Moving to Australia from Nigeria

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Nigeria to Australia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Nigeria to Australia, you would find that Australia is 4.8 times more expensive than Nigeria overall. A NGN103,376,008 salary in Nigeria would need to be roughly A$196,500 in Australia to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Canberra averages 67°F vs 91°F in Abuja, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Nigeria to Australia.

What does your salary buy?

NGN103,376,008 A$196,500

To maintain the same standard of living in Australia

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 5.3 times more

Groceries

pay 58.6% more

Transportation

pay 79.5% more

Housing

pay 2.7 times more

Childcare

pay 13.6 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 6.2 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 NGN = 0.001 AUD (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Nigeria to Australia, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
1,394 ↓ 2% vs 2022

people moved from Nigeria to Australia · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Australia?

Top countries of origin for Australia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Nigeria to Australia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

NG
21.7
AU
0.8
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NG
17.2
AU
4.5

Australia performs significantly better than Nigeria across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

NG
$260
AU
$7,691
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NG
3.9
AU
39.8

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

NG
77.0
AU
10.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NG
0.6t
AU
14.1t

Nigeria generally does better on environment, though Australia leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NG
0.0
AU
35.1
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NG
9.7%
AU
4.6%

Australia performs significantly better than Nigeria across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NG
3.1%
AU
3.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NG
$5,700
AU
$59,500

Nigeria generally does better on employment & economy, though Australia leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

NG
61.3 yrs
AU
83.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NG
56.7
AU
3.0

Australia performs significantly better than Nigeria across all family life metrics.

Data: Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Abuja Rain: 48.1 in/yr (1221 mm)
91° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

Canberra Rain: 24.8 in/yr (629 mm)
67° / 44°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Abuja Canberra
Jan–Mar 97°/74°F (36°/23°C) 80°/54°F (26°/12°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/69°F (33°/21°C) 61°/39°F (16°/4°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) 56°/35°F (13°/1°C)
Oct–Dec 93°/64°F (34°/18°C) 73°/47°F (23°/9°C)
View all months
Month Abuja Canberra
Jan 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C) 82°/55°F (27.7°/13.0°C)
Feb 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C) 81°/55°F (27.0°/12.9°C)
Mar 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C) 76°/51°F (24.4°/10.7°C)
Apr 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C) 68°/44°F (19.8°/6.6°C)
May 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C) 60°/38°F (15.4°/3.1°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) 54°/34°F (12.1°/0.9°C)
Jul 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C) 52°/32°F (11.2°/-0.2°C)
Aug 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) 55°/34°F (12.9°/1.0°C)
Sep 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C) 61°/38°F (16.0°/3.1°C)
Oct 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C) 67°/43°F (19.2°/6.0°C)
Nov 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C) 72°/47°F (22.4°/8.5°C)
Dec 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C) 79°/52°F (26.0°/11.2°C)

Data: Nigerian Meteorological Agency Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Bureau of Meteorology Bureau of Meteorology

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Nigeria and Australia. To live, work, or study long-term in Australia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Australia's immigration authority.

Nigeria passport

Nigeria passport holder visiting Australia

Visa Required
Nigeria passport holders need a visa to enter Australia.
Australia passport

Australia passport holder visiting Nigeria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Australia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Nigeria.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Australia than Nigeria?

No — Australia is on average about 83% more expensive than Nigeria. City-level variation matters.

How much money do I need to move to Australia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly A$49,125 in Australia on a NGN103,376,008 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Australia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Australia has 35.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Australia safe for expats?

Australia performs significantly better than Nigeria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Australia is 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to 21.7 in Nigeria.

How is healthcare in Australia compared to Nigeria?

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Australia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 39.8 doctors per 10,000 people in Australia, compared to 3.9 in Nigeria. Australia scores 87 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Nigeria: 38).

What's the weather like in Australia compared to Nigeria?

The average high temperature in Canberra is 67°F, compared to 91°F in Abuja. Canberra receives around 24.8 in of rainfall per year, while Abuja gets 48.1 in.

What language do they speak in Australia?

Both Nigeria and Australia share the same official language: English.

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At a Glance

NG AU
Population 225,082,083 26,141,369
Currency Nigerian Naira (NGN) Australian Dollar (A$)
Languages English English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +234 +61
Time zones 1 8
Emergency number 112 000