- Download our Moving to Lagos Guide (PDF)
The cost of living in Lagos is hard to pin down because Nigeria’s economy is unpredictable, but expats widely rate the city as an expensive place to live.
Locals have far less spending power than they once did, after years of high inflation. If you earn in a foreign currency, though, you’ll get more for your money here than you used to. The economy is volatile, so foreigners working in the city often negotiate for housing, health insurance, a car and driver, and school fees in their contracts. When these benefits are left out, you should factor them into your salary negotiations instead.
Cost of accommodation in Lagos
Expats soon find that accommodation in Lagos hasn’t kept up with the city’s rapid growth. There’s far more demand than supply, so landlords charge steep rents, and decent homes can be hard to find. Expats will have only a handful of neighbourhoods to choose from for the housing and services they’re used to. Most expats live on Victoria Island or in Ikoyi, Lekki, and the Ikeja Government Reserved Area (GRA).
Most landlords let their properties on one- or two-year leases, and they usually want the rent a year or two upfront rather than in monthly instalments. Employers cover housing in most expat relocation packages, which takes the sting out of that lump sum. If you receive an accommodation allowance instead, check that it’s enough to secure a suitable home in one of the better neighbourhoods.
Renting Expat Accommodation in Lagos
Best and Worst Areas and Suburbs in Lagos
Cost of transport in Lagos
For all its congestion, transport in Lagos is relatively affordable. Most commuters get around by yellow danfo minibuses and the government-run BRT buses, by taxi or an app-based ride through Uber or Bolt, or on the newer Blue and Red Line trains.
The informal options are often unsafe or unreliable, since the vehicles are badly maintained and many of the drivers are reckless. The state government has banned commercial motorbikes, or okada, across much of the city, partly over those same safety concerns.
Most expats prefer to keep their own car, and many hire a personal driver to cope with the traffic. Employers often fold the car and driver into the relocation package as well. If yours doesn’t, you should budget for the driver’s wages, petrol, insurance, and upkeep.
Cost of groceries in Lagos
If you shop like a local, groceries in Lagos won’t cost you much, but imported food and branded clothing are heavily marked up. Prices at the city’s markets are far lower than at the modern shopping malls, so most residents buy their fresh produce at the market. For clothes, you can buy fabric and have a local tailor make them up for less than the malls charge.
Cost of entertainment and eating out in Lagos
Lagos has a famously busy nightlife, and Lagosians pack out the bars and clubs most nights of the week. Eating out is where the gap between local and imported prices is widest. A meal for two at high-end restaurants costs roughly the same as in London or New York, because their customers are wealthy and well-travelled.
For a tiny fraction of that, you can eat well at a street stall or a neighbourhood buka. You’ll also find plenty of cheap days out, from the markets and the Lekki beaches to outdoor festivals and the city’s live-music scene.
Cost of education in Lagos
Education is one of the higher costs of settling in Lagos. Most expat families skip the public schools, which are rarely up to the standard they’re used to, and they choose an international school instead. These schools are expensive but well regarded, and they teach curricula recognised worldwide, including the British, American, and French systems and the International Baccalaureate. Fees are high, so you should pin down an education allowance in your contract before you accept a posting.
Education and Schools in Lagos
Best International Schools in Lagos
Cost of healthcare in Lagos
You’ll find healthcare in Lagos a mixed bag. Public hospitals are cheaper, but they’re often short of equipment, and the standard of care may be below what you expect.
The city also has private hospitals and clinics that are far better equipped, and many of their doctors are trained abroad. It’s expensive to run these places, and patients end up paying through high bills.
Most expats take out private health insurance so they can use the private facilities without worrying about the cost. You should make sure your policy is thorough enough to cover serious treatment, and check whether it includes evacuation to another country. Some employers build health cover into the contract, which takes a large expense off your hands.
Cost of living in Lagos 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.
| Accommodation (monthly rent) | |
| Three-bedroom apartment in the city centre | NGN 4,000,000 |
| Three-bedroom apartment outside the city centre | NGN 2,500,000 |
| One-bedroom apartment in the city centre | NGN 1,500,000 |
| One-bedroom apartment outside the city centre | NGN 900,000 |
| Food and drink | |
| Eggs (dozen) | NGN 3,000 |
| Milk (1 litre) | NGN 2,800 |
| Rice (1kg) | NGN 2,000 |
| Loaf of white bread | NGN 2,000 |
| Chicken breasts (1kg) | NGN 5,500 |
| Cheese (500g) | NGN 5,300 |
| Eating out | |
| Three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant | NGN 70,000 |
| Big Mac Meal | NGN 10,000 |
| Coca-Cola (330ml) | NGN 1,000 |
| Cappuccino | NGN 4,000 |
| Local beer (500ml) | NGN 1,500 |
| Utilities/household | |
| Mobile phone monthly plan with calls and data | NGN 20,000 |
| Internet (uncapped internet – average per month) | NGN 45,000 |
| Basic utilities (average per month for a standard household) | NGN 90,000 |
| Transportation | |
| Taxi rate (per kilometre) | NGN 1,500 |
| Bus/train fare in the city centre | NGN 800 |
| Gasoline/petrol (per litre) | NGN 1,000 |