Cost of Living in Lagos
Nigeria
Comfortable budget (single)
$1,754/month
Range $1,108–$1,754/month
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).
Daily costs at a glance
Typical prices you'll pay in Lagos for everyday essentials.
Coffee
$2.5
flat white at cafe
Beer
$3.5
pint at pub
Lunch
$9.5
meal at inexpensive restaurant
Groceries
$220
single-person monthly groceries
Transport
$49
monthly pass
Gym
$23
monthly membership
Full cost breakdown
Colors show how each category compares to the global average of our 100 tracked cities.
| Category | USD/month | vs global |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed, city center) | $831–$1,292 | ↓ -47% |
| Rent (1-bed, outside center) | $438–$692 | ↓ -48% |
| Utilities (electricity, heating, water) | $35–$67 | ↓ -47% |
| Internet & Mobile | $14–$23 | ↓ -47% |
| Groceries (monthly) | $175–$263 | ↓ -47% |
| Eating out (per meal, mid-range) | $23–$42 | ↓ -48% |
| Coffee | $2–$3 | ↓ -37% |
| Public transport (monthly pass) | $44–$53 | ↓ -47% |
| Gym membership | $16–$30 | ↓ -48% |
| Cinema ticket | $6–$8 | ↓ -50% |
Housing market
Rent vs buy snapshot for Lagos — useful if you're comparing long-term relocation options.
Rent (1-bed center)
$831–$1,292/mo
Buy center (per m²)
$3,380
Buy outside (per m²)
$1,860
Price-to-rent ratio
12×
Avg mortgage rate
25.0%
💰 Mortgage estimate: a 60 m² apartment in Lagos center at ~$3,380/m² with a 25y loan at 25.0% would cost roughly $4,234/month — compare that to the rent range above.
Local salaries (monthly net, USD)
Typical take-home in Lagos. A green badge means the salary covers at least 2.5× the max rent for a 1-bed in the center.
| Role | Monthly net | Covers rent? |
|---|---|---|
| Average net salary | $400 | ❌ No |
| Software engineer (mid) | $1,200 | ❌ No |
| Marketing manager | $700 | ❌ No |
| Teacher (secondary) | $300 | ❌ No |
| Nurse (RN) | $350 | ❌ No |
Local insider tips
Practical ways to cut costs that actually work in Lagos.
Utilize the Cowry Card for efficient travel on Lagos BRT buses and ferries to navigate the city's notorious traffic.
For fresh produce and local goods, explore markets like Balogun Market, but for imported groceries, Shoprite or Spar are reliable options.
Consider living in areas like Lekki or Victoria Island for access to modern amenities and a more structured urban environment.
Budget scenarios
Single
$1,108–$1,754/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,292/mo
- Groceries: ~$263/mo
- Transport: ~$53/mo
Couple
$1,754–$2,677/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,292/mo
- Groceries: ~$263/mo
- Transport: ~$53/mo
Family
$2,538–$3,923/month
Top expenses
- Rent (1-bed center): ~$1,292/mo
- Groceries: ~$263/mo
- Transport: ~$53/mo
Neighbourhood guide
Lagos Center
CentralUrban core, transit access
Est. 1-bed rent: $1,039–$1,615/mo
Lagos Midtown
CentralMixed residential
Est. 1-bed rent: $914–$1,421/mo
Lagos Outer
SuburbanQuieter, family-friendly
Est. 1-bed rent: $665–$1,034/mo
Quality of life scores
Pros & cons
✅ Pros
- • Consumer market
- • Afrobeats
- • Entrepreneurship
❌ Cons
- • Traffic
- • Power
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Compare Lagos with another city
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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.