How much does a trip to Nigeria cost?
Faraway Worlds
If you’re planning on travelling to Nigeria, you’re probably wondering how much you need to budget for your trip. While your travel costs will depend on your travel style, generally speaking Nigeria can be a surprisingly affordable place to travel.
Accommodation costs are generally affordable and food and drinks are reasonably-priced. Many of Nigeria’s best attractions are very affordable or even free and, while some activities could set you back a fair amount, there’s plenty to do at lower price points too.
How much should I budget for a trip to Nigeria?
A reasonable budget for two for a week in Nigeria is around NGN 425,000.
The above cost is based on staying in good, mid-range accommodation and having a few meals out per week, while preparing some yourself. It makes allowances for a couple of sightseeing activities, but doesn’t take into account expensive activities like adventure sports or private tours.
Generally speaking, the longer you travel, the cheaper it costs per day, while fly-in, fly-out trips can be more expensive.
How much does accommodation cost?
You can expect to spend between NGN 23,000-NGN 39,000 a night, per couple, on accommodation in Nigeria. This will get you a private room with your own bathroom in a 3-4-star hotel or apartment rental.
See latest hotel deals in NigeriaHostels are, of course, cheaper, but a private room with a shared bathroom will still cost around NGN 8,000 per night. A bed in a dorm room also averages around NGN 4,000 per night, per person, although there are definitely cheaper options out there.
See the highest rated hostels in NigeriaThere are fewer hostels in Nigeria, so if you're looking for cheaper options, check out guest houses and homestay options. There are many international hotel chains catering for expats and these can be quite pricy.
How much should I budget for food and drinks in Nigeria?
Budget to spend around NGN 175,000 for two for a week in Nigeria. This assumes you’re cooking some of the time and drinking some alcohol.
If you enjoy eating out, you can expect to pay around NGN 24,000 for a nice dinner for two, including an alcoholic drink. A meal at a pub is likely to be around NGN 11,000 for two, with cheaper meals available (especially for lunch) for around NGN 4,000 each.
Assuming that you’ll be eating out some of the time, budget at least NGN 24,000 a week for groceries. If you enjoy a few drinks, you’ll need to increase this amount – beer costs around NGN 1,100 for a 500ml bottle and good bottle of wine is around NGN 3,260, from a shop, although there are cheaper options available. Milk typically costs around NGN 750 for a two-litre bottle and you can expect to pay around NGN 2,000 for a cappuccino from a local café.
The above costs will allow you to eat Western food throughout your stay. If you're happy to experiment with local food and especially street food, you'll be able to eat for much less. Many restaurants will have some local dishes on offer, but they'll usually be more expensive.
How much does it cost to get around Nigeria?
Getting around Nigeria is easiest with a taxi. Transport costs fluctuate depending how much you travel, but budgeting around NGN 50,000 for two per week is a good starting point. This should allow you to take taxis to get around. If you’re planning on doing any tours or using hop-on hop-off buses, you’ll need to up your budget a bit.
Taxis are a good way of getting around cities, just be sure to use a reputable company and agree a price before leaving. Uber is also available in the major cities - just be sure to keep your fare online.
In additional to taxis, the cost above assumes you'll be hiring a car with a driver for a couple of days of your visit. Please note that driving around Nigeria by yourself often isn't a safe or practical option - traffic in the major cities can be overwhelming and more remote transport routes can be unsafe. Major hotels often have drivers who can take you around the city and also pick you up and drop you off at the airport.
What should I expect to spend on activities?
A lot of the best things to do in Nigeria are free. However, there definitely are some attractions that cost money – entry fees to a museum or an art gallery are usually around NGN 300 - NGN 1,000 per person. If you want to do organised day trips or join smaller tour groups to learn more about some of the sites, budget around NGN 50,000 per activity per person.
In summary
Nigeria is a beautiful destination to visit and can be an affordable place to travel. Cooking your own meals, carefully selecting accommodation or limiting meals out will definitely help you to reduce your travel costs. Slow travel is another great way to help your budget to stretch further, while exploring a place in more depth.
Travelling through Nigeria is definitely possible on a budget – just pick your priorities and compromise on the rest or consider travelling in the off-season and avoiding school holidays to cut down on costs. And, if you’re on the luxury end of the scale or wanting to treat yourself, the sky’s the limit.
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Last Updated 12 May 2022
