Moving to United Kingdom from Nigeria

moving to

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 5.1 times more expensive than Nigeria overall. A NGN103,376,008 salary in Nigeria would need to be roughly £109,520 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.

Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓

How Far Will Your Money Go?

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

What does your salary buy?

NGN103,376,008 £109,520

To maintain the same standard of living in United Kingdom

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 5.1 times more

Groceries

pay 34.1% more

Transportation

pay 2.3 times more

Housing

pay 3.7 times more

Childcare

pay 15.9 times more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 5.1 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 NGN = 0.0005 GBP (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.

Get free moving quotes to United Kingdom

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

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 United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

NG
21.7
GB
1.0
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 United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

NG
3.9
GB
31.7

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 United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

NG
0.0
GB
41.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

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 The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

NG
3.1%
GB
4.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

NG
$5,700
GB
$54,100

Nigeria generally does better on employment & economy, though United Kingdom 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
GB
81.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

NG
56.7
GB
3.8

United Kingdom 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

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 96% pricier than Nigeria, with notable variation by city.

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

Budget about £27,380 for 3 months in United Kingdom (based on a NGN103,376,008 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: 41.4 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 1.0 per 100,000 people, compared to 21.7 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 31.7 doctors per 10,000 people in United Kingdom, compared to 3.9 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.

Share this

At a Glance

NG GB
Population 225,082,083 67,791,400
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