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Cost of living in Calabar (2026)
Tourism-oriented and inexpensive, though far from the main commercial centres.
85
Overall cost index
national median = 100
80
Rent index
1-bed: ₦480,000/yr
₦191,000
Monthly all-in
single adult, 1-bed
Band D
Electricity band
EEDC (Cross River cluster)
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What things cost in Calabar
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Rent, 1-bedroom flat | ₦40,000 | ₦480,000 |
| Rent, 2-bedroom flat | ₦66,667 | ₦800,000 |
| Groceries, single adult | ₦84,000 | ₦1,008,000 |
| Transport / commute | ₦37,000 | ₦444,000 |
| Data / internet | ₦13,000 | ₦156,000 |
| Utilities, gas, levies | ₦17,000 | ₦204,000 |
| Total (1-bed) | ₦191,000 | ₦2,292,000 |
Excludes school fees, healthcare, generator fuel and savings — which for many households are larger than the items above.
What salary you need in Calabar
Treating rent as no more than 25% of gross income, a one-bedroom flat at ₦480,000 a year implies gross income of about ₦1,920,000 a year, or ₦160,000 a month. To cover the full ₦191,000 monthly cost with any margin, plan on roughly ₦382,000 a month gross.
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Salaries in Calabar
| Profession | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank Branch / Unit Manager | ₦425,000 | ₦1,020,000 | ₦2,125,000 |
| Project Manager | ₦255,000 | ₦595,000 | ₦1,530,000 |
| Medical Doctor | ₦255,000 | ₦550,000 | ₦1,275,000 |
| Marketing Manager | ₦210,000 | ₦510,000 | ₦1,275,000 |
| Software Developer | ₦210,000 | ₦470,000 | ₦1,530,000 |
| Data Analyst | ₦170,000 | ₦380,000 | ₦1,020,000 |
| UI/UX Designer | ₦155,000 | ₦355,000 | ₦935,000 |
| University Lecturer | ₦170,000 | ₦355,000 | ₦850,000 |
| Pharmacist | ₦170,000 | ₦340,000 | ₦765,000 |
| Civil Engineer | ₦155,000 | ₦340,000 | ₦765,000 |
| Mechanical Engineer | ₦135,000 | ₦300,000 | ₦680,000 |
| Electrical Engineer | ₦135,000 | ₦300,000 | ₦720,000 |
Compare Calabar with another city
- Calabar vs Lagos
- Calabar vs Abuja
- Calabar vs Port Harcourt
- Calabar vs Ibadan
- Calabar vs Kano
- Calabar vs Enugu
- Calabar vs Benin City
- Calabar vs Kaduna
- Calabar vs Warri
- Calabar vs Jos
- Calabar vs Abeokuta
- Calabar vs Ilorin
- Calabar vs Uyo
- Calabar vs Owerri
- Calabar vs Sokoto
- Calabar vs Maiduguri
- Calabar vs Asaba
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to live in Calabar?
A single adult renting a one-bedroom flat needs roughly ₦191,000 a month in Calabar for rent, food, transport, data and utilities. That is 85 on an index where the Nigerian urban median is 100.
What is the average rent in Calabar?
A one-bedroom flat runs about ₦480,000 a year and a two-bedroom about ₦800,000.
Is Calabar expensive compared with other Nigerian cities?
Calabar sits at 85 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 Calabar?
Treating rent as no more than 25% of gross income, a one-bedroom flat at ₦480,000 a year implies a gross income of about ₦1,920,000 a year, or ₦160,000 a month.
Which electricity tariff band is Calabar on?
Most feeders in Calabar are served by EEDC (Cross River cluster) and typically fall in Band D. 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.