Unless work calls for you to move to Nigeria, the country on the Gulf of Guinea is not a very popular destination for expats to settle.
But if you’ve already set your mind on relocating to Nigeria, you should at least know how much it costs to live there comfortably.
Single-person estimated monthly costs are $1,419, while a family of four could live comfortably on a $2,722 monthly budget. The average cost of living in Nigeria is 52% less expensive than in the United States.
The Nigerian cities Lagos and Abuja are ranked the most expensive cities to live in, ahead of major Europan cities like Berlin, London, and Barcelona. Contrary to that, Nigeria is ranked one of the poorest countries in the world.
The average salary after taxes in Nigeria is $176, making the cost of living 5.7 times more than the average salary.
How expensive is accommodation in Nigeria?
Rent for a decent apartment in Lagos and Abuja ranges from $1,700 to $11,000 a year. The price depends on the location, the number of rooms and the size of the accommodation.
On average, monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 sqft) furnished accommodation in an expensive area in the major cities of Nigeria is $1,326. You will pay $800 less if you live in a same-size apartment in the suburbs or not in a centrally located area.
If you are looking to buy property in Nigeria, you will need to budget around $1,200 per square meter.
How expensive is food in Nigeria?
Food in Nigeria can be really cheap if you eat where the locals do. A basic lunchtime menu in the business district of Lagos and Abuja is around $6. Surprisingly, fast food meal in Lagos and Abuja goes for roughly the same price.
Dinner for 2 in a decent restaurant will cost around $25,00.
If you were to buy your food in the supermarket, you’d save a great deal on food while in Nigeria. A kilogram (2 lb.) of potatoes in a farmer’s market in Nigeria is $2.92, 1 kilogram (2 lb.) of apples is $3.75 and a 500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast is $3.50.
As for the drinks, expect to pay $1.39 for 2 liters of Coca-Cola, $1 for 0.5l (16 oz) of imported beer and $8 for a bottle of good quality wine.
Coffee in Nigeria can be found for as little as $0.70.
How expensive is transportation in Nigeria?
Public transport in Nigeria is not widely popular nor safe. You will see ramshackle buses and improvisational motorbike taxis (okadas) everywhere, but they are not highly recommended as they are often risky.
In Nigeria, the average price for a bus journey within the city is around $1.4, while intercity journeys by bus cost approximately $8.6.
Taxis in some cities of Nigeria outnumber buses. The basic prices of a taxi ride are $1.60 per initial fare and $1.70 fare per kilometer. Uber and taxis are more popular means of transport in Nigeria.
Renting a car is also a convenient and affordable way to get around Nigeria. The prices for renting a car in Lagos and Abuja start at $6 a day.
