Photo: Jeremy Weate from Abuja, Nigeria · CC BY 2.0
Cost of Living in Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos is a city in Nigeria, where a single person can expect to spend about $948 per month including rent, food, and local transport. A one-bedroom apartment in the city centre averages $602 per month, or $363 outside the centre. Internet is workable at around 31 Mbps median download speed. On safety, Lagos scores 22/100 — below average on safety for residents and visitors. Expect summer highs near 84°F and winter highs around 88°F, with roughly 119 sunny days a year.
Lagos Cost of Living Breakdown
🍽️ Dining
🛒 Groceries
🚌 Transportation
⚡ Utilities & Tech
🎬 Lifestyle
👔 Clothing
🏠 Housing
📊 Summary
Lifestyle & Quality of Life in Lagos
How Lagos Ranks Among 340 Cities
Of the 340 cities Voyica tracks, Lagos is cheaper than 76% of them, but sits in the bottom 1% for safety.
| Metric | Lagos | World rank | Rank in Africa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $948 | #81 of 340 | #16 of 20 |
| Safety | 22/100 | #339 of 340 | #20 of 20 |
| Healthcare | 30/100 | #329 of 340 | #18 of 20 |
| Internet speed | 31 Mbps | #318 of 340 | #13 of 20 |
| Walkability | 28/100 | #315 of 340 | #18 of 20 |
| Public transit | 18/100 | #264 of 340 | #14 of 20 |
| Food scene | 75/100 | #156 of 340 | #4 of 20 |
| Air quality | 42/100 | #325 of 340 | #20 of 20 |
Rank 1 = most affordable, safest, and so on. Computed across every city in Voyica's dataset (June 2026 snapshot); ties share a rank.
Cheaper Alternatives to Lagos
Cities with a similar mix of safety, food, culture, walkability and climate that cost at least 15% less per month than Lagos.
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — $580/mo, 39% cheaper, safety 42/100 · Compare with Lagos
- Cairo, Egypt — $569/mo, 40% cheaper, safety 50/100 · Compare with Lagos
- Marrakech, Morocco — $801/mo, 16% cheaper, safety 58/100 · Compare with Lagos
- Nairobi, Kenya — $758/mo, 20% cheaper, safety 36/100
Lagos FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Lagos?
A single person should budget around $948 per month in Lagos, covering rent, groceries, transport, and basic lifestyle costs. A family of four typically needs about $2,080 per month excluding rent.
How much is rent in Lagos?
A one-bedroom apartment in central Lagos averages $602 per month, dropping to about $363 outside the centre. A three-bedroom in the centre runs about $2,828.
Is Lagos safe?
Lagos scores 22/100 on safety, which is below average on safety. Tourist safety is rated 25/100.
How fast is the internet in Lagos?
Median download speeds in Lagos are around 31 Mbps — workable for remote work and video calls. There are roughly 35 coworking spaces in the city.
Does Nigeria offer a digital nomad visa?
Nigeria does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. US passport holders can usually stay 90 days visa-free.
What is the weather like in Lagos?
Lagos sees summer highs around 84°F and winter highs near 88°F, with about 119 mostly sunny days a year and at least 1 mm of rain on about 95 days.
Lagos in our travel guides
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