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 $907 per month in Port Harcourt vs $506 in Aba, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,490 per month in Port Harcourt vs $728 in Aba, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,073 per month in Port Harcourt vs $950 in Aba, rent included.

Port Harcourt costs about 79% more than Aba, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Port Harcourt and Aba are more affordable than the global median – Port Harcourt 32% lower, Aba 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 ₦3,774
$5.29 ₦7,289
-48.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.86 ₦48.0K
$10.45 ₦14.4K
233.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.00 ₦11.0K
$5.12 ₦7,051
56.25%
Cappuccino
$2.00 ₦2,754
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₦688
$0.41 ₦559
21.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 ₦682
$0.27 ₦375
85.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.21 ₦1,667
$1.01 ₦1,396
19.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ₦2,144
$1.33 ₦1,834
17.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
White Bread (500g)
$1.52 ₦2,091
$2.01 ₦2,769
-24.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.82 ₦3,883
$4.19 ₦5,764
-32.70%
Eggs
$2.20 ₦3,025
$2.47 ₦3,395
-10.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$1.56 ₦2,152
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
-
$5.51 ₦7,583
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 ₦2,792
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.93 ₦4,034
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 ₦2,703
$0.37 ₦513
429.73%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.98 ₦2,725
$0.54 ₦740
266.67%
Potato (1kg)
-
$1.31 ₦1,811
-
Onion (1kg)
-
$0.54 ₦750
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 ₦1,618
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49 ₦672
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$1.18 ₦1,629
-
Wine (Bottle)
$4.90 ₦6,749
$2.58 ₦3,550
89.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.11 ₦154
$0.54 ₦749
-79.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 ₦1,032
$0.51 ₦698
47.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.48 ₦667
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.63 ₦4,996
$2.02 ₦2,786
79.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.65 ₦890
$0.66 ₦912
-1.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.92 ₦17.8K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.42 ₦50.1K
$12.91 ₦17.8K
182.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.56 ₦9,039
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.48 ₦8,918
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$58.3 ₦80.3K
$89.2 ₦122.7K
-34.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,097 ₦1.5M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.31 ₦12.8K
$21.04 ₦29.0K
-55.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$10.41 ₦14.3K
$15.40 ₦21.2K
-32.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.4 ₦98.3K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.1 ₦91.0K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$486 ₦669.5K
$509 ₦700.2K
-4.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$611 ₦841.8K
$312 ₦429.5K
96.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,949 ₦2.7M
$790 ₦1.1M
146.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,171 ₦1.6M
$465 ₦639.9K
151.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Port Harcourt
Aba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$69.8 ₦96.1K
$21.25 ₦29.3K
228.38%

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

Last update for Port Harcourt: April 25, 2026

Last update for Aba: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $486 in Port Harcourt versus $509 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 228% higher in Port Harcourt, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Port Harcourt versus $10.00 in Aba. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $101 vs $93.0 – making Aba the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 79%, 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 $1,361 per month in Port Harcourt and $758 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 vs Aba?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $907 in Port Harcourt and $506 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 $58.3 per month in Port Harcourt and $89.2 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 $907 in Port Harcourt and $506 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.

Port Harcourt vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities