Cost of Living Comparison Between Onitsha and Abuja Cost of Living Comparison Between Onitsha and Abuja

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $0.79 in Onitsha versus $1,121 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1.00 in Onitsha versus $2,034 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1.95 in Onitsha versus $2,947 in Abuja.

Living in Onitsha costs roughly 100% less than in Abuja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Onitsha 100% lower, Abuja 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 ₦2,947

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.30 ₦40.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.44 ₦5,904

Cappuccino

$3.33 ₦4,418

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

$0.51 ₦683

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₦945

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,417

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₦2,774

Milk (1 liter)

$3.62 ₦4,807

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ₦1,738

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₦2,888

Eggs

$1.88 ₦2,495

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 ₦14.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.39 ₦7,161

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.90 ₦7,843

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 ₦2,748

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₦1,896

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ₦2,008

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 ₦3,139

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₦2,403

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 ₦3,303

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ₦743

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₦494

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 ₦2,678

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 ₦7,586

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,586

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₦2,458

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ₦271

$0.36 ₦482

-44.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.36 ₦43.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 ₦823

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 ₦1,166

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₦2,489

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 ₦721

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

$25.8K ₦34.3M

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

$18.2K ₦24.2M

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

$111 ₦147.1K

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

$6.61 ₦8,780

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.79 ₦38.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.48 ₦48.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ₦14.7K

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 ₦6,619

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

$44.89 ₦59.6K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,151 ₦4.2M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.50 ₦33.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ₦80.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ₦103.0K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₦140.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,391 ₦1.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 ₦604.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,403 ₦4.5M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 ₦2.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$701 ₦930.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$380 ₦505.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 ₦218.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

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

Last update for Onitsha: September 15, 2026

Last update for Abuja: September 13, 2026

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

Onitsha vs Abuja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Onitsha and Abuja differ by about 141780% in total monthly costs ($0.79 vs $1,121 including rent). Onitsha is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1.19 in Onitsha and $1,681 in Abuja to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

At $0.79 in Onitsha versus $1,121 in Abuja, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Onitsha but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Onitsha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Onitsha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 141780% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.