7% ↓ 22.5%$14
🚌Getting Around
Nigeria
$45 2.5%
India
$24 2.8% ↓ 45.6%$21
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $698 in Nigeria, $120 in India. Capital cities: $589 in Abuja vs $277 in Delhi.
💰National salary averages: $80 in Nigeria, $412 in India. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 482% higher in Nigeria.
⭐Dining out costs 218% more in Nigeria.
⭐Public transport is 163% more expensive in Nigeria.
⭐Salaries are about 5.2 times higher in India, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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 $399 per month in India and $750 in Nigeria, there’s a 88% 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?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $698 in Nigeria and $120 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Should I move to India or to 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.