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.
Ondo State recorded a headline inflation rate of 13.20 percent, rising from 10.1 percent in December, while food inflation moderated to 5.5 percent, down from 11.1 percent. The relatively lower food inflation rate is attributed to strong local agricultural output, particularly in cocoa and other staple crops, which continues to help stabilize consumer prices.
The state government, led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has introduced a series of fiscal, agricultural, and economic interventions aimed at easing the cost of living and containing inflationary pressures. These measures are anchored in the 2025 “Budget of Recovery” and the proposed N524 billion 2026 budget framework.
A major focus of the 2026 budget is expanding input financing, farm mechanisation, and irrigation systems to boost yields, reduce post-harvest losses, and further lower food prices across the state.
In addition, the government is collaborating with the International Fund for Agricultural Development to empower about 14,800 youths through agriculture-focused programmes designed to increase production and strengthen the state’s food value chain.
