Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Harcourt and Aba Cost of Living Comparison Between Port Harcourt and Aba

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $916 per month in Port Harcourt vs $515 in Aba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,479 per month in Port Harcourt vs $733 in Aba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,043 per month in Port Harcourt vs $951 in Aba, rent included.

Port Harcourt costs about 78% more than Aba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Port Harcourt and Aba are more affordable than the global median – Port Harcourt 31% lower, Aba 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.81 ₦3,811
$5.28 ₦7,168
-46.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.60 ₦48.3K
$10.41 ₦14.1K
241.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.09 ₦11.0K
$5.04 ₦6,843
60.52%
Cappuccino
$2.06 ₦2,798
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₦708
$0.37 ₦506
40.54%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₦681
$0.27 ₦370
85.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.25 ₦1,701
$1.02 ₦1,392
22.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ₦2,109
$1.27 ₦1,729
22.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
White Bread (500g)
$1.47 ₦1,993
$2.05 ₦2,779
-28.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.86 ₦3,888
$4.03 ₦5,471
-29.03%
Eggs
$2.18 ₦2,964
$2.44 ₦3,317
-10.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$1.58 ₦2,142
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$5.43 ₦7,372
-
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 ₦2,690
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.82 ₦3,824
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 ₦2,568
$0.38 ₦514
397.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.89 ₦2,563
$0.50 ₦682
278.00%
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.26 ₦1,714
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$0.54 ₦734
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.23 ₦1,675
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₦726
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.16 ₦1,573
-
Wine (Bottle)
$5.14 ₦6,978
$7.28 ₦9,882
-29.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.12 ₦170
$0.50 ₦677
-76.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 ₦1,001
$0.50 ₦677
48.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.45 ₦609
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.68 ₦4,993
$2.05 ₦2,778
79.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.67 ₦912
$0.63 ₦862
6.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.77 ₦17.4K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$35.28 ₦47.9K
$12.91 ₦17.5K
173.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.55 ₦8,891
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 ₦8,512
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$58.1 ₦78.9K
$91.3 ₦124.0K
-36.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,105 ₦1.5M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.46 ₦12.9K
$20.37 ₦27.7K
-53.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$10.34 ₦14.0K
$15.85 ₦21.5K
-34.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.4 ₦98.3K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.9 ₦90.9K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$498 ₦676.2K
$519 ₦704.9K
-4.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$592 ₦803.7K
$311 ₦422.2K
90.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,940 ₦2.6M
$787 ₦1.1M
146.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,196 ₦1.6M
$460 ₦624.4K
160.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,054 ₦1.4M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$463 ₦629.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$55.4 ₦75.2K
$96.7 ₦131.3K
-42.74%

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

Last update for Port Harcourt: June 14, 2026

Last update for Aba: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $498 in Port Harcourt versus $519 in Aba. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 75% higher in Aba, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Port Harcourt versus $10.00 in Aba. Groceries tell a different story – $100 in Port Harcourt vs $102 in Aba – so Port Harcourt wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Port Harcourt vs Aba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aba cheaper than Port Harcourt?
Yes – Port Harcourt is pricier by about 78%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,374 per month in Port Harcourt and $773 in Aba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Port Harcourt and in Aba?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $916 in Port Harcourt and $515 in Aba. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $58.1 per month in Port Harcourt and $91.3 in Aba. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Port Harcourt or Aba?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $916 in Port Harcourt and $515 in Aba, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Port Harcourt or Aba more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Aba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Aba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Port Harcourt makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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