Jalingo, Nigeria Vs. New York: A Cost-of-Living Comparison for 2025
- Simon Zaku
- Mar 1
- 3 min read
Did you know that the average cost of rent in the United States is more than double what most Nigerians pay, yet their monthly incomes can differ by more than 40 times?
As someone born and raised in Nigeria, I’ve experienced the unique highs and lows of living in a country where life is both incredibly affordable and unexpectedly expensive, depending on what you’re buying.
Take rent, for example. Here in Jalingo, Taraba State, you can rent a decent two-bedroom apartment for less than $300 a year.
But ask me how much I spend weekly to keep my generator running due to constant power outages, and you might wonder if it’s even worth the savings.
This article dives deep into the cost-of-living differences between Nigeria and the United States in 2024.
Using real data and my personal day-to-day experiences - from the price of a bag of rice to the cost of public transportation.
I’ll weigh in on what these statistics mean for ordinary Nigerians like me, and how they compare to the realities of life in America.
Whether you’re curious about housing, food, transportation, or just wondering where your money goes faster, this guide will provide insights into how affordability varies between these two vastly different nations.
Let’s explore the numbers and uncover the realities behind these contrasts.
Cost of Living Comparison: Jalingo, Nigeria vs. USA (2025)
The cost of living in Nigeria and the USA varies dramatically due to differences in economic structures, labor markets, and consumer expectations.
Here’s a detailed breakdown based on key expense categories:
1. Housing
Nigeria:
Renting a one-bedroom apartment in city centers costs approximately $731.80/month.
Outside city centers, this drops to $456.14/month.
USA:
Renting a similar apartment in city centers averages $1,655.99/month, more than 2x higher than in Nigeria.
Outside city centers, rent averages $1,423.40/month.
2. Food & Groceries
Some staples in Nigeria are significantly cheaper than in the USA:
Rice (1 lb): $0.79 in Nigeria vs. $2.16 in the USA.
Local beer (1 pint): $0.91 in Nigeria vs. $5.78 in the USA.
However, imported goods in Nigeria can be costlier due to tariffs.
3. Transportation
Nigeria: Public transportation monthly passes cost about $36.26.
Gasoline (1 gallon) is $2.41.
USA: Public transport costs significantly more, averaging $65.15/month.
Gasoline prices are $3.61/gallon.
4. Utilities
Nigeria: Utilities for a small apartment cost about $18.28/month.
USA: The same services cost $148.34/month, a 711% increase.
5. Childcare
Nigeria: Private preschool costs $85.98/month.
USA: The same costs $1,351.84/month, making childcare 14x more expensive in the USA.
6. Income and Affordability
Average Annual Income:
Nigeria: $1,930.
USA: $80,300.
While incomes in the USA are significantly higher, purchasing power parity often makes Nigeria more affordable for locals.
7. Healthcare
Nigeria: Limited facilities; physician density is 0.4 per 1,000 inhabitants.
USA: Advanced facilities with 3.56 physicians per 1,000 inhabitants, but healthcare costs are considerably higher due to insurance and service fees.
Conclusion
Living costs in the USA are significantly higher in almost all categories, but incomes are also substantially greater.
In Nigeria, while some services (like rent and local food) are affordable, high inflation and import reliance can make certain goods costly.
Data Sources I Used for this Post:
1. Numbeo Nigeria: www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Nigeria
3. WorldData Info: www.worlddata.info/cost-of-living.php
4. Statista Energy Costs: www.statista.com/
5. Expatistan Cost of Living: www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living
6. Trading Economics Nigeria: tradingeconomics.com/nigeria/
7. Trading Economics USA: tradingeconomics.com/united-states/
8. CIA World Factbook: www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
9. Electricity Local: www.electricitylocal.com/
10. The Balance: www.thebalancemoney.com/
11. Macrotrends Nigeria: www.macrotrends.net/countries/NGA/nigeria/inflation-rate-cpi
12. Macrotrends USA: www.macrotrends.net/countries/USA/united-states/inflation-rate-cpi
13. Payscale Nigeria: www.payscale.com/research/NG/Country=Nigeria/Salary
14. Payscale USA: www.payscale.com/research/US/Country=United_States/Salary
What are your thoughts on this?
Thank you,
Simon Taki Zaku
Founder, CEO, IbiFoundry Limited.
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