Cost of Living Comparison Between Nigeria and South Africa Cost of Living Comparison Between Nigeria and South Africa

🙂 Solo nomad: Nigeria is 23.4% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 2% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Nigeria is 21.9% cheaper than South Africa without rent, and 3.8% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nigeria
South Africa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.97 ₦3,030
$9.05 R 161
-78.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.54 ₦50K
$38.84 R 691
-16.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.47 ₦8,408
$4.9 R 87.1
11.63%
Cappuccino
$2.04 ₦3,141
$1.98 R 35.28
3.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.4 ₦607
$0.96 R 17.06
-58.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 ₦385
$0.75 R 13.31
-66.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.85 ₦1,300
$2.18 R 38.72
-61.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 ₦1,948
$2.54 R 45.1
-50.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nigeria
South Africa
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.68 ₦4,112
$1.1 R 19.58
143.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 ₦1,942
$1.03 R 18.32
22.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.37 ₦3,640
$1.56 R 27.71
51.92%
Eggs
$1.81 ₦2,780
$2.25 R 39.93
-19.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.95 ₦7,608
$7.67 R 136
-35.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.47 ₦6,878
$4.62 R 82.2
-3.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.34 ₦6,667
$6.86 R 122
-36.73%
Apples (1kg)
$3.4 ₦5,232
$1.58 R 28.02
115.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 ₦3,040
$1.42 R 25.3
39.44%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 ₦2,621
$1.44 R 25.58
18.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.85 ₦2,845
$1.49 R 26.5
24.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 ₦3,193
$1.25 R 22.16
66.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 ₦2,734
$1.34 R 23.81
32.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 ₦1,349
$1.09 R 19.31
-19.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.5 ₦771
$0.96 R 17.15
-47.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.26 ₦1,937
$2.9 R 51.6
-56.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$3.96 ₦6,082
$5.07 R 90.3
-21.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₦1,429
$1.38 R 24.49
-32.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.1 ₦1,688
$1.68 R 29.79
-34.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Nigeria
South Africa
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 ₦822
$1.71 R 30.47
-69.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.88 ₦52.1K
$45.01 R 801
-24.73%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.88 ₦1,347
$1.1 R 19.61
-20.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.72 ₦2,645
$1.09 R 19.41
57.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.43 ₦6,801
$4.8 R 85.3
-7.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.71 ₦1,099
$1.31 R 23.23
-45.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.3K ₦25M
$21K R 374.2K
-22.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K ₦34.1M
$23.7K R 421.3K
-6.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nigeria
South Africa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$29.92 ₦46K
$113 R 2,009
-73.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95 ₦15.3K
$33.11 R 589
-69.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.87 ₦47.4K
$41.49 R 738
-25.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nigeria
South Africa
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.66 ₦48.7K
$31.69 R 564
-0.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.41 ₦12.9K
$9.45 R 168
-11.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.6 ₦10.1K
$6.7 R 119
-1.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nigeria
South Africa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$76 ₦116.9K
$186 R 3,303
-59.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,639 ₦2.5M
$4,336 R 77.1K
-62.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nigeria
South Africa
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.18 ₦27.9K
$48.56 R 864
-62.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.3 ₦42K
$30.74 R 547
-11.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.5 ₦83.8K
$92 R 1,636
-40.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$56.3 ₦86.6K
$79.6 R 1,415
-29.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nigeria
South Africa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$915 ₦1.4M
$442 R 7,860
106.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$590 ₦906.2K
$370 R 6,579
59.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,194 ₦3.4M
$880 R 15.7K
149.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,210 ₦1.9M
$724 R 12.9K
67.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,520 ₦2.3M
$1,021 R 18.2K
48.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,314 ₦2M
$803 R 14.3K
63.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nigeria
South Africa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$116 ₦177.7K
$1,406 R 25K
-91.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
16.33
11.55
41.39%

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

Last update for Nigeria: October 28, 2025

Last update for South Africa: October 29, 2025

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