The economy keeps biting hard on Nigerians and inflation trails along like a fly would the tail of a cow.
Nigerians are bickering about how the cost of living has skyrocketed and how difficult it is to afford the daily necessities needed to survive.
The current high cost of living in Nigeria does not apply to only some parts of the country rather it affects every state in Nigeria.
Given that the recent fuel subsidy removal is still a bone in the neck of many Nigerians who are still finding it hard to adjust to the new norm.
It is not surprising to see Nigerians voice out their public opinion about the economic hardship they face in the various states they reside.
Thus, in this listicle, we will be delving into the ten most expensive states to currently live in Nigeria based on the cost of living in these states.
We have narrowed it down to costs like transportation, housing, food, clothing, and personal care.
10. Cross River
Cross River
The capital city of Cross River, Calabar, is the most expensive part of the state.
The city is a seaport and has consistently seen an influx of people as a result of tourist attractions and carnivals, which has caused a significant increase in the cost of living.
The Obudu Cattle Ranch and Tinapa Resort are two of Calabar’s tourist attractions.
Additionally, Calabar has a very pleasant climate, and its Christmas funfair regularly draws a sizable crowd of visitors from all over the world.
However, given the fact that the current Nigerian economy is nowhere near friendly, the cost of living in Cross River’s state has even skyrocketed than usual.
This has greatly impacted the people residing in the state.
Overall, Calabar is a lovely place to live, but this comes at a cost in terms of housing, food, and other utility costs.
9. Imo
Imo State
The state of Imo, in particular its capital city of Owerri, is another expensive place to live in Nigeria in 2023.
One of the commercial hubs in the southeast of Nigeria is Owerri.
In general, lodging and hotels are more expensive than they are in other Eastern cities like Aba.
It’s interesting to note that Owerri hasn’t always been expensive, but with the growth of tertiary institutions and the expansion of tourism, the state has become more pricey.
The Nekede Zoo, Oguta Lake, National Museum, Mbari Cultural and Art Centre, and many more are just a few of Imo’s tourist hotspots.
The state is well known for a few unique foods, including Ofe Owerri, Ofe Nsala, Ukwu Mango, and Ofe Ugba.
The Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State University, and the Polytechnics in Nekede and Oko are all part of the tertiary institution.
Visitors can get lost in its beauty and orderliness because of how quickly and dramatically the state is changing.
Even though it is expensive here, it is not comparable to cities like Abuja and Lagos, which we will discuss later in this list.
8. Enugu
Enugu State
Enugu is located in southeastern Nigeria and on our list it is one of the most expensive States in Nigeria to reside in in 2023.
Even though the cost of living in Enugu state is high, it is not as high as the cost of living in Lagos or Abuja.
Enugu is a city with a population of over 800,000 Igbo people.
The city’s large number of industries and higher education institutions is one of the major factors that has increased its cost of living.
Furthermore, most of the important commercial hubs in the city are bottling industries, the highest movie production location in Nigeria, the University of Nigeria, and many more.
One of the important industries in Enugu is the Mercedes Automobile Assembly Plant.
Some music entertainers, such as Flavour and Pyhno, are natives of Enugu State.
A two-bedroom flat in Enugu can typically be rented for N500,000 or more.
The price of commodities in the market is also very high and residents have often bickered about how expensive necessities and commodities are in the State.
7. Kaduna
Zaria, Kaduna
Kaduna has a large market and is Northern Nigeria’s industrial centre.
Popular for producing textiles, steel, and petroleum products, among other things. It is situated in Nigeria’s Northwestern region.
Furthermore, the city is well-known for its trading and agricultural settlements, and it is home to over 750,000 people.
The city is well-served by public transport (roads and railways).
Cotton, peanuts, sorghum, ginger, and other important agricultural products can be found in this city.
Kaduna was once known to be one of the cheapest States to live in Nigeria, however, due to the recent and current development the State is undergoing the cost of living has stripped what it used to be.
6. Delta
Asaba, Delta State
When we talk about Delta State, the first place that comes to our mind is the State capital, Asaba and then Warri.
It is also not a coincidence that these two places are the most expensive places to live in Delta State.
Asaba for example, is well-developed compared to some other cities in Nigeria. Asaba, being the hub of most commercial transactions in Delta State has made the cost of living in the State capital very high.
Residence in Asaba has mostly complained about the high cost they pay for house rent, transportation and also the high price of commodities in the market.
The same thing goes with Warri, even though Warri isn’t the capital of Delta, the cost of living in Warri is on par with the high cost of living in Asaba.
This is a result of the International companies and oil industries in the City of Warri.
The city has high-class residents, middle class and a few low-class residents, however, these social strata are a factor that impacts the cost of living of these residents.
5. Abuja
Abuja
Abuja houses the majority of the head offices of various companies, businesses, multinational firms, hotels, government establishments, and parastatals because it is the political and economic centre of the country.
The city has well-planned, organised roads. Abuja is one of the most expensive cities in Nigeria due to its extremely high cost of living.
In the city centre, a 1-bedroom flat can be rented between N200,000 and N350,000.
A one-bedroom flat outside of these areas costs between N100,000 and N150,000.
On the other hand, the price of a two or three-bedroom flat can range from N600,000 to N2,000,000.
Abuja can be a lot to take in if you don’t have a lot of money, from housing to basic food items, but without a doubt, this city is one of the most beautiful cities to live in Nigeria.
The transportation cost in Abuja also contributes to the cost as the means of transport are mainly cabs or taxis.
People who work in Abuja, on the other hand, have found a way to avoid some of these high costs by living on the outskirts of the city, which is cheaper while commuting to work daily from their homes.
4. Rivers
Port Harcourt
As one of the states that produce oil, Port Harcourt is referred to as the nation’s treasure base.
Port Harcourt, a sizable industrial area with a sizable number of multinational corporations and businesses involved in the petroleum industry, is one of Rivers State’s most expensive areas.
This likely explains why the state is among the most expensive in the nation.
The high concentration of upper- and middle-class residents in Port Harcourt who work in the oil industry tends to raise the price of housing, food, education, and transportation.
The part of the state where a house is located also has an impact on the cost of accommodation, as one might expect.
In Port Harcourt, areas near the Government House and in Trans Amadi are quite pricey.
In this region, a duplex can be rented for between N700,000 and N2,000,000.
If you decide to look outside of this neighbourhood, you’ll probably find a cheaper duplex.
If you stay in Port Harcourt, it makes more sense to get around in your private vehicle.
However, with the removal of the fuel subsidy and the price of fuel doubling, it has even become more expensive to drive in private cars.
For the average resident of Port Harcourt, it is more difficult as they struggle to pay the high price of public transportation to take them to whichever destination they want to go within the State.
Depending on where these residents are going, cabs can cost between N700 to N2000 or more.
3. Kogi
Kogi
According to the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics, in May, inflation in Kogi State rose to 25% compared to other months.
This rise in inflation made the State’s cost of living extremely high, surprising the cost of living in States like Rivers and Abuja.
The major cost of inflation was associated with the removal of fuel subsidies. The fuel subsidy removal took a big toll on the State, especially its capital, Lokoja.
The residents of Lokoja have severally complained about the price of commodities in the market. The high cost of transportation to go to places around the state and the sudden surge in the price of accommodation within the State, especially in Lokoja.
2. Ondo
Ondo
On the list of our States with the highest cost of living, Ondo State comes in second. This is somewhat surprising given that most Western States in are relatively cheap when compared to other regions of the country.
According to the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics, before June, Ondo State has a rise in inflation of 25.8%
Food prices soared in the States as well as the price of transportation, accommodation and other necessities.
The removal of the fuel was a major increase in the high cost of living in Ondo State.
Akure, the capital and the commercial hub of the state saw a higher rise in the price of foodstuff, and residents complained about the increased cost of public transport.
However, in June/July the inflation rate in Ondo decreased to 25.4%
1. Lagos
Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, is now considered to be the most expensive state in the country.
In its report released on Monday, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated that, compared to the national average of 22.7%, Lagos State’s inflation rate increased to 25.7% in June.
According to the report, prices for goods and services rose in Lagos State by 25.7% when compared to the same time last year.
Lagos had the highest monthly inflation rate of 2.7% in June, according to the NBS, indicating a faster rate of price changes than other states.
The removal of fuel subsidies by the federal government, which caused a sharp increase in the price of petrol at the pump in Lagos, was the primary cause of this increase.
Lagos had lower fuel prices than other states before the removal because it was close to ports and important depots, which reduced some of the transportation costs related to petrol distribution.
However, as a result of the removal of the subsidy, Lagosians now pay nearly the same amount for fuel as the rest of Nigeria, with fuel prices increasing by more than four times from what they used to be.
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