₦ NaijaCalc
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Cost of living in Benin City (2026)

Mid-sized and affordable, though Edo has recently recorded some of the highest state pump prices in NBS surveys.

90 Overall cost index national median = 100
88 Rent index 1-bed: ₦528,000/yr
₦203,000 Monthly all-in single adult, 1-bed
Band C Electricity band Benin Electricity Distribution Co. (BEDC)
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What things cost in Benin City

Monthly cost for a single adult (rent annualised)
ItemMonthlyAnnual
Rent, 1-bedroom flat₦44,000₦528,000
Rent, 2-bedroom flat₦73,333₦880,000
Groceries, single adult₦87,000₦1,044,000
Transport / commute₦40,000₦480,000
Data / internet₦14,000₦168,000
Utilities, gas, levies₦18,000₦216,000
Total (1-bed)₦203,000₦2,436,000

Excludes school fees, healthcare, generator fuel and savings — which for many households are larger than the items above.

What salary you need in Benin City

Treating rent as no more than 25% of gross income, a one-bedroom flat at ₦528,000 a year implies gross income of about ₦2,112,000 a year, or ₦176,000 a month. To cover the full ₦203,000 monthly cost with any margin, plan on roughly ₦406,000 a month gross.

Check a specific rent →

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Salaries in Benin City

ProfessionLowMedianHigh
Bank Branch / Unit Manager ₦450,000₦1,080,000₦2,250,000
Project Manager ₦270,000₦630,000₦1,620,000
Medical Doctor ₦270,000₦585,000₦1,350,000
Marketing Manager ₦225,000₦540,000₦1,350,000
Software Developer ₦225,000₦495,000₦1,620,000
Data Analyst ₦180,000₦405,000₦1,080,000
UI/UX Designer ₦160,000₦380,000₦990,000
University Lecturer ₦180,000₦380,000₦900,000
Pharmacist ₦180,000₦360,000₦810,000
Civil Engineer ₦160,000₦360,000₦810,000
Mechanical Engineer ₦145,000₦315,000₦720,000
Electrical Engineer ₦145,000₦315,000₦765,000

Fuel costs here run above the national median even though rents do not.

Compare Benin City with another city

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Benin City?
A single adult renting a one-bedroom flat needs roughly ₦203,000 a month in Benin City for rent, food, transport, data and utilities. That is 90 on an index where the Nigerian urban median is 100.
What is the average rent in Benin City?
A one-bedroom flat runs about ₦528,000 a year and a two-bedroom about ₦880,000. Fuel costs here run above the national median even though rents do not.
Is Benin City expensive compared with other Nigerian cities?
Benin City sits at 90 on the overall cost index. For reference, Lagos is the most expensive city tracked at 185 and Maiduguri the least at 74.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Benin City?
Treating rent as no more than 25% of gross income, a one-bedroom flat at ₦528,000 a year implies a gross income of about ₦2,112,000 a year, or ₦176,000 a month.
Which electricity tariff band is Benin City on?
Most feeders in Benin City are served by Benin Electricity Distribution Co. (BEDC) and typically fall in Band C. Your band is set by your feeder, not your city, so check the rate on your own vending receipt.

Calculators

Rent affordability What rent you can afford, and the lump sum the advance really costs you. City salary compare What salary you need to move cities without going backwards. Electricity bill What your units should cost on your NERC band, with VAT. Commute cost What getting to work really costs you each month.