NaijaCalc
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Kano vs Asaba: cost of living compared (2026)

Kano is about 10% cheaper to live in than Asaba overall. On rent alone the gap is wider.

88 Kano index median = 100
98 Asaba index median = 100
₦198,500 Kano monthly 1-bed, single adult
₦217,000 Asaba monthly 1-bed, single adult
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Side by side

ItemKanoAsabaDifference
Rent, 1-bedroom (per year)₦510,000₦588,000 +₦78,000
Rent, 2-bedroom (per year)₦850,000₦980,000 +₦130,000
Groceries (monthly)₦86,000₦91,000 +₦5,000
Transport (monthly)₦38,000₦43,000 +₦5,000
Data / internet (monthly)₦14,000₦14,000 +₦0
Utilities & levies (monthly)₦18,000₦20,000 +₦2,000
Total monthly (1-bed)₦198,500₦217,000 +₦18,500
Overall cost index8898
Rent index8598

What a Accountant earns in each

Using Accountant as a mid-level reference role, adjusted for each city's cost index:

CityMedian grossMonthly living costLeft over
Kano₦245,000₦198,500₦46,500
Asaba₦275,000₦217,000₦58,000
On these figures a Accountant keeps more each month in Asaba than in Kano — about ₦11,500 more. This assumes pay tracks local cost, which is the usual pattern but not a rule.

Convert your own salary →

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Which city should you choose?

If your income is fixed — a pension, a remote salary, a business that serves clients online — the cheaper city is straightforwardly better and the saving is permanent. If your pay adjusts to the local market, most of the apparent saving disappears, because employers in Asaba generally pay more for the same role. They rarely pay enough to cover the full rent difference, which is why this comparison matters more than the headline salary figure.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper, Kano or Asaba?
Kano is the cheaper city, by about 10% on overall living costs. On rent alone the gap is 13%.
How much cheaper is rent in Kano than Asaba?
A one-bedroom flat runs about ₦510,000 a year in Kano against ₦588,000 in Asaba.
What salary do I need in Asaba to match Kano?
Multiply by 1.11. For an accountant, ₦245,000 in Kano is roughly equivalent to ₦275,000 in Asaba.
Is it worth moving from Asaba to Kano?
Only if your income travels with you. If you can keep a Asaba salary while living in Kano, the saving is real and substantial. If your pay adjusts down to local levels, most of the gain disappears.

Kano cost of living · Asaba cost of living