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Lagos
#124 of 124
Africa

Lagos

Nigeria

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Lagos compare to Geneva?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Lagos is 90% worse off vs in Geneva

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Lagos compared to Geneva, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$3,922
-$140K (-97%) vs Geneva
Based on 31 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$3,228
-$105K (-97%) vs Geneva
Tax Rate: 18%

Community Insights

New

Lagos is a city of extreme highs and lows for a software engineer. It is the beating heart of African tech ('Yabacon Valley'), pulsing with entrepreneurial energy, unparalleled networking opportunities, and a vibrant social culture that captivates many. However, the city demands resilience. The infrastructure—specifically power and transport—is often broken, requiring residents to essentially build their own municipal services (backup power, private security, multiple internet links).

Financially, it is a tale of two cities: those on local salaries often struggle with low purchasing power and inflation, while those earning foreign currency live like royalty. It is not a place for the faint-hearted, but for the ambitious and adaptable, it offers an adrenaline-fueled environment unlike anywhere else.

Resident Sentiment

Current residents are split between 'Hustle' and 'Japa' (emigration).

There is a palpable pride in the resilience and creativity of the Lagos tech scene, but deep frustration with the government and infrastructure. A significant portion of local talent is actively planning to 'Japa' (move abroad) to Canada, the UK, or Europe for stability and better pay. Conversely, 'repats' (returnees) often express love for the lifestyle and culture, provided they have the financial means to insulate themselves from the daily grind of the average citizen.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Geneva.

Rankings

Tax Rate

Top 11%

#14

of 124 cities

18%

Current value (lower is better)

Cost of Living

Top 15%

#19

of 124 cities

28/100

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Middle of the pack

#42

of 124 cities

6 events on luma

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Lagos compared to Geneva?

Avg. Property Price
$2,571 / m²
87% cheaper than Geneva
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Lagos to maintain the same standard of living.

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Cost of Living
71% cheaper than Geneva
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

The Good

  • Access to Yabacon Valley, Africa's fastest-growing tech ecosystem, offering immense networking opportunities with startups and entrepreneurs.
  • Extremely low cost of living for those earning foreign currency (USD/GBP/EUR), allowing for a high-quality lifestyle (drivers, cooks, luxury housing).
  • Vibrant social scene and nightlife, particularly in neighborhoods like Lekki, Victoria Island, and Ikoyi.
  • Rich culinary culture, featuring world-famous dishes like Jollof rice and Suya.
  • A resilient and hustle-driven community of developers; the shared struggle fosters strong peer bonds and collaboration.

The Bad

  • Unreliable electricity supply is the #1 complaint; residents must invest heavily in generators, inverters, or solar setups to work remotely.
  • Legendary traffic congestion ('go-slows') that can turn short commutes into multi-hour ordeals, especially on the bridges connecting the mainland and islands.
  • Internet instability can be a hurdle; while fiber exists, downtimes happen, requiring multiple backup ISPs for critical work.
  • Risk of police harassment (SARS legacy), where young men with laptops and backpacks are sometimes unfairly targeted or profiled.
  • Severe disparity in compensation; local salaries are globally non-competitive, making it difficult to save or travel without a foreign remote job.
  • Noise and pollution levels are high due to constant generator usage and heavy traffic.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

The 'Repat' or Digital Nomad with USD income.

If you are a Nigerian diaspora returnee looking to reconnect with your roots while keeping a Western salary, or an adventurous expat entrepreneur wanting to tap into the African market, you will thrive here. You need the financial cushion to bypass the infrastructural deficits (living in serviced estates in Lekki/Ikoyi) and the patience to navigate the chaotic logistics.

Skip it if...

Junior developers relying on the local job market.

If you are early in your career and dependent on a local Naira salary, the low compensation relative to the cost of 'comfortable' living (and inflation) will be crushing. Additionally, individuals who prioritize quiet, clean air, and predictability will find Lagos overwhelmingly stressful and chaotic.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather1.5/10-63% vs Geneva
Safety31-56%
Pollution89+260%
Events6+100%
1.5/10TechCities weather score vs 4.1/10 in Geneva

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
31°C(vs 15°C in Geneva)
Average Low
25°C(vs 6°C in Geneva)
Sunshine Hours
1,845h/yr-42h/yr
Hottest Month High
33°C(vs 26°C in Geneva)
Coldest Month Low
24°C(vs -1°C in Geneva)
Rainy Days
133/yr+23/yr(+20%)

Community & Quality

Lagos community pulse

Lagos has 6 Luma events listed.

100% more events than Geneva.

Comfortable Weather

Bottom 8%

#115

of 124 cities

15/100 weather score

Current value

Safety Index

Bottom 6%

#118

of 124 cities

31.2/100

Current value

Pollution Score

Bottom 4%

#120

of 124 cities

88.9/100

Current value (lower is better)

Home Affordability

Bottom 1%

#124

of 124 cities

≈63.7 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Net Income

Bottom 1%

#124

of 124 cities

$3,228/yr

Current value

Purchasing Power

Bottom 1%

#124

of 124 cities

SWE Affordability
63.7 years
48.6 years longer than Geneva
Muggy Days
356/yr+356/yr(+71140%)
Cloud Cover
71%(vs 50% in Geneva)