We all know that Nigeria and the United Kingdom have many things in common, but the cost of living in the UK is undoubtedly higher.
A one-month’s rent in the UK could rent a house for an entire year in Nigeria. Groceries, transportation, and other utilities are equally higher.
According to livingcost.org, the average cost in Nigeria is 70% lower than in the United Kingdom. Nigeria was ranked 153rd in the world’s most expensive countries, while the United Kingdom was ranked 12th.
Currently, for a single person or student from Nigeria, the estimated monthly cost of living in the UK is £651 (₦632,622) without rent. While the average cost of living for a family of four is around £2,268 (₦2,204,501), not including house rent.
Therefore, it’s essential to research how to stay financially safe when you relocate to the United Kingdom.
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What is the Cost of Living in the UK for Nigerians?
To live in the UK as a student, single or with family, you must pay for living expenses and other costs. The cost of living varies by city.
Other living expenses for Nigerians include electricity, water bills, rent, transportation, food, internet services, books and supplies, cell phone charges, and the cost of tuition for students.
In this section, I will discuss the cost of living in the UK for a family. While the cost of living in the UK as a Nigerian student will follow.
Cost of Living in the UK for a Family of Two (you & your spouse)
If you are relocating to the UK from Nigeria as a family of two, the typical cost of living is between £2,500 and £3,000 (₦2,393,734 – ₦2,872,225) per month, including rent.
Living together might aid in the splitting of rent and other utility expenditures if both of you are working.
Cost of Living in the UK for a Family of Four
The average cost of living in the UK for a Nigerian family of four is between £4,000 and £4,500 (₦3,828,386 – ₦4,306,524), including rent.
This amount will change if you live outside of major cities. In addition, your living costs will be determined by how well you manage your resources.
But the major expenses such as food, rent, transportation, and tax should be covered in the above-mentioned sum.
See below for a breakdown of important items you will need while living in the UK.
Monthly Rent
| City (London) | Cost (£) |
| One bedroom apartment in the city(London) center | 750 |
| One bedroom apartment outside the city(London) center | 400-600 |
| Three-bedroom apartment in the city(London) center | 1,200-1,500 |
| Three-bedroom apartment outside the city(London) | 860 – 1,100 |
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Transportation
| Items | Cost (£) |
| Monthly pass (Regular Price) | 65 |
| One-way ticket (local transport) | 2.5 |
| Taxi start | 2.8 |
| Taxi 1-hour waiting | 17.5 |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.26 |
Utilities
| Items | Cost (£) |
| Basic utilities including (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Garbage, water, laundry) | 160 |
| Internet (unlimited-60mbps) | 0.1 |
Schooling
| Items | Cost (£) |
| Preschool, full-day, private,( Monthly for 1 child) | 950 |
| International primary school (yearly for 1 child) | 13,500 |
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Cost of Living in the UK for Nigerian Students
The cost of living in the UK as a Nigerian student would vary depending on where you live.
As the capital city, London has a higher cost of living than other UK cities. However, living in a metropolitan area such as London has its perks and advantages, one of which is the ability to get high-paying part-time jobs.
However, if you are on a low budget, there are several regional cities and small towns where the cost of living is rather low.
As a result, when selecting schools to study at in the UK, you need also to consider the living cost of the area.
See below for a breakdown of the cost of living in London and Edinburgh as examples;
Cost of living: London
| Cost of living in London for Nigerian Students (excluding rent) | Average cost in Pounds & Naira |
| Single person per month | £859 or ₦822,518 |
| Single person per year | £10,308 or ₦9,870,886 |
Cost of living: Edinburgh
| Cost of living in Edinburgh for Nigerian Students (excluding rent) | Average cost in Pounds & Naira |
| Single person per month | £684 or ₦654,831 (approx.) |
| Single person per year | £8,208 or ₦7,857,972 |
Costs of Studying in the UK for Nigerian Students
There is no doubt that the United Kingdom has world-class universities, but the cost of attending these institutions is not cheap for Nigerian students, who must pay more than UK citizens.
Tuition fees can cost up to £21,000 or ₦22 million per year, which is three times higher than domestic fees.
The cost of living in the UK as a Nigerian student will vary depending on where you want to study and where you want to live.
The following is the average cost of studying in the UK for Nigerian Students:
| School/University | Average cost of study for Nigerian students |
| Preschool/ kindergarten in London | £7,160 annually or ₦6,852,703 million |
| Private schools | £15,250 annually or ₦14,596,594 million |
| University College London | Tuition fees range from £23,750 to £40,600 annually, depending on the type of course. This is roughly ₦22,733,666 million to ₦38,862,604 million. |
| The University of Manchester | Tuition fees range from £19,500 to £46,000 annually, depending on the course, or ₦18,666,188 million to ₦44,039,043 million. |
| University of South Wales | Tuition fees range from £13,500 to £14,500 annually (approximately ₦12,923,885 million to ₦13,881,210 million), depending on the course. Scholarships of £1,500 to £2,500 are available. This is approximately between ₦1,435,930 million to ₦ 2,393,217 million. |
Where do most Nigerians live in the UK?
It is known that many Nigerian nationals live in the UK, and the majority live near Peckham (South of London) or ‘Little Lagos’ as most Nigerians call it. It’s a city where many Nigerian languages are widely spoken and relatively affordable to live in.
In a recent research by statista.com, it is said that there are roughly 178 thousand Nigerian nationals living in the United Kingdom as of 2021.
Some of the cities with affordable cost of living in the UK with most Nigerians are:
- Peckham
- Camberwell
- Woolwich
- Abbeywood
- Lewisham
- Thamesmead
- Deptford
- Erith
- Old kent Road
- Brixton
- Notting Hill
- Brockley
- Plumstead
What are the benefits of relocating to the UK from Nigeria?
From a holistic point of view, the long-term benefits of relocating to the UK outweigh whatever it is you believe you’re getting in Nigeria. If for nothing else, the value of the British currency and a better life for your kids.
The benefits. To mention a few: when you come to the Uk with your spouse and children, they will are entitled to free healthcare. Easy road to permanent residency. Free education for your children up to university. A job can pays up to 25,000 pounds per year (i.e around ₦25 million), and more if you work overtime.
A friend whom i spoke with said the prospect of British citizenship and free education for his children was worth the cost.
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