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.
Enugu State recorded an inflation rate of 11.04 percent, down from 17 percent in December, ranking it fourth among the lowest-inflation states. Food inflation also declined to 5.8 percent from 10.7 percent in December, indicating relatively moderate pressure on essential commodities and improved affordability for residents.
The state government, led by Governor Peter Mbah, has introduced a range of anti-inflation and cost-of-living measures centred on increased food production, infrastructure expansion, and fiscal reforms.
As part of its agricultural strategy, the government has invested in large-scale farming initiatives, including the rollout of a modern ranching system and the deployment of 200 tractors to support mechanised agriculture and boost food supply, with the goal of lowering market prices.
On the fiscal side, the state enacted the 2025 Enugu State Internal Revenue Service law to eliminate multiple and illegal taxation that weighs on small businesses. Under the reform, land rates were reduced by 60 percent, while duplicative and unauthorized levies on businesses were formally prohibited.
