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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $916 per month in Port Harcourt vs $985 in Jos, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,479 per month in Port Harcourt vs $1,371 in Jos, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,043 per month in Port Harcourt vs $1,757 in Jos, rent included.

Port Harcourt is about 7% cheaper than Jos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Port Harcourt and Jos are more affordable than the global median – Port Harcourt 31% lower, Jos 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.81 ₦3,804

$1.32 ₦1,784

112.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.60 ₦48.3K

$14.17 ₦19.2K

151.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.09 ₦11.0K

$4.76 ₦6,458

69.96%

Cappuccino

$2.06 ₦2,792

$2.33 ₦3,163

-11.59%

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

$0.52 ₦707

$0.35 ₦472

48.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₦679

$0.23 ₦310

117.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 ₦1,697

$0.69 ₦941

81.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 ₦2,105

Milk (1 liter)

$3.60 ₦4,878

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 ₦1,989

$0.92 ₦1,249

59.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.86 ₦3,880

$3.27 ₦4,431

-12.54%

Eggs

$2.18 ₦2,958

$2.97 ₦4,022

-26.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.12 ₦13.7K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.92 ₦6,667

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.55 ₦6,174

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 ₦2,685

$4.12 ₦5,583

-51.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.82 ₦3,817

$5.14 ₦6,969

-45.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 ₦2,564

$2.69 ₦3,641

-29.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.89 ₦2,558

$4.03 ₦5,469

-53.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.28 ₦3,091

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 ₦2,633

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 ₦1,672

$0.61 ₦820

101.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₦724

$0.71 ₦965

-25.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.14 ₦6,965

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 ₦1,019

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.12 ₦169

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.74 ₦999

$1.01 ₦1,374

-26.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.68 ₦4,984

$10.18 ₦13.8K

-63.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 ₦910

$0.94 ₦1,278

-28.72%

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

$100 ₦136.1K

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

$12.77 ₦17.3K

$10.05 ₦13.6K

27.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.28 ₦47.8K

$40.07 ₦54.3K

-11.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.10 ₦16.4K

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 ₦8,495

$9.04 ₦12.3K

-30.64%

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

$58.1 ₦78.7K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,105 ₦1.5M

$1,018 ₦1.4M

8.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$9.46 ₦12.8K

$9.93 ₦13.5K

-4.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$10.34 ₦14.0K

$15.26 ₦20.7K

-32.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 ₦98.1K

$49.76 ₦67.5K

45.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 ₦90.7K

$51.0 ₦69.1K

31.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 ₦675.0K

$699 ₦948.0K

-28.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 ₦802.2K

$468 ₦634.3K

26.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,940 ₦2.6M

$860 ₦1.2M

125.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,196 ₦1.6M

$602 ₦816.3K

98.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,980 ₦2.7M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,503 ₦2.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$55.4 ₦75.1K

$68.8 ₦93.2K

-19.49%

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

Last update for Port Harcourt: June 14, 2026

Last update for Jos: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $498 in Port Harcourt versus $699 in Jos. 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 24% higher in Jos, 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 $36.00 in Port Harcourt versus $14.00 in Jos. Groceries tell a different story – $100 in Port Harcourt vs $247 in Jos – 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 Jos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $916 in Port Harcourt, $985 in Jos – roughly 8% apart. Jos costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,374 per month in Port Harcourt and $1,477 in Jos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Port Harcourt and $14.00 in Jos. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $916 in Port Harcourt and $985 in Jos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Harcourt, where all-in costs run around $916, than in Jos at $985. In Port Harcourt it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Port Harcourt – 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 Port Harcourt. 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.