Moving to United States from Nigeria
What to Expect
Considering a move from Nigeria to United States? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Nigeria to United States, you would find that United States is 4.9 times more expensive than Nigeria overall. A NGN103,430,048 salary in Nigeria would need to be roughly $165,671 in United States to maintain the same lifestyle. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Washington averages 66°F vs 91°F in Abuja, making it significantly cooler.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Nigeria and United States.
What does your salary buy?
NGN103,430,048 → $165,671
To maintain the same standard of living in United States
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 5.5 times more
Groceries
pay 98.6% more
Transportation
pay 58.6% more
Housing
pay 3.3 times more
Childcare
pay 16.3 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 3.8 times more
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 States.
people moved from Nigeria to United States · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to United States?
Top countries of origin for United States's foreign-born residents.
- 10,853,105
- 2,723,764
- 2,184,110
- 2,061,178
- 1,829,251
- 1,410,659
- · · ·
-
25.402,186
Nigeria
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in United States compared to Nigeria.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
United States generally does better on safety, though Nigeria leads in feel safe walking at night.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Nigeria generally does better on environment, though United States leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
United States generally does better on infrastructure, though Nigeria leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Nigeria generally does better on employment & economy, though United States leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
United States 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Abuja | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 97°/74°F (36°/23°C) | 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 91°/69°F (33°/21°C) | 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) | 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 93°/64°F (34°/18°C) | 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Abuja | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C) | 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) |
| Feb | 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C) | 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) |
| Mar | 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C) | 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) |
| Apr | 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C) | 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) |
| May | 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C) | 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) |
| Jun | 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) | 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) |
| Jul | 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C) | 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) |
| Aug | 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) | 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) |
| Sep | 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C) | 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) |
| Oct | 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C) | 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) |
| Nov | 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C) | 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) |
| Dec | 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C) | 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) |
Data:
Nigerian Meteorological Agency,
National Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Nigeria and United States. To live, work, or study long-term in United States, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check United States's immigration authority.
Nigeria passport holder visiting United States
Visa Required
United States passport holder visiting Nigeria
Visa Online (e-Visa)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 States than Nigeria?
On average United States is around 121% pricier than Nigeria, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to United States?
Budget about $41,418 for 3 months in United States (based on a NGN103,430,048 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from United States?
Connectivity is usually fine (United States: 37.8 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does United States offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is United States safe for expats?
United States generally does better on safety, though Nigeria leads in feel safe walking at night. The homicide rate in United States is 6.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 21.7 in Nigeria. About 63% of people in United States feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in United States compared to Nigeria?
Nigeria generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 36.1 doctors per 10,000 people in United States, compared to 3.9 in Nigeria. United States scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Nigeria: 38).
What's the weather like in United States compared to Nigeria?
The average high temperature in Washington is 66°F, compared to 91°F in Abuja. Washington receives around 41.5 in of rainfall per year, while Abuja gets 48.1 in.
What language do they speak in United States?
Both Nigeria and United States share the same official language: English.
