Cost of Living Comparison Between Onitsha and Jos Cost of Living Comparison Between Onitsha and Jos
Monthly Cost of Living
A single person spends $0.79 per month in Onitsha vs $539 in Jos, rent included.
A couple spends around $1.00 per month in Onitsha vs $1,124 in Jos, rent included.
A family of three spends $1.95 per month in Onitsha vs $1,709 in Jos, rent included.
Onitsha is about 100% cheaper than Jos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
Both Onitsha and Jos are more affordable than the global median – Onitsha 100% lower, Jos 61% lower.
🍽 Eating Out
Onitsha
Jos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$2.13 ₦2,824
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$30.77 ₦40.9K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$4.69 ₦6,228
-
Cappuccino
-
$3.41 ₦4,536
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.51 ₦675
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.72 ₦958
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.02 ₦1,354
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.19 ₦2,907
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Onitsha
Jos
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
-
$3.71 ₦4,929
-
White Bread (500g)
-
$0.85 ₦1,127
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
-
$2.25 ₦2,990
-
Eggs
-
$1.82 ₦2,419
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$9.86 ₦13.1K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$4.91 ₦6,522
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$4.21 ₦5,599
-
Apples (1kg)
-
$1.98 ₦2,634
-
Banana (1kg)
-
$1.45 ₦1,930
-
Oranges (1kg)
-
$1.49 ₦1,981
-
Tomato (1kg)
-
$2.34 ₦3,105
-
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.81 ₦2,403
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$2.44 ₦3,245
-
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.55 ₦733
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.37 ₦498
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.97 ₦2,621
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$5.98 ₦7,940
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.18 ₦1,572
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.79 ₦2,376
-
🚌 Getting Around
Onitsha
Jos
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.20 ₦271
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.57 ₦764
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.85 ₦1,130
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$1.93 ₦2,569
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$0.54 ₦720
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$25.7K ₦34.1M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$18.2K ₦24.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Onitsha
Jos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$99.5 ₦132.2K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$6.42 ₦8,522
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$28.73 ₦38.2K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Onitsha
Jos
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$39.37 ₦52.3K
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$12.08 ₦16.1K
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.89 ₦6,495
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Onitsha
Jos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$45.71 ₦60.7K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$997 ₦1.3M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Onitsha
Jos
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$9.94 ₦13.2K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$15.16 ₦20.1K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$50.6 ₦67.2K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$50.9 ₦67.6K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Onitsha
Jos
Difference
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$568 ₦755.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$483 ₦641.3K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,033 ₦2.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,484 ₦2.0M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Onitsha
Jos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$98.8 ₦131.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
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 Jos: 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 Jos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Onitsha and in Jos compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $0.79 in Onitsha, $539 in Jos – roughly 68138% apart. Jos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Onitsha compared to Jos?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1.19 per month in Onitsha and $809 in Jos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How far does $1,000 go in Onitsha compared to Jos?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $0.79 in Onitsha and $539 in Jos, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Onitsha or Jos?
Families tend to lean toward Onitsha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Onitsha and Jos?
If budget matters most, go with Onitsha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.