Cost of Living Comparison Between Onitsha and Jos Cost of Living Comparison Between Onitsha and Jos

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $330 per month in Onitsha vs $999 in Jos, rent included.

A couple spends around $490 per month in Onitsha vs $1,380 in Jos, rent included.

A family of three spends $650 per month in Onitsha vs $1,762 in Jos, rent included.

Onitsha is about 67% cheaper than Jos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Onitsha and Jos are more affordable than the global median – Onitsha 75% lower, Jos 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.27 ₦1,735

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.94 ₦19.0K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 ₦6,422

Cappuccino

$2.37 ₦3,233

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

$0.37 ₦510

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₦341

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.71 ₦963

Milk (1 liter)

$3.62 ₦4,923

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 ₦3,748

$0.90 ₦1,221

205.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 ₦1,893

$3.30 ₦4,493

-57.88%

Eggs

$2.25 ₦3,057

$3.03 ₦4,130

-25.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 ₦13.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 ₦9,075

$5.05 ₦6,878

31.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.96 ₦9,482

$4.56 ₦6,214

52.63%

Apples (1kg)

$3.98 ₦5,420

$3.98 ₦5,416

Banana (1kg)

$4.96 ₦6,753

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ₦3,771

Tomato (1kg)

$3.07 ₦4,184

$4.06 ₦5,529

-24.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 ₦3,011

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 ₦2,654

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.60 ₦819

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 ₦957

$0.77 ₦1,046

-9.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$0.76 ₦1,037

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₦1,524

$0.75 ₦1,017

49.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₦495

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 ₦1,341

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.94 ₦13.5K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 ₦1,091

$0.96 ₦1,313

-16.67%

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

$11.0K ₦15.0M

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

$22.0K ₦29.9M

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

$40.72 ₦55.5K

$101 ₦138.0K

-59.82%

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

$10.03 ₦13.7K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.0 ₦73.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.22 ₦45.2K

$39.42 ₦53.7K

-15.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.77 ₦16.0K

Cinema Ticket

$8.36 ₦11.4K

$8.93 ₦12.2K

-6.38%

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

$93.9 ₦127.8K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,009 ₦1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.86 ₦13.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$14.74 ₦20.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.83 ₦67.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.8 ₦129.1K

$50.8 ₦69.2K

86.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 ₦1.1M

$700 ₦952.7K

16.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$464 ₦631.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,012 ₦2.7M

$875 ₦1.2M

129.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$587 ₦798.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,013 ₦2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,483 ₦2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$67.3 ₦91.6K

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

Last update for Onitsha: May 30, 2026

Last update for Jos: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $818 in Onitsha versus $700 in Jos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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

Monthly costs with rent: $330 in Onitsha, $999 in Jos – roughly 203% apart. Jos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $495 per month in Onitsha and $1,498 in Jos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Onitsha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $330 in Onitsha and $999 in Jos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 67% more in Jos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Onitsha, where all-in costs run around $330, than in Jos at $999. In Onitsha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.