There are
places in Nigeria where one can still live comfortably on an ₦18,000 minimum
wage. Where a plate of Akpu still goes for ₦100, and monthly rent for a good
apartment still stands at ₦1,500.
places in Nigeria where one can still live comfortably on an ₦18,000 minimum
wage. Where a plate of Akpu still goes for ₦100, and monthly rent for a good
apartment still stands at ₦1,500.
These
places might not offer the luxury of Banana Island, or the security of Maitama,
or even the glorious Nkwobi Joints that are close to home in New Haven, Enugu,
but they have all the food, shelter and clothing that anyone might need, and also
the the calm and the communalism that its advanced counterparts can only wish
for.
places might not offer the luxury of Banana Island, or the security of Maitama,
or even the glorious Nkwobi Joints that are close to home in New Haven, Enugu,
but they have all the food, shelter and clothing that anyone might need, and also
the the calm and the communalism that its advanced counterparts can only wish
for.
The common
problem with these cheap, laid-back cities is the availability of jobs that pay
even the ₦18,000 minimum wage. These places are largely not industrialised, and
so have little or no job openings. However, they are fertile grounds for sole
enterprises that pay more than the ₦18,000 minimum wage.
problem with these cheap, laid-back cities is the availability of jobs that pay
even the ₦18,000 minimum wage. These places are largely not industrialised, and
so have little or no job openings. However, they are fertile grounds for sole
enterprises that pay more than the ₦18,000 minimum wage.
Below are
the cheapest places to live in Nigeria. As I wrote above, there are not many
companies paying the minimum wage in these places, but they are the best places
to start a business that pays way above the minimum wage.
the cheapest places to live in Nigeria. As I wrote above, there are not many
companies paying the minimum wage in these places, but they are the best places
to start a business that pays way above the minimum wage.
1. Ida
Ida is a
town in Kogi state. It’s the seat of power and home to the Attah of Igala, one
of the foremost monarchies in Nigeria.
town in Kogi state. It’s the seat of power and home to the Attah of Igala, one
of the foremost monarchies in Nigeria.
Idah is
also home to a tertiary institution, the Federal Polytechnic Idah, and for that
has a large student population.
also home to a tertiary institution, the Federal Polytechnic Idah, and for that
has a large student population.
Idah is
however largely an agrarian town, with population made up of mostly people who
earn a living from the farms as it is blessed with one of the most fertile land
for the growth of crops in Nigeria. For this, Idah is never in short of stuffs
that go into the stomach, and they generously come at very cheap prices.
however largely an agrarian town, with population made up of mostly people who
earn a living from the farms as it is blessed with one of the most fertile land
for the growth of crops in Nigeria. For this, Idah is never in short of stuffs
that go into the stomach, and they generously come at very cheap prices.
A bunch of ripe
plantain can be bought below two hundred naira no matter the size. The same
applies to a tuber of yam, but the cheapest food in Idah aren’t plantain or
yam, but food items like pepper, tomatoe, curry other vegetable. Idah also has
a very rich wildlife, so the most-loveable bush meat come always cheap because
they are never in short supply.
plantain can be bought below two hundred naira no matter the size. The same
applies to a tuber of yam, but the cheapest food in Idah aren’t plantain or
yam, but food items like pepper, tomatoe, curry other vegetable. Idah also has
a very rich wildlife, so the most-loveable bush meat come always cheap because
they are never in short supply.
House rent
also come cheap in Idah, but when I talk of a house in Idah I clearly don’t
mean some furnished condos with gorgeous kitchens, high-end bathrooms with both
hot and cold water, and air-conditioned bedrooms. In Idah, houses are either
half-completed bungalows with unpainted walls and un-tiled floors or bent mud
houses passed down from great grandfathers whose roofs won’t hesitate to
“open up” anytime a little storm come crashing.
also come cheap in Idah, but when I talk of a house in Idah I clearly don’t
mean some furnished condos with gorgeous kitchens, high-end bathrooms with both
hot and cold water, and air-conditioned bedrooms. In Idah, houses are either
half-completed bungalows with unpainted walls and un-tiled floors or bent mud
houses passed down from great grandfathers whose roofs won’t hesitate to
“open up” anytime a little storm come crashing.
One thing
common with houses in Idah is that the landlords won’t mind renting them out to
anyone ready to pay ₦1,500 per month, and that’s very cheap.
common with houses in Idah is that the landlords won’t mind renting them out to
anyone ready to pay ₦1,500 per month, and that’s very cheap.
2. Makurdi
The capital
of Benue state is undoubtedly one of the cheapest places to live in Nigeria,
and for very obvious reasons. Benue state is the food basket of the nation, so
Makurdi can lay claim to being the food capital of Nigeria, and when I say food
I mean the most venerable yam.
of Benue state is undoubtedly one of the cheapest places to live in Nigeria,
and for very obvious reasons. Benue state is the food basket of the nation, so
Makurdi can lay claim to being the food capital of Nigeria, and when I say food
I mean the most venerable yam.
Yes, yam. The
most respected of all food is everywhere in Makurdi, generously feeding its
inhabitants while allocating sizable proportion to other places in Nigeria that
can afford to pay.
most respected of all food is everywhere in Makurdi, generously feeding its
inhabitants while allocating sizable proportion to other places in Nigeria that
can afford to pay.
It’s not
only yam that is cheap in Makurdi though. All root crops are, and this include
potatoe, carrot, and cassava. This clearly means that Nigeria’s most important
staple, garri — which is processed from cassava, is also cheap in Makurdi.
only yam that is cheap in Makurdi though. All root crops are, and this include
potatoe, carrot, and cassava. This clearly means that Nigeria’s most important
staple, garri — which is processed from cassava, is also cheap in Makurdi.
Makurdi
also has a giant market where used products imported from all over the world
are sold at very affordable prices. This means that every other thing an average
Nigerian might need — from television, radio to cloth, furniture can be gotten
at the cheap in Makurdi.
also has a giant market where used products imported from all over the world
are sold at very affordable prices. This means that every other thing an average
Nigerian might need — from television, radio to cloth, furniture can be gotten
at the cheap in Makurdi.
3. Birnin
Kebbi
Birnin
Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi state is one of the cheapest capital cities to live
in the country, and also one that has the most opportunities for the savvy
entrepreneur.
Kebbi, the capital of Kebbi state is one of the cheapest capital cities to live
in the country, and also one that has the most opportunities for the savvy
entrepreneur.
Birnin
Kebbi and its surrounding towns and villages have some of the most most fertile
grasslands for the grazing of cattle in the world, and what this means for the
average Joe looking to cut back on how much they spend is that meat and diary
products can be gotten at the cheap.
Kebbi and its surrounding towns and villages have some of the most most fertile
grasslands for the grazing of cattle in the world, and what this means for the
average Joe looking to cut back on how much they spend is that meat and diary
products can be gotten at the cheap.
Kebbi state
also have some of the most fertile land for growing of crop. This means that
the city can cheaply feed itself and still have surplus to sell to states like
Lagos, who, famously have been spending heavily in sourcing rice from the state
in recent years.
also have some of the most fertile land for growing of crop. This means that
the city can cheaply feed itself and still have surplus to sell to states like
Lagos, who, famously have been spending heavily in sourcing rice from the state
in recent years.
Birnin
Kebbi presents one of the least tapped opportunities in every field: from
agriculture to education to healthcare. What this means is that competition is
low for houses, transportation in the city, and those who dare to venture in
are bound to reap heavily at very minimal cost.
Kebbi presents one of the least tapped opportunities in every field: from
agriculture to education to healthcare. What this means is that competition is
low for houses, transportation in the city, and those who dare to venture in
are bound to reap heavily at very minimal cost.
4. Akure
The rocky
town of Akure is one of the cheapest and most popular places to live in
Nigeria, and this is a veiw shared by many who have experienced the city.
town of Akure is one of the cheapest and most popular places to live in
Nigeria, and this is a veiw shared by many who have experienced the city.
It is in the
midst of agrarian towns and villages where everything from the best of plants
give the best of yeilds, and the best of trees give the best of fruits.
midst of agrarian towns and villages where everything from the best of plants
give the best of yeilds, and the best of trees give the best of fruits.
This means
that foodstuff ranging from palm oil, ogbono and coconut to snails and other
bushmeats are always on the abundance.
that foodstuff ranging from palm oil, ogbono and coconut to snails and other
bushmeats are always on the abundance.
You don’t
need to live in the state to learn of this. You only need to visit it or just
drive by it. The attractive way that all manner of foodstuff are displayed
along major roads and streets are vivid testament to the fact that locals have
them in abundance. For this, living in Akure roughly translates to having your
food in abundance.
need to live in the state to learn of this. You only need to visit it or just
drive by it. The attractive way that all manner of foodstuff are displayed
along major roads and streets are vivid testament to the fact that locals have
them in abundance. For this, living in Akure roughly translates to having your
food in abundance.
House rent
might not be cheap in Akure compared to other places on my list, but they are
still downright cheap when compared to house rent in places like Abuja, Enugu,
or Port Harcourt. Paying ₦70,000 per year for a self-contained apartment — like
what is obtained in Akure, means that you are saving a whooping ₦100,000 by
deciding not to live in the cheapest neighbourhood in Abuja, for example.
might not be cheap in Akure compared to other places on my list, but they are
still downright cheap when compared to house rent in places like Abuja, Enugu,
or Port Harcourt. Paying ₦70,000 per year for a self-contained apartment — like
what is obtained in Akure, means that you are saving a whooping ₦100,000 by
deciding not to live in the cheapest neighbourhood in Abuja, for example.
Other basic
necessities like clothing and medicine also do not come cheap in Akure owing to
the fact that they are mostly imported via Lagos, but cheap alternatives abound
in Akure — like keeping a ₦100 Gbogbonise
rather than visiting a doctor each time a loved one get stung by an irate
scorpion.
necessities like clothing and medicine also do not come cheap in Akure owing to
the fact that they are mostly imported via Lagos, but cheap alternatives abound
in Akure — like keeping a ₦100 Gbogbonise
rather than visiting a doctor each time a loved one get stung by an irate
scorpion.