Port Harcourt vs Benin City: cost of living compared (2026)

Benin City is about 38% cheaper to live in than Port Harcourt overall. On rent alone the gap is wider.

145 Port Harcourt index median = 100

90 Benin City index median = 100

₦327,500 Port Harcourt monthly 1-bed, single adult

₦203,000 Benin City monthly 1-bed, single adult

Side by side

Item	Port Harcourt	Benin City	Difference
Rent, 1-bedroom (per year)	₦930,000	₦528,000	-₦402,000
Rent, 2-bedroom (per year)	₦1,550,000	₦880,000	-₦670,000
Groceries (monthly)	₦142,000	₦87,000	-₦55,000
Transport (monthly)	₦63,000	₦40,000	-₦23,000
Data / internet (monthly)	₦16,000	₦14,000	-₦2,000
Utilities & levies (monthly)	₦29,000	₦18,000	-₦11,000
Total monthly (1-bed)	₦327,500	₦203,000	-₦124,500
Overall cost index	145	90	—
Rent index	155	88	—

What a Accountant earns in each

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

City	Median gross	Monthly living cost	Left over
Port Harcourt	₦405,000	₦327,500	₦77,500
Benin City	₦250,000	₦203,000	₦47,000

On these figures a Accountant keeps more each month in Port Harcourt than in Benin City — about ₦30,500 more. This assumes pay tracks local cost, which is the usual pattern but not a rule.

Convert your own salary →

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 Port Harcourt 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, Port Harcourt or Benin City?

Benin City is the cheaper city, by about 38% on overall living costs. On rent alone the gap is 43%.

How much cheaper is rent in Benin City than Port Harcourt?

A one-bedroom flat runs about ₦528,000 a year in Benin City against ₦930,000 in Port Harcourt.

What salary do I need in Port Harcourt to match Benin City?

Multiply by 1.61. For an accountant, ₦250,000 in Benin City is roughly equivalent to ₦405,000 in Port Harcourt.

Is it worth moving from Port Harcourt to Benin City?

Only if your income travels with you. If you can keep a Port Harcourt salary while living in Benin City, the saving is real and substantial. If your pay adjusts down to local levels, most of the gain disappears.

Port Harcourt cost of living · Benin City cost of living