Key figure
Direct answer
Living costs in Nigeria are still high, even though inflation has cooled.
Official data shows that one adult healthy diet costs about ₦44,220 a month, while a typical city-bus commute translates to about ₦49,200 a month. That means one or two basic categories can consume most of a ₦70,000 minimum wage.
Healthy diet / month
₦44,220
One adult · October 2025
City-bus commute / month
₦49,200
Using December 2025 national fare average
Petrol (50 litres)
₦51,738
At January 2026 national average
Headline inflation
15.10%
January 2026 CPI
What this means
The best way to think about living costs is not through one number alone. Food, fuel, transport, and inflation all combine to shape what households actually feel.
That is why life can still feel expensive even when the inflation rate is lower than it was at the peak.
In simple terms: the pace of price increases has slowed, but the price level households are dealing with is still heavy.