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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $396 per month in Port Harcourt vs $960 in Lagos, rent included.

A couple spends around $818 per month in Port Harcourt vs $1,873 in Lagos, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,241 per month in Port Harcourt vs $2,785 in Lagos, rent included.

Port Harcourt is about 59% cheaper than Lagos, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Port Harcourt and Lagos are more affordable than the global median – Port Harcourt 71% lower, Lagos 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.05 ₦2,724

$3.74 ₦4,964

-45.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.50 ₦39.1K

$49.00 ₦65.0K

-39.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.87 ₦6,457

$7.51 ₦9,955

-35.15%

Cappuccino

$1.63 ₦2,161

$2.88 ₦3,818

-43.40%

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

$0.60 ₦800

$0.42 ₦553

42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₦796

$0.25 ₦334

140.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.45 ₦1,923

$0.98 ₦1,297

47.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₦3,882

$1.97 ₦2,614

48.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.64 ₦3,502

$3.17 ₦4,205

-16.72%

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 ₦1,281

$1.41 ₦1,867

-31.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.20 ₦4,239

$1.21 ₦1,604

164.46%

Eggs

$1.73 ₦2,291

$2.28 ₦3,018

-24.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.43 ₦4,551

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.91 ₦2,535

$3.80 ₦5,036

-49.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.50 ₦5,968

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 ₦3,208

$1.63 ₦2,163

48.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.27 ₦3,004

$1.25 ₦1,655

81.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 ₦2,392

$1.09 ₦1,441

65.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.96 ₦3,921

$1.33 ₦1,758

122.56%

Potato (1kg)

$2.27 ₦3,009

$1.37 ₦1,817

65.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 ₦1,921

$1.36 ₦1,798

6.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 ₦1,197

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 ₦896

$0.37 ₦490

83.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.57 ₦760

Wine (Bottle)

$5.18 ₦6,872

$2.58 ₦3,424

100.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₦955

$0.50 ₦669

44.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 ₦1,931

$0.46 ₦605

217.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 ₦565

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.34 ₦25.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.35 ₦468

$0.70 ₦931

-50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 ₦1,273

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 ₦2,946

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 ₦758

$0.84 ₦1,110

-32.14%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$11.2K ₦14.9M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$13.6K ₦18.0M

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

$30.19 ₦40.0K

$110 ₦146.3K

-72.64%

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

$3.71 ₦4,918

$16.11 ₦21.4K

-76.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.07 ₦42.5K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.26 ₦18.9K

$26.82 ₦35.6K

-46.83%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.67 ₦8,850

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 ₦5,199

$4.63 ₦6,135

-15.33%

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

$25.33 ₦33.6K

$672 ₦891.1K

-96.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$786 ₦1.0M

$20.2K ₦26.8M

-96.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$7.16 ₦9,491

$14.78 ₦19.6K

-51.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$11.69 ₦15.5K

$18.02 ₦23.9K

-35.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.66 ₦47.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$14.68 ₦19.5K

$47.67 ₦63.2K

-69.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$152 ₦201.3K

$715 ₦947.8K

-78.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$104 ₦138.3K

$424 ₦561.8K

-75.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,122 ₦1.5M

$2,808 ₦3.7M

-60.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 ₦645.5K

$1,483 ₦2.0M

-67.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,185 ₦4.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,622 ₦2.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$55.7 ₦73.9K

$119 ₦158.1K

-53.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.05

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

Last update for Port Harcourt: August 31, 2026

Last update for Lagos: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $152 in Port Harcourt versus $715 in Lagos. 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 114% higher in Lagos, 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 $30.00 in Port Harcourt versus $49.00 in Lagos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $148 vs $153 – making Port Harcourt 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 Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Lagos costs about 142% more than Port Harcourt, with the gap driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $594 per month in Port Harcourt and $1,441 in Lagos. 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 $30.00 in Port Harcourt and $49.00 in Lagos. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 3% more in Lagos, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Port Harcourt, where all-in costs run around $396, than in Lagos at $960. In Port Harcourt it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos 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, Lagos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.