Living in Nigeria is almost always a tale of 2 sides with the middle points rapidly disappearing. You are either rich or poor, educated or illiterate, and so on. The same thing with the cost of living in Nigerian cities. While some are astronomically high, others are stupendously cheap. We profile, in no particular order, 4 of the most expensive cities in the country to live in Nigeria, according to Expatistan.
Enugu
The coal city is labelled as one of the most expensive places to live and for good reason. Monthly rent for a 45 m2 (480 Sqft) furnished studio in expensive area cost about N800,000 while utility bills for 2 people living in a flat of that size will gulp another N20,000 monthly on the average. 12 large eggs cost N550 on the average while you’ll have to drop N2, 500 to enjoy a bottle of good quality red wine. A 15-minute consultation with the doctor costs around N2, 750.
Lagos
Of course, we all saw this coming. Lagos city is generally renowned for its high cost of living, from rent to feeding and cost of basic materials. Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area will set you back by N448,000 while the same space in a normal area is about N310,000. The average utility bill for 2 people in a flat is about N32, 000. Your average taxi trip for 8km in Lagos will cost around N3, 600. Food-wise, 12 large eggs cost about N580 while a bottle of good quality red wine costs N2, 300. Spending 15 minutes with a doctor costs N8, 350 on the average. No wonder they say the money you make in Lagos stays in Lagos.
Benin City
The rapidly expanding capital city of Edo State has earned its spot on this list due to high prices particularly of some items. The average cost of 12 large eggs in Benin City is N1500, making it the most expensive on this list. Similarly, a trip to the cinema for you and other partner will cost N3,500 on the average, the second most expensive on this list after Abuja. However, Benin City makes up for some of these extremes by having majorly cheaper food prices. It has the lowest average prices for tomatoes, milk and potatoes among the 5 cities on this list.
Abuja
The city with the seat of government is a quite costly place to live. Food items and rent seem to be the costliest categories. 12 large eggs cost N742, the second highest, while 500g of boneless chicken breast will set you back N1,463, the highest among these 5 cities. Monthly rent for 85 m2 (900 Sqft) furnished accommodation in expensive area is N600,000 or N7.2 million on the average, while the same space in a normal area costs N335,000 per month or N4 million per year. These prices are also the highest for the cities on this list. However, a taxi trip on a business day for 8km is slightly cheaper than Lagos at N2,700. So also is a 15-minute visit to the doctor, which will cost N5,000 on the average.
Hello Chacha, I humbly disagree with your list. what of cities like port harcourt, Bonny etc.
I don’t agree with this, especially Abuja that i have good idea of. House and/or land purchase are what I see expensive in Abuja. Most other things are average