Enter your income, city, and lifestyle to instantly find out how much rent you can actually afford. See your full budget breakdown, deposit savings timeline, and which neighbourhoods fit your wallet in 2026.
Fill in your details to get your full report
Select from Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kano or Enugu and your preferred apartment type.
Use your take-home pay after all deductions — not gross salary. Be realistic.
Car ownership, dependants, school fees and loan repayments all affect what you can truly afford on rent.
See your maximum affordable rent, budget breakdown, deposit timeline and matching neighbourhoods.
Lagos agency fees alone can cost 10–15% of annual rent on top of the rent itself — factor this into your deposit savings.
Most landlords demand 1–2 years upfront in Lagos and Abuja. This means your deposit target is often 2× the advertised annual rent figure.
The 30% rule (spend no more than 30% of income on rent) is a Western standard. Nigerian financial experts recommend keeping rent below 25% of take-home given high food and transport costs.
Service charge is hidden rent. Lagos estates charge ₦5,000–₦50,000/month extra for generator, water, and security. Always ask before signing.
How long to save enough to move into your target apartment
Areas in your city ranked by affordability for your budget
How much rent you can afford at different income levels
In most Nigerian cities, advertised rent is a starting point. Offer 10–15% less and commit to paying 1 year upfront. Landlords frequently accept rather than risk vacancy months.
Agency fee, legal fee, caution fee, service charge, and key money are all real costs in Lagos and Abuja. Never pay anything without a written receipt and tenancy agreement.
Western financial advice says 30% of income on rent is fine. In Nigeria, with high food costs, transport, generator fuel, and airtime, keeping rent under 25% of take-home gives you meaningful savings capacity.
Demolished buildings and Abuja FCT revocations happen. Always ask your landlord for the C of O or deed of assignment before paying any deposit.
Loan Calculator, Budget Planner, Salary Breakdown, Cost of Living, Savings Tracker and 5 more — all free.