🇳🇬 Nigeria · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Lagos? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
Serviced one-bed, Victoria Island / IkoyiNGN 6,000,000–15,000,000 / year, typically demanded 1–2 years upfront
One-bed, Lekki Phase 1 or Ikeja GRANGN 3,000,000–7,000,000 / year, paid annually in advance
Diesel for a household generator, moderate useNGN 150,000–400,000 / month depending on your feeder's band and outages
Groceries, one person, mixed local and importedNGN 200,000–450,000 / month — imported goods carry a large premium
Driver, employed full timeNGN 150,000–300,000 / month plus fuel — normal rather than extravagant here
Good to know
Population
Genuinely disputed — the 2006 census gave Lagos State about 9 million, the state government has long argued for over 20 million, and no census has been held since. Whatever the number, it is Africa's largest urban area
Languages
English is official and the language of business; Nigerian Pidgin is the true common language; Yoruba is the indigenous language of Lagos
Currency
Nigerian naira (NGN) — floating since June 2023, with the official and parallel markets converged into a single willing-buyer, willing-seller market
Time zone
WAT (GMT+1) — no daylight saving, so the gap to London is one hour in winter and zero in summer
Power plug
Type G, 230 V — the same plug as the UK
Climate
Tropical and humid all year. A long rainy season roughly April to July, a short one in September and October, and the dusty Harmattan haze from the Sahara around December and January
Driving side
Right
Entry health requirement
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry to Nigeria — carry the physical card, not a photo
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Lagos checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Lagos
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.