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: $907 in Port Harcourt versus $1,687 in Abuja.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,490 in Port Harcourt versus $2,850 in Abuja.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,073 in Port Harcourt versus $4,012 in Abuja.

Living in Port Harcourt costs roughly 46% less than in Abuja, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Port Harcourt is 32% below, Abuja is 26% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.74 ₦3,774

$2.04 ₦2,812

34.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.86 ₦48.0K

$44.83 ₦61.7K

-22.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.00 ₦11.0K

$5.70 ₦7,846

40.35%

Cappuccino

$2.00 ₦2,754

$2.54 ₦3,501

-21.26%

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

$0.50 ₦688

$0.55 ₦760

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₦682

$0.42 ₦573

19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.21 ₦1,667

$1.07 ₦1,478

13.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 ₦2,144

$1.19 ₦1,639

31.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.03 ₦4,179

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 ₦2,091

$1.25 ₦1,725

21.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.82 ₦3,883

$2.51 ₦3,457

12.35%

Eggs

$2.20 ₦3,025

$1.50 ₦2,072

46.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.30 ₦7,292

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.60 ₦6,335

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.94 ₦5,429

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 ₦2,792

$3.07 ₦4,223

-33.88%

Banana (1kg)

$2.93 ₦4,034

$1.77 ₦2,442

65.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.96 ₦2,703

$2.19 ₦3,009

-10.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.98 ₦2,725

$1.74 ₦2,398

13.79%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 ₦2,967

Onion (1kg)

$2.53 ₦3,486

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 ₦1,618

$0.61 ₦835

91.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 ₦672

$0.29 ₦395

68.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 ₦3,390

Wine (Bottle)

$4.90 ₦6,749

$7.09 ₦9,760

-30.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 ₦1,518

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 ₦1,964

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.11 ₦154

$0.64 ₦883

-82.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.75 ₦1,032

$0.91 ₦1,247

-17.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 ₦1,408

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.63 ₦4,996

$4.29 ₦5,901

-15.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 ₦890

$0.77 ₦1,060

-15.58%

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

$30.29 ₦41.7K

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

$12.92 ₦17.8K

$10.91 ₦15.0K

18.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.37 ₦58.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.42 ₦50.1K

$43.96 ₦60.5K

-17.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.60 ₦14.6K

Cinema Ticket

$6.48 ₦8,918

$8.26 ₦11.4K

-21.55%

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

$58.3 ₦80.3K

$132 ₦181.5K

-55.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,097 ₦1.5M

$1,979 ₦2.7M

-44.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.31 ₦12.8K

$29.71 ₦40.9K

-68.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.41 ₦14.3K

$29.33 ₦40.4K

-64.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.4 ₦98.3K

$68.0 ₦93.7K

4.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.1 ₦91.0K

$85.3 ₦117.4K

-22.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$486 ₦669.5K

$2,487 ₦3.4M

-80.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 ₦841.8K

$1,147 ₦1.6M

-46.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,949 ₦2.7M

$5,558 ₦7.7M

-64.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,171 ₦1.6M

$2,731 ₦3.8M

-57.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,141 ₦1.6M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,125 ₦1.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$69.8 ₦96.1K

$285 ₦392.1K

-75.50%

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Abuja: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $486 in Port Harcourt and $2,487 in Abuja. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Abuja pays 308% 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 $101 vs $193 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 86% in total monthly costs ($907 vs $1,687 including rent). Port Harcourt is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Abuja earns 308% less. 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: $486 in Port Harcourt versus $2,487 in Abuja. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $58.3 in Port Harcourt versus $132 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 $907 in Port Harcourt versus $1,687 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 86% less than in Abuja. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.