TL;DR — Daily budget at a glance
These are per-person daily costs excluding flights. Based on April 2026 prices in Lagos.
Budget
~75,000–120,000 NGN
Guest houses, street food, public transport & Uber
Mid-range
~150,000–300,000 NGN
Decent hotels, restaurants, Uber everywhere, some nightlife
Luxury
~450,000+ NGN
5-star hotels, fine dining, private drivers, VIP nightlife
Flights
Your biggest single expense. Prices swing wildly depending on when you book and when you fly. December (Detty December) is the most expensive period — prices can double.
| Route | Low season | High season |
|---|---|---|
| London to Lagos | ~$450 / ~350 GBP | ~$1,200 / ~950 GBP |
| New York to Lagos | ~$600 | ~$1,500 |
| Toronto to Lagos | ~C$800 / ~$580 USD | ~C$2,000 / ~$1,450 USD |
Tip: book 6-8 weeks ahead for the best prices. Use a flight comparison tool to track price drops.
Accommodation
Lagos and Abuja have everything from basic guest houses to world-class hotels. If you are visiting family, this cost might be zero — but if you want your own space, here is what to expect.
| Type | Price / night | USD equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Guest house / Airbnb (basic) | 15,000–30,000 NGN | $10–20 |
| Mid-range hotel (VI, Lekki) | 50,000–150,000 NGN | $33–100 |
| Serviced apartment (1 month) | 80,000–200,000 NGN | $53–133 |
| Luxury hotel (Eko, Radisson) | 200,000–500,000+ NGN | $133–330+ |
Pro tip: for stays longer than a week, negotiate directly with Airbnb hosts or serviced apartments for a discount. Prices listed are for Lagos — Abuja is slightly cheaper.
Food & drink
Nigerian food is incredible and stupidly cheap if you eat local. The price gap between street food and fancy restaurants is massive — you can eat like a king for $5 or spend $100 at a rooftop in Victoria Island.
| What | Price (NGN) | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Street food (jollof, suya, amala) | 500–2,000 NGN | $0.30–1.30 |
| Local restaurant (buka) | 1,500–4,000 NGN | $1–2.70 |
| Mid-range restaurant | 3,000–10,000 NGN | $2–6.70 |
| Fine dining (VI, Ikoyi) | 15,000–50,000 NGN | $10–33 |
| Bottled water (1.5L) | 200–500 NGN | $0.15–0.35 |
| Beer (bar / restaurant) | 800–3,000 NGN | $0.55–2 |
| Coffee (cafe) | 2,000–5,000 NGN | $1.30–3.30 |
Transport
Uber and Bolt work well in Lagos and Abuja. They are cheap, safe, and save you from haggling with taxi drivers. For longer stays or group trips, hiring a driver for the day makes sense.
| Transport | Price (NGN) | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Uber / Bolt ride (within Lagos) | 1,000–5,000 NGN | $0.70–3.30 |
| Airport pickup (pre-booked) | 15,000–40,000 NGN | $10–27 |
| Day car hire with driver | 20,000–40,000 NGN | $13–27 |
| BRT bus (Lagos) | 200–700 NGN | $0.15–0.50 |
| Domestic flight (Lagos to Abuja) | 50,000–120,000 NGN | $33–80 |
Nightlife
Lagos nightlife is elite — and it can drain your wallet fast if you are not careful. Club culture in Lagos is about vibes, bottle service, and looking the part. You can also have an incredible night out at a beach bar or rooftop for a fraction of the price.
| What | Price (NGN) | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Club entry | 5,000–20,000 NGN | $3.30–13 |
| Cocktail / spirit | 2,000–8,000 NGN | $1.30–5.30 |
| Bottle service (club) | 50,000–500,000+ NGN | $33–330+ |
| Rooftop bar / lounge | 5,000–15,000 NGN total | $3.30–10 |
| Beach bar evening | 3,000–10,000 NGN total | $2–6.70 |
Travel essentials
These are the non-negotiables. An eSIM, VPN, travel insurance, and a way to send money cheaply. Skip any of these and you will either overpay or be stuck without connectivity.
eSIM for Nigeria
$5–15Get data the moment you land. No SIM card hassle at the airport, no registration queues. Works on most phones from 2020 onwards. We recommend Airalo for Nigeria — reliable coverage on MTN/Airtel networks.
Get an eSIM on AiraloFrom $5 — instant activationVPN
~$3/moEssential for accessing your banking apps, streaming services, and staying secure on hotel/cafe WiFi. Some UK and US banking apps flag Nigerian IP addresses — a VPN prevents that headache.
Get NordVPNFrom $3/mo — works in NigeriaTravel insurance
~$42/moMedical care in Nigeria is affordable, but if something serious happens, you want evacuation cover. SafetyWing covers Nigeria and lets you buy while already abroad — no need to decide before you leave.
Get SafetyWing insuranceFrom $42/mo — buy it anywhereMoney transfers
Save 3–5% vs banksNever exchange money at the airport. Use Wise to send GBP/USD/CAD to a naira account at the real mid-market rate. The difference versus your bank can easily save you $50-100 on a two-week trip.
Send money with WiseReal exchange rate, low feesSample budgets for 2 weeks
Here is what 14 days in Lagos actually costs at each level. Flights not included — see the flights section above for those.
Budget traveler — ~$850–1,120 total
Staying with family some nights, eating mostly local, using Uber sparingly
| Category | 14-day total |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (mix of family + guest house) | $140–280 |
| Food (mostly street food & bukas) | $70–110 |
| Transport (Uber/Bolt + occasional BRT) | $50–80 |
| Nightlife (beach bars, local spots) | $40–70 |
| Activities & sightseeing | $30–50 |
| Essentials (eSIM, VPN, misc) | $20–30 |
| Total (excl. flights) | $350–620 |
| + Return flights (London) | $450–1,200 |
| Grand total | $800–1,820 |
Mid-range traveler — ~$1,700–3,100 total
RecommendedDecent hotels, eating out daily, Uber everywhere, regular nightlife
| Category | 14-day total |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (mid-range hotel or serviced apt) | $460–1,400 |
| Food (mix of local + restaurants) | $140–280 |
| Transport (Uber daily + occasional day hire) | $70–140 |
| Nightlife (clubs 2-3x/week, lounges) | $100–250 |
| Activities (beach clubs, galleries, markets) | $50–100 |
| Essentials (eSIM, VPN, insurance) | $60–80 |
| Total (excl. flights) | $880–2,250 |
| + Return flights (London) | $450–1,200 |
| Grand total | $1,330–3,450 |
Luxury traveler — ~$4,500+ total
5-star hotels, fine dining, private driver, VIP nightlife
| Category | 14-day total |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (5-star hotel) | $1,860–4,620 |
| Food (fine dining + restaurants) | $420–700 |
| Transport (private driver daily) | $180–380 |
| Nightlife (VIP, bottle service) | $460–1,400+ |
| Activities (private tours, boat trips) | $200–500 |
| Essentials (eSIM, VPN, premium insurance) | $80–120 |
| Total (excl. flights) | $3,200–7,720 |
| + Return flights (Business, London) | $2,500–5,000 |
| Grand total | $5,700–12,720 |
10 ways to cut your Nigeria trip costs
Book flights 6-8 weeks ahead
Prices spike inside 4 weeks and during December. Set a price alert on Jetcost or Google Flights and book when it dips.
Fly mid-week (Tuesday or Wednesday)
Weekend departures cost 15-30% more on most Lagos routes. A Tuesday flight from Heathrow can save you 100-200 GBP.
Eat street food for at least one meal a day
Suya, amala, jollof from a buka — this is where the best food is anyway. You will save 5,000-10,000 NGN per meal versus a restaurant.
Use Wise instead of your bank for currency
Banks charge 3-5% markup on forex. Wise uses the real mid-market rate. On a $2,000 trip, that is $60-100 saved.
Stay in a serviced apartment for 7+ nights
Serviced apartments in Lekki or VI cost 40-60% less than hotels for weekly stays. You also get a kitchen to cook some meals.
Avoid December unless you plan months ahead
Detty December is incredible, but flights triple and hotel prices double. January and February offer the same weather at half the price.
Get an eSIM before landing
Airport SIM vendors charge 2-3x the normal price and registration takes ages. An eSIM from Airalo is $5-15 and works instantly.
Share Uber rides or hire a daily driver
If you are traveling with friends or family, a daily driver at 25,000-40,000 NGN split 3-4 ways is cheaper than individual Ubers.
Skip hotel breakfast
Hotel breakfasts in Lagos are overpriced and mediocre. Walk to a local spot for akara and pap or head to a cafe — you will eat better for a quarter of the price.
Negotiate everything at markets
The first price you hear at Lekki Market or Balogun is 2-3x the real price. Start at 40% of the asking price and work from there. It is expected and part of the fun.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Disclaimer: Prices quoted are estimates based on research and real trips as of April 2026. Costs fluctuate with the naira exchange rate, season, and inflation. USD equivalents use an approximate rate of 1 USD = 1,500 NGN. Some links on this page are affiliate links — we earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep the site running and the content free. Full disclaimer