Moving to United Kingdom from Nigeria

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What to Expect

Considering a move from Nigeria to United Kingdom? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Nigeria to United Kingdom, you would find that United Kingdom is 3.2 times more expensive than Nigeria overall. A NGN100,000,000 salary in Nigeria would need to be roughly £182,000 in United Kingdom to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — London averages 60°F vs 91°F in Abuja, making it significantly cooler.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Nigeria and United Kingdom.

What does your salary buy?

NGN100,000,000 → £182,000

To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 5.2 times more

Groceries

pay 60.9% more

Transportation

pay 3.1 times more

Housing

pay 3.6 times more

Childcare

pay 6.4 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 4.1 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 NGN = 0.0006 GBP (October 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?

What the data shows about people moving from Nigeria to United Kingdom.

Moved in 2019
10,416

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

Who's moving to United Kingdom?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in United Kingdom compared to Nigeria.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate World Bank, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

NG
15.8
GB
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

NG
17.2
GB
2.4

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Nigeria across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

NG
$260
GB
$6,606
Doctors per 10,000 people World Bank, 2023

affects wait times and access to care

NG
3.8
GB
33.0

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom 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
GB
13.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

NG
0.6t
GB
4.2t

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

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people World Bank, 2024

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NG
0.1
GB
42.2
Water stress level World Bank, 2022

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

NG
9.7%
GB
14.3%

United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though Nigeria leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate World Bank, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

NG
3.1%
GB
4.8%
GDP per capita World Bank, 2025

a broad measure of economic output per person

NG
$1,224
GB
$57,602

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy World Bank, 2024

average years of life at birth

NG
54.6 yrs
GB
81.4 yrs
Infant mortality World Bank, 2024

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NG
69.8
GB
4.1

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Nigeria across all family life metrics.

Sources: World Bank (2017–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria (2016), HM Revenue & Customs (2016). How we calculate this

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

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Abuja London
Jan–Mar 97°/74°F (36°/23°C) 49°/38°F (9°/3°C)
Apr–Jun 91°/69°F (33°/21°C) 64°/48°F (18°/9°C)
Jul–Sep 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) 72°/56°F (22°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 93°/64°F (34°/18°C) 53°/43°F (12°/6°C)
View all months
Month Abuja London
Jan 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C) 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C)
Feb 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C) 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C)
Mar 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C) 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C)
Apr 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C) 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C)
May 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C) 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C)
Jun 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C)
Jul 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C) 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C)
Aug 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C)
Sep 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C) 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C)
Oct 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C) 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C)
Nov 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C) 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C)
Dec 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C) 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C)

Data: Nigerian Meteorological Agency Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Met Office Met Office

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Nigeria passport

Nigeria passport holder visiting United Kingdom

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

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Nigeria

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom than Nigeria?

On average United Kingdom is around 220% pricier than Nigeria, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to United Kingdom?

Budget about £45,500 for 3 months in United Kingdom (based on a NGN100,000,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.

Can I work remotely from United Kingdom?

Connectivity is usually fine (United Kingdom: 42.2 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United Kingdom offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is United Kingdom safe for expats?

United Kingdom performs significantly better than Nigeria across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in United Kingdom is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 15.8 in Nigeria.

How is healthcare in United Kingdom compared to Nigeria?

Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United Kingdom leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 33.0 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 3.8 in Nigeria. United Kingdom scores 88 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Nigeria: 38).

What's the weather like in United Kingdom compared to Nigeria?

The average high temperature in London is 60°F, compared to 91°F in Abuja. London receives around 22.0 in of rainfall per year, while Abuja gets 48.1 in.

What language do they speak in United Kingdom?

Both Nigeria and United Kingdom share the same official language: English.

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At a Glance

NG GB
Population 237,527,782 69,487,000
Currency Nigerian Naira (NGN) British Pound Sterling (£)
Languages English English
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +234 +44
Time zones 1 9
Emergency number 112 999