How Much Does It Cost to Live In Nigeria?
Nigeria is a country in equatorial West Africa and the continent’s most populous nation.
Though at times very dangerous, Nigeria, in general, is one of the better places to be an ex-pat in Africa, only behind Kenya or South Africa.
Your expenses here will be determined by how extravagant or thrifty you choose to be.
Keep in mind that the country is currently experiencing a recession which means that the cost of living has gone up.
This is especially true if you’re a fan of imported products, or shopping predominantly in grocery shops/supermarkets, etc.
Nigeria : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
In Nigeria, you can get a meal (like pressed chicken, suya, pepper soup) from a street vendor or a local restaurant for 3-5$.
Of course, an expensive date at a fancy restaurant might amount to up to 50$ for two people, including drinks.
Keep in mind that, due to the current recession, imported beverages that are sold at bars or the usual hangout spots have doubled and in some instances tripled prices.
MARKETS
Current food prices are roughly 4-5$ for a larger tray of eggs (30 eggs), 2$ for around 5 pounds of potatoes and the same goes for a bucket of oranges.
A large pineapple would be around 2-3$.
Meat is a bit more, and most ex-pats in Nigeria shop at Shoprite, a South African-based grocery chain popular in this country.
TRANSPORTATION
Traffic isn’t a problem within major cities in Nigeria, but traveling outside the city can be tiresome due to congestion in some areas (Nyanya in particular), and you can expect potholes, checkpoints, and other hazards.
Gas/petrol is roughly 2$ per gallon.
Due to the low price of gas, there are occasional shortages.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities aren’t expensive in Nigeria.
If you live in a larger apartment (of about 85m2) all basic utilities like electricity, cooling, water, gas, and garbage services will cost you around 24$.
You may experience occasional water or electric shortages though usually apartments for rent almost certainly include generators.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Enjoying sports and fitness is always reserved for those who have some money to spare for these activities, and that’s why they’re always a bit more expensive.
A membership at a gym or a fitness club in Nigeria is approximately around 31$.
Going to the cinema isn’t too expensive, but with the low salaries in Nigeria – it isn’t cheap either – around 6$.
CLOTHING & SHOES
Shopping for clothes is ridiculously cheap in Nigeria, especially if you’re an ex-pat coming from a western country.
Quality jeans like Levi’s will cost you even less than 17$, quality running shoes from brands like Nike cost around 50$, while simpler pieces of clothing for summer like short dresses and shirts cost around 25$!
It’s not often that those shirts cost more than jeans!
RENT PER MONTH
Rent is really unusually expensive in a country like Nigeria.
If you’re looking for an apartment in the center of any of the major Nigerian cities, that will cost you a whopping 935.4$.
If you want to cut that a bit, you’ll have to opt for an apartment in the suburbs or the outskirts of these towns, and that will cost you around 550$.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Nigeria
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $1.52 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $0.87 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.24 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $2.82 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $1.18 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.83 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $0.44 |
| Monthly Pass | $21.78 |
| Gasoline | $0.37 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $23.51 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.04 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $47.00 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $30.8 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $6.81 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $6.21 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $16.98 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $24.9 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $57.3 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $935.4 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $550.10 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $2975.21 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Nigeria?
Rent is, without a doubt, the biggest expense for anyone in Nigeria.
While people in most other countries in the world spend approximately the same amount of money on rent and food, this is not the case in Nigeria.
Rent takes up almost 50% of the people’s salaries, while the other large 20% gets spent on food.
Other major expenses are transportation costs, utilities, and restaurants.
If you’re traveling to Nigeria, around 500$ should cover your basic monthly expenses (food, social life, a bit of shopping, and other expenses) even with the recession that is in effect right now.
Average Costs Breakdown
Nigeria: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Salaries are extremely low in Nigeria, especially taking into account how expensive the rent is.
The minimum wage in this country is only around 72.6$, which makes it virtually impossible to pay all expenses.
The average monthly net salary in Nigeria is also very low – only 157$, so people probably have a very hard time making ends meet.
With around 1000$ a month, you can live like a king here – buying new clothes, eating out, traveling on vacations abroad twice or more a year, and still saving money.
While many working Nigerians live on as little as 200-300$ a month, some live on far less.
Nigeria Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Nigeria Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: HIGH
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: HIGH
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: HIGH
- TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
- SCAMS RISK: HIGH
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: HIGH
Cost of Living by City in Nigeria
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Lagos | 33.33 |
Very Informative information. Got any updated on. Gahsnna
What about medical
How much itcost to live in ibadan
I currently live in Ibadan, and it’s super cheap to live comfortably in Ibadan. My monthly expenses including transportation is between 200-300$.
Does this cost include rent? How far is from lagos? is their good social life there?
Is this in Nigerian dollars so milk will cost 2.16 Nigerian dollars?
Nigeria prices
No. Milk is crazy high in Nigeria. That is US dollars
How much I need to have 3 month stay at osun State?
With less than 2,000 USD you will live comfortably for 3months like a king in Osun State
The info is contradicting, it said rent is 700 a month but if u are traveling to Nigeria 500 should b enough for food, transportation, shopping etc… But what about my shelter expenses?? Hotel? Apartment? So i would encourage someone to bring far more than 500 unless they will b living with someone there they know
rent is actually paid yearly, not monthly; so the $700 is for a whole year
How is minimum wage calculated? Monthly?
When purchasing an apartment do you have to pay a years rent at a time?
No. It's annually paid
Yes rental is collected annually. However, there are other accommodations expats can make with many owners.
This data is somewhat incorrect.
It did not say which city. Cost of living in Abuja, Lagos and Enugu not the same
Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) $ 26.55 . This is definitely more. say $40
No is not Nigerian $ . Nigerian currency is naira . And prices are in US $
Minimum wage and all salary is based on per month and paid monthly
When leasing an apartment rent is collected per annum . So yes you will pay entire year
I’m uncertain on cost for medical care but it’s best to always use a private hospital in Nigeria. Even there it will not be like the hospitals in the Western World. Payment is expected immediately.
Food prices is confusing.i see about 4 different prices for same food
Factor in Cost of hiring local domestic workers. That is if you decide to hire one or two during your long or short to handle household chores or run local errands for you.
This should set you back around $120- $500 depending on the age, experience and category of staff you will be hiring.
Nannies, Chefs, stewards etc
Try Coral Executive Agency, they’ll get you properly screened and documented workers, to help you hit the ground running once you arrive.
Cheers
I would love to know is there any apartment inside of any compound that cost is $3,000 a year I would love to know is there any apartment inside of any compound that causes $3,000 a year that consists of one Paulo two bedrooms a kitchen and bath and you have to use a pump to pump the water into the areas that need to be into can you tell me does anything like that exist for that kind of money and the reason why I’m asking because I have a wife that lives over there and she is telling me that our rent is going to cost us $3,000 this year and I was told that that is a lie can you confirm that for me please
Rent in Egbema, Nigeria?? How much is monthly??
My husband has been lying to me about prices too.. I found out by speaking to a Nigerian from that area. Today my husband called me for the rent and I told him I did not have it and I would have it in 2 weeks and he hung up on me after he said that’s too long to wait click bye he didn’t even say bye. I think he’s been scamming me for a year and a half. Every time he calls me lately for the last 6 weeks it’s only been for money. And he has been ghosting me and not available when I try to call him during his night evening hours. He’s probably cheating and has another woman there this is why he cannot answer the phone or call me for 12 to 16 hours a day and 20 to 40 hours on the weekend.
Good luck to you I don’t know how much you send your wife but I’m not sending my husband any more money. I’m in USA.
That’s sounds about right
Cost of Rent is very high
Hello Larry. She isn’t lying. Some places cost even higher than 3000 USD. It depends on the area. Just like the article says, rent is very high in Nigeria, most especially in cities like Abuja or Lagos
Your wife is not lying sir, it depends on the area she stays, some houses in lagos island cost more than 5000$ per year.like i said earlier it depends on your wife location and her taste..here in Nigeria you have to spend more if you want to live more comfortable life.
I’m an American yes there re lots places cheaper Google it
Hi Larry,
Rent prices in Nigeria vary by location there are areas where a house with these amenities would cost higher and in other areas it will cost lower.
So your wife is most likely telling the truth
She is telling the truth
Don’t believe any Nigerian asking for money FACT!
Why shouldn’t you believe anyone’s asking for money in Nigeria? Are you going’s too answer my question?
I would like to know if you send $$2,400 USD for someone in Nigeria can they rent a 1 bedroom flat can they furniture the apartment too from the same money?
Yes they can.
You can’t rent a house in Nigeria with $2400 in the city centre, but how ever you can get for such amount outskirt of the City in Abuja where I resides and much of the a very large extent. Cheers!
Stacey yes they can but it just depends on location. On the mainland in Lagos living in a slump you probably spend even lesser but leaving in a very comfortable environment like lekki phase 1 or 2 it’s almost impossible except you sharing with a friend or someone you are working with. An apartment in lekki cost between 5k$ to as high as 10k$ per annum.Electricity monthly is around 100$ if you are going to be using your air conditioning very often and I bet you would need the air condition to regularly because Nigeria is really Hot. And mostly importantly if you are going to be living in a gated Estate in lekki there is a monthly charge on service they provide such as security, garbage disposal,24hrs supply of electricity which is mostly run by Electric generators that runs on diesel or gas and you are charge around 200$ to 100$ depends on the area too and is excluding monthly electricity bill which the price as been stated previously.if you are not driving and planing to use Uber or Bolt then transportation a month should be around 300$ if you move frequently to different locations let’s say most is the tourist attraction in Lagos are on mainland and you live on the island then I’m pretty sure you move around within this distance you spend even more.
I am a typical Nigeria.. All this Info is so incorrect… Please make proper findings before you post stuff… .
Can you post the correct information ?
Yes, they can. Also depends on the location.. House rent is paid yearly in Nigeria. But recently the price of things is shooting higher.
We the peoples are sufering into each other.
Is there an extra charge on rents for security at gated compounds or is it included in rent that’s paid yearly
Stacey definitely yes 2400usd is a lot of money in Nigeria
Opinion of WARRI
Greetings! I am wondering about WARRI, is this a dangerous town to travel too as a white female american? I have a church that I communicate with and everyone is so wonderful! So I was just wondering what the city was like and any attractions worth note? any advice?
thank you so much!
melinda
I think it’s very important to mention that each state is different in Nigeria. Rent in Lagos is not the same as in Owerri or Bauchi. The most expensive place to live is lagos, followed closely by Abuja. If you’re coming to Lagos for pleasure, $500 will not be enough for monthly expenses unless you’re staying with a friend. The average hotel price per night is about $90.
I have several ways to move to Nigeria to live as an expat. My eyes are on Lagos or Abuja. Without a job, for the rest of my life I will 65KUSD the rest of my life. What can I expect?