Cost of Living in Lagos

Nigeria

Monthly budget (single)

$1,108–$1,754/month

₦1,787,097 – ₦2,829,032 (local currency)

Overall 8.2Safety 9.0Housing 7.8Quality of life 8.6

Last updated: 2026-03

Can you afford to live in Lagos?

Enter your monthly take-home in USD. We compare it to typical budgets for your household size (estimates, not financial advice).

Cost breakdown

CategoryUSDLocal currency
Rent (1-bed, city center)$831–$1,292₦1,340,323 – ₦2,083,871
Rent (1-bed, outside center)$438–$692₦706,452 – ₦1,116,129
Utilities (electricity, heating, water)$35–$67₦56,452 – ₦108,065
Internet & Mobile$14–$23₦22,581 – ₦37,097
Groceries (monthly)$175–$263₦282,258 – ₦424,194
Eating out (per meal, mid-range)$23–$42₦37,097 – ₦67,742
Coffee$2–$3₦3,226 – ₦4,839
Public transport (monthly pass)$44–$53₦70,968 – ₦85,484
Gym membership$16–$30₦25,806 – ₦48,387
Cinema ticket$6–$8₦9,677 – ₦12,903

Budget scenarios

Single

$1,108–$1,754/mo USD

₦1,787,097 – ₦2,829,032

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,292/mo
  • Groceries: ~$263/mo
  • Transport: ~$53/mo

Couple

$1,754–$2,677/mo USD

₦2,829,032 – ₦4,317,742

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,292/mo
  • Groceries: ~$263/mo
  • Transport: ~$53/mo

Family

$2,538–$3,923/mo USD

₦4,093,548 – ₦6,327,419

Top expenses

  • Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,292/mo
  • Groceries: ~$263/mo
  • Transport: ~$53/mo

Neighbourhood guide

Lagos Center

Central

Urban core, transit access

Est. 1-bed rent: $1,039–$1,615/mo (₦1,675,806 – ₦2,604,839)

Lagos Midtown

Central

Mixed residential

Est. 1-bed rent: $914–$1,421/mo (₦1,474,194 – ₦2,291,935)

Lagos Outer

Suburban

Quieter, family-friendly

Est. 1-bed rent: $665–$1,034/mo (₦1,072,581 – ₦1,667,742)

Quality of life scores

Housing7.8/10
Safety9.0/10
Healthcare9.0/10
Education8.6/10
Environment9.4/10
Economy7.7/10
Culture8.3/10
Internet8.7/10

Pros & cons

✅ Pros

  • • Consumer market
  • • Afrobeats
  • • Entrepreneurship

❌ Cons

  • • Traffic
  • • Power

Similar cities & cheaper alternatives

Cheaper alternatives

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Estimates are for comparison only and do not constitute financial advice. Sources include our internal dataset and periodic third-party index updates.