Cost of Living in Nigeria

Stick to locally made goods, and the cost of living in Nigeria is low; buy imports or anything priced in dollars, and it gets dear. The past few years of steep inflation and a much weaker naira have been hard on anyone earning in the local currency. Those paid in dollars or another major foreign currency, though, still live comfortably.

Most expats still settle in Lagos or Abuja, the country’s commercial and political hubs, and accept the higher prices.

Cost of accommodation in Nigeria

Expect to pay a lot for accommodation in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos and Abuja. If you’re moving for work, your employer may cover housing, especially if they put you up in an expat enclave, where the homes are well-furnished and have the comforts you’d expect back home. Renting on your own is harder on the wallet, and Nigerian landlords typically want a year, sometimes two, of rent up front.

There’s strong demand for housing in the big cities, so the rental market is tight. Plenty of expats now want space to work from home, and they’re after larger, better-equipped flats and houses. If you don’t have corporate backing, look at private rentals on the local property portals, which tend to be more flexible and often cheaper.

A generator is an essential piece of kit in Nigeria. Mains power is unreliable, and it’s often off for hours or days at a time. You’ll have to pay to buy, install, fuel, and keep your generator serviced, and none of that is cheap. The government has reworked electricity pricing, and in the areas with the most reliable supply, power now costs a premium.

Renting Expat Accommodation in Nigeria

Cost of transport in Nigeria

New arrivals often underestimate the cost of transport in Nigeria. Most expats hire a driver, thanks to the chaotic traffic and poorly maintained roads in major cities like Lagos. A driver’s wages are low by Western standards, and expat employers often pick up the bill. You’ll also have to cover the car itself, petrol, insurance, and maintenance.

Most expats steer clear of public transport. Buses and danfos (shared minibuses) are often in poor shape, and okadas (motorbike taxis) can be dangerous, so the Lagos authorities have banned them from many districts. There’s been real investment in better options, and Lagos now has two light-rail lines, the Blue and the Red, plus a bus rapid transit network. Much of the wider system is still rougher than most expats are used to, though, so plenty stick with a private car and driver.

Transport and Driving in Nigeria

Cost of groceries in Nigeria

Local food is cheap in Nigeria, while imported groceries cost a lot more. Locally sourced staples cost little, especially at the markets. These colourful markets are stacked with fresh produce and fruit that many newcomers have never tried, usually well below Western prices.

Imported goods, though, can be pricey, and the gap between local and imported prices is wider now after years of high inflation. Basic staples such as rice and corn have become much dearer, thanks to shortages and a weaker naira. Expect to pay more for the same shopping in wealthy city districts than in rural areas.

Cost of entertainment and eating out in Nigeria

In Nigeria, you can eat out or catch a film at almost any price, although everything’s dearer than it used to be. A simple dinner for two at a local spot is still cheap. Mid-range restaurants charge more, especially for a multi-course meal, and a cinema ticket is somewhere in between.

Restaurateurs keep opening new places across the big cities, for expats and locals alike. You can sit down to traditional Nigerian dishes one night and international food the next. At the smaller local eateries, you can eat well without spending much.

Cost of education in Nigeria

If you’re bringing children, the cost of education in Nigeria is a major part of your budget. Most expat families choose private international schools, and the best of them are expensive. Most follow the British curriculum. American and International Baccalaureate programmes are common too, and a few run the Nigerian national curriculum alongside, so your child can carry on with a familiar system. The more prestigious the school, the higher the fees.

Schools usually charge for uniforms, textbooks, school trips, and exams on top of tuition, so try to negotiate a school allowance into your employment package.

Education and Schools in Nigeria

Cost of healthcare in Nigeria

Expats generally find healthcare in Nigeria a challenge, although Lagos and Abuja are far better served than the rest of the country. Public hospitals are underfunded and often overstretched, so most expats use private clinics and hospitals, where care is of a higher standard. Private treatment gets expensive fast, especially for specialist care or a long hospital stay.

Because of this, many expats take out private international health insurance. It covers most medical bills, and the better plans include evacuation to another country if you become seriously ill. Good cover is well worth having in Nigeria, where out-of-pocket costs for treatment and medication can be steep.

In rural and remote areas, good healthcare is hard to come by, so sort out your medical arrangements before you move.

Healthcare in Nigeria

Cost of living in Nigeria chart

Prices are listed in Nigerian naira (NGN) and may vary depending on the product and service provider. The list below shows average prices for Lagos in September 2026.