As Nigerians continue to face rising living costs, new data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for January 2026 highlights the states offering the greatest relief to residents in terms of affordability.
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate moderated slightly to 15.10 percent in January 2026, down from 15.15 percent in December 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the NBS.
The marginal decline of 0.05 percentage points signals a continued easing of price pressures at the start of the year, extending the gradual slowdown observed in recent months.
The year-on-year improvement is even more pronounced. Compared to January 2025, when inflation stood at 27.61 percent, the rate has fallen by 12.51 percentage points, reflecting a significant moderation in overall price growth across the country.
While national figures provide a broad overview of economic trends, cost-of-living conditions differ considerably across states.
Based on state-level inflation data, the following are the Top 10 most affordable states to live in January 2026, ranked by lowest headline inflation rates and reflecting relative stability in essential goods and services.
Ebonyi State tops the list of most affordable states, recording the lowest headline inflation rate of 8.72 percent, down from 14.9 percent in December.
Food inflation was exceptionally low at 1.7 percent, down from 9.7 percent, reflecting the state’s strong agricultural base—particularly in rice and other staple crops—which has helped shield households from broader price pressures.
The state government, led by Governor Francis Nwifuru, has implemented a range of measures to curb inflation and ease the cost of living. These include increasing the minimum wage, providing substantial food price reduction initiatives, and distributing welfare bonuses to improve purchasing power.
Key interventions include targeted agricultural support, the recruitment of 1,700 civil servants, and investment in rural infrastructure to stimulate local economic activity. In December, the government announced a N150,000 bonus for workers. Additional measures included a Christmas bonus for state employees and specific allowances for local government staff, all designed to enhance income and maintain household affordability.
What This Means for Residents
The decline in national inflation, combined with relatively lower state-level inflation in these regions, suggests improving purchasing power and reduced cost-of-living pressures for households in early 2026.
States with low food inflation in particular are seeing stronger affordability gains, as food remains the largest component of household spending in Nigeria.
If the current trend continues, further moderation in prices could support consumer confidence, business expansion, and broader economic stability across the country in the months ahead.
