Moving to Nigeria from South Africa
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Africa to Nigeria? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Africa to Nigeria, you would find that Nigeria is 19.5% cheaper than South Africa overall. A ZAR1,218,000 salary in South Africa would need to be roughly NGN105,847,230 in Nigeria to maintain the same lifestyle. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Abuja averages 91°F vs 77°F in Pretoria, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between South Africa and Nigeria.
What does your salary buy?
ZAR1,218,000 → NGN105,847,230
To maintain the same standard of living in Nigeria
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 49.0% less
Groceries
pay 34.6% more
Transportation
pay 16.2% less
Housing
pay 10.0% more
Childcare
pay 57.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 21.1% less
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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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Nigeria compared to South Africa.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Nigeria performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Nigeria leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
South Africa generally does better on environment, though Nigeria leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
South Africa 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
Nigeria generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa 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
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Africa performs better than Nigeria across all family life metrics.
Data: South African Revenue Service, 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 | Pretoria | Abuja |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) | 97°/74°F (36°/23°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) | 91°/69°F (33°/21°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 85°/66°F (29°/19°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) | 93°/64°F (34°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Pretoria | Abuja |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) | 94°/69°F (34.7°/20.4°C) |
| Feb | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) | 98°/78°F (36.8°/25.5°C) |
| Mar | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) | 98°/76°F (36.9°/24.3°C) |
| Apr | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) | 96°/76°F (35.6°/24.7°C) |
| May | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) | 91°/67°F (32.7°/19.5°C) |
| Jun | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) | 87°/65°F (30.6°/18.3°C) |
| Jul | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) | 84°/71°F (29.1°/21.9°C) |
| Aug | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) | 84°/64°F (28.9°/17.7°C) |
| Sep | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) | 86°/64°F (30.0°/17.5°C) |
| Oct | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) | 90°/71°F (32.0°/21.4°C) |
| Nov | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) | 94°/60°F (34.4°/15.7°C) |
| Dec | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) | 94°/60°F (34.6°/15.5°C) |
Data:
South African Weather Service,
Nigerian Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Africa and Nigeria. To live, work, or study long-term in Nigeria, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Nigeria's immigration authority.
South Africa passport holder visiting Nigeria
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Nigeria passport holder visiting South Africa
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 Nigeria than South Africa?
On average Nigeria is around 3% pricier than South Africa, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Nigeria?
Budget about NGN26,461,808 for 3 months in Nigeria (based on a ZAR1,218,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Nigeria?
Connectivity is usually fine (Nigeria: 0.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Nigeria offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Nigeria safe for expats?
Nigeria performs significantly better than South Africa across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Nigeria is 21.7 per 100,000 people, compared to 45.5 in South Africa. About 79% of people in Nigeria feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Nigeria compared to South Africa?
South Africa generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Nigeria leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 3.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Nigeria, compared to 8.1 in South Africa. Nigeria scores 38 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Africa: 71).
What's the weather like in Nigeria compared to South Africa?
The average high temperature in Abuja is 91°F, compared to 77°F in Pretoria. Abuja receives around 48.1 in of rainfall per year, while Pretoria gets 27.0 in.
What language do they speak in Nigeria?
The official language in Nigeria is English. In South Africa, the official languages are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu.
Compare further: South Africa vs. Nigeria
At a Glance
ZA
|
NG
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 57,516,665 | 225,082,083 |
| Currency | South African Rand (ZAR) | Nigerian Naira (NGN) |
| Languages | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu | English |
| Driving side | Left | Right |
| Calling code | +27 | +234 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 10111 | 112 |