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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $922 in Port Harcourt versus $1,650 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,482 in Port Harcourt versus $2,777 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,041 in Port Harcourt versus $3,905 in Abuja.

Living in Port Harcourt costs roughly 44% less than in Abuja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Port Harcourt is 31% below, Abuja is 24% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.73 ₦3,720

$2.02 ₦2,760

35.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.62 ₦47.2K

$44.61 ₦60.9K

-22.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.05 ₦11.0K

$5.61 ₦7,652

43.49%

Cappuccino

$2.08 ₦2,831

$2.56 ₦3,498

-18.75%

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

$0.49 ₦669

$0.50 ₦688

-2.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₦638

$0.39 ₦526

20.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 ₦1,709

$1.06 ₦1,444

17.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₦2,179

$1.18 ₦1,612

35.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.12 ₦4,253

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ₦2,010

$1.30 ₦1,769

13.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.73 ₦3,726

$2.41 ₦3,294

13.28%

Eggs

$2.19 ₦2,990

$1.49 ₦2,030

46.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.12 ₦6,982

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.62 ₦6,306

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.84 ₦5,244

Apples (1kg)

$2.05 ₦2,802

$2.97 ₦4,046

-30.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.81 ₦3,834

$1.70 ₦2,315

65.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 ₦2,607

$2.16 ₦2,948

-11.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 ₦2,563

$1.77 ₦2,414

6.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 ₦2,784

Onion (1kg)

$2.54 ₦3,470

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₦1,681

$0.57 ₦775

115.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₦662

$0.31 ₦428

58.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 ₦3,438

Wine (Bottle)

$5.24 ₦7,142

$5.74 ₦7,824

-8.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₦1,438

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 ₦1,983

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 ₦153

$0.68 ₦932

-83.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.79 ₦1,080

$0.86 ₦1,171

-8.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.04 ₦1,417

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.54 ₦4,833

$4.27 ₦5,821

-17.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 ₦914

$0.83 ₦1,131

-19.28%

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

$30.33 ₦41.4K

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

$13.05 ₦17.8K

$11.03 ₦15.1K

18.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.89 ₦57.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.21 ₦49.4K

$45.38 ₦61.9K

-20.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.65 ₦14.5K

Cinema Ticket

$6.52 ₦8,894

$8.22 ₦11.2K

-20.68%

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

$58.6 ₦79.9K

$133 ₦181.8K

-56.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,120 ₦1.5M

$1,974 ₦2.7M

-43.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.74 ₦13.3K

$30.26 ₦41.3K

-67.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.26 ₦14.0K

$29.11 ₦39.7K

-64.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.6 ₦99.0K

$67.6 ₦92.2K

7.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.3 ₦91.8K

$86.9 ₦118.5K

-22.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$502 ₦684.6K

$2,445 ₦3.3M

-79.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 ₦819.5K

$1,158 ₦1.6M

-48.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,926 ₦2.6M

$5,503 ₦7.5M

-65.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,207 ₦1.6M

$2,717 ₦3.7M

-55.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$700 ₦955.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$366 ₦499.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$54.4 ₦74.3K

$167 ₦228.1K

-67.44%

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 Port Harcourt: July 26, 2026

Last update for Abuja: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $502 in Port Harcourt and $2,445 in Abuja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 207% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $35.00 in Port Harcourt vs $45.00 in Abuja for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $100 vs $189 per month, with Port Harcourt cheaper across the board.

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 Abuja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Port Harcourt and Abuja differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($922 vs $1,650 including rent). Port Harcourt is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 207% lower in Abuja. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $502 in Port Harcourt versus $2,445 in Abuja. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $58.6 in Port Harcourt versus $133 in Abuja. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Port Harcourt – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $45.00 in Abuja. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $922 in Port Harcourt versus $1,650 in Abuja, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Port Harcourt but tight or insufficient in Abuja. The gap between the two cities makes Port Harcourt 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 Port Harcourt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.