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.
Katsina State recorded a single-digit headline inflation rate of 8.94 percent, down sharply from 18.7 percent in December and significantly below the national average. Food inflation also eased to 5.8 percent from 11.2 percent, helping to keep overall consumer prices relatively stable across the state.
The state government, led by Governor Dikko Umar Radda, has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to contain inflation and reduce cost pressures, with strong emphasis on agricultural productivity, security, and economic empowerment.
A key initiative is the establishment of the Katsina State Agricultural Promotion Agency to link farmers with markets and financial services. The programme supports large-scale mechanisation, farm input distribution, and irrigation development, including a N14 billion water project in Faskari Local Government Area aimed at expanding irrigated agriculture.
In addition, the government is implementing a 2024–2034 inclusive economic policy framework designed to generate up to 300,000 jobs annually. Authorities have also been advancing citizen-driven budget planning processes ahead of the 2026 fiscal year to ensure spending priorities align more closely with local economic needs.
