Is Abuja Expensive To Live? Find Out

goldandlandsadmin September 25, 2022 No Comments

The city of Abuja is fast becoming a global hub for business and tourist visits which has led to rapid population growth at an unprecedented rate.

Most common assumption by most people not living in Abuja, or those who may be contemplating migrating to Abuja, is that it is a city for the elites alone. Many people believe that Abuja is expensive to live. As reality may have it; its not all locations in Abuja that is as assumed to be high in terms of day-day spending. Abuja also has average-class people living in the city going about in their day-to-day activities and lifestyles. Do that mean the widely believed thought that Abuja is an expensive city to live in is a misconception? 

While on the other hand, Abuja is not as expensive as Lagos or on the scale as any other big city in Nigeria. Therefore this article is base on an analysis of the living expenses in Abuja.

Abuja Population Growth

Abuja is one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing cities, with a population growing spontaneously from 1.6 million in 2006 to 2.3 million in 2016. In 2013, Abuja was ranked the 18th most expensive city in the world and 2nd in Africa. The rapid growth of Abuja city can sometimes attributed to some factors, such as its location on the Niger River, which makes it an important trade center for goods like petroleum and cotton. Abuja is proximity to Lagos- Africa’s most populous city and economic hub, has low crime rates, expensive infrastructure projects, and many more. 

Some Factors Making Abuja an Expensive City?

Abuja the capital city of Nigeria, is considered as the most expensive city in Nigeria. The cost of living in Abuja is higher than any other Nigerian city, except Lagos in some factors. However, Let’s look into some of the daily amenities that most people have to spend their moneys on to conclude Abuja is an expensive city:

– The cost of living in Abuja.

– The cost of transportation and fuel.

– The cost of buying food

– The cost of school (obtaining a good Education).

Cost of Living

Regarding the cost, Abuja is Nigeria’s third most expensive city and its costlier to rent properties in most locations, which is 23% higher than the rent in Lagos.

 It was ranked the 89th out of 209 cities by Mercer’s 2021 Cost of Living Survey, that’s high for a City in Nigeria. Is it so expensive to live in, as popularly believed?

Abuja is famous for being a city with influential people like politicians, celebrities, and business moguls, with expensive buildings and estates in high-end neighborhoods. But there are areas and communities with affordable accommodation available for all classes of people in Abuja; in places like Nyanya, a self-con can range from 120,000-150,000 per annum, but there is the disadvantage of experiencing dense traffic.

 In areas like Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse, Garki, Gwarimpa, and Kubwa, rents or properties are costly; a room self-con can cost as high as 800,000-1,300,000 per annum in these areas. Gwarimpa is the cheapest among the six most expensive places to live in Abuja. For houses in the Asokoro area, It can cost about 3.4 million naira for a 2- bedroom flat in a high-end neighborhood. But there are also places like Lugbe and Gwagwalada where houses are affordable. [ Also Read; Simple Guide For Buying Properties In Abuja: ]

Cost of Transport

The transport in Abuja is not as cheap as living in cities like Oyo state or Ogun state but not as expensive as living in a city like Lagos. For car owners, the cost of transport can be minimal, with an average of 25,000 – 35,000 per month for gas. There are public transports called “Along” in Abuja; this is the cheapest form of transportation and can cost as low as 900 naira to move to and fro daily.

There are other affordable means of transport like Rickshaws (commonly known as MARUWA or KEKE) and Motorcycles, though they are not allowed everywhere. For privacy and comfort, there are Uber rides or taxi drops; these can be expensive, with the former more costly than the latter.

With public transport, a budget of 15,000- 20,000 is adequate for a month. 

It should be noted these estimated values are more accurate for people with houses not exactly too far from their place of work. There are lots of traffic wardens on Abuja roads, minimizing the traffic in the city, and Abuja is one of the cities in Nigeria with good roads.

Cost of Feeding

The feeding cost in Abuja actually better; because it is closer to the Northern part of Nigeria, where most of the citizens are farmers who export their goods for consumption purposes after harvest to Abuja. But not as expensive in Lagos because foodstuff prices are high. 

Still, it is advisable to stock your home with foodstuffs rather than eating out. Transportation services cost, can be reduced by cooking homemade foods. Buying major food supplies can cost about 40,000- 50,000 naira per month, which may not be so expensive to average citizens. For other minor costs like cooking gas, groceries, and beverages need to be added.

The budget for people who eat out can be very high, as Abuja is known for big recreational centers, eateries, restaurants, and many fun and expensive places. For a middle-level restaurant, a meal can cost around 1,000-2,500 on average. There are other normal places like “BUKA” to visit for lower prices ranging from 500-1000 or less.

Cost of Schooling

The cost of schooling in Abuja depends mainly on the neighborhood where the school is located. But overall, Abuja has one of the most expensive schools in Nigeria, with secondary schools costing half a million to 3 million per term for international or privately owned schools. The government also owns public schools, which costs as low as 5,000 naira per term.

In conclusion

Whether Abuja is an expensive city relies heavily on your income; for people earning as high as 1-2M monthly, Abuja may not be deem or classified expensive city. 

The good news about some part of Abuja is that there are many choices to choose from that are compatible with all income levels. There are low settlements/villages scattered around Abuja with cheap rents, but transportation from there to the city can cost a lot monthly.

It could be ascertain that Abuja is expensive because of the high-end buildings, estates, schools, restaurants, big businesses, and companies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Aso rock presidential villa, is also located in this beautiful city. And most importantly, Abuja is the residence for most politicians, senators, House of Reps, celebrities, and Business moguls. But it should be known that there is a place in Abuja for all classes of people.