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The Cost of Living in Somolu: My Monthly Budget Breakdown

@Nora Quinn2/14/2026blog

first off, i told a buddy at the corner bar that i’d finally stop budgeting like a stuck metronome and actually write down how much i spend each month in Somolu. the numbers aren’t pretty, but they’re honest, and the vibe is a lot like a night‑out paint‑spray session-colorful, chaotic, and a little risky.

*rent
for a modest 2‑bedroom flat in Gbagada you’re looking at NGN 45k-85k per month, depending on whether the landlord keeps the window shutters or just the graffiti wall intact. i landed a place near Akerele Road for NGN 55k, a price that includes a "security" fee that’s basically a grift‑pay‑cheque to the building’s unofficial watchman. the landlord also slaps on a 'maintenance' surcharge of NGN 5k every month, which feels like a hidden tax for the downstairs generator that hums louder than my kick‑drum.

utilities
electricity is a gamble. my prepaid meter reads about NGN 8k-12k per month, but the "electric surcharge" that pops up after midnight can bump the bill to NGN 15k. water is NGN 3k-5k, and internet - a 5‑mb/s package from MTN - is roughly NGN 7k-10k. i sometimes swap my hotspot for a neighbour’s dongle, but then i have to endure their mixtape of Afro‑beat and goat‑yell ads while i’m drafting invoices.

transport
the Lagos bus is a moving piece of art. a daily go‑to‑work ride costs NGN 5k, and if you splurge on a ride‑hailing app you’re looking at NGN 10k‑15k per week. i’m still a fan of the okada (motorcycle taxis) for short hops - they’re cheap, loud, and always feel like a drum solo. a quick ride from my flat to the nearest 'Open‑Late' spot can be NGN 2k, which is half the price of a taxi but three times the adrenaline.

food
groceries? a trip to the local market (Okunade Market) sets you back NGN 30k‑50k for staples: rice, beans, plantains, and the occasional 'local pap'. i love the way the market vendors shout prices like they’re counting beats, but i learned the hard way that the 'hustle discount' can hide a 'spoilage surcharge' for the fruit you bought last night.

eating out? the city’s cheap street stalls (think Jollof and suya) cost about NGN 5k per meal, but a decent lunch at a mid‑range joint (like Spice Garden on Allen Avenue) will be NGN 15k‑20k. i once ordered a spicy pot of soup at a restaurant in Alade Market and the bill skyrocketed to NGN 25k because the chef added a 'secret spice' that turned my palate into a fire‑hazard.

and if you’re trying to keep your coffee‑snob status intact, a single‑origin pour‑over from the kiosk on Akerele Road will set you back NGN 3k. the barista told me the beans were "hand‑picked at sunrise on a hilltop farm", and the price matched the poetic description.

misc
gym memberships are a joke - most places charge NGN 10k for a "basic" pass, but i prefer the free vibe of the Lagos State Sports Complex, where the wall is plastered with stray spray‑paint tags. street‑art supplies (spray cans, acrylics, cheap brushes) can be bought at the Lagos Art Supplies shop on Okunade Road for NGN 2k‑4k per set, though you’ll get robbed if you carry them after dark - a lesson i learned the hard way after a "no‑light" stint at a back‑alley joint.

safety
Somolu isn’t a war‑zone, but it’s a neighborhood that’s constantly negotiating the line between 'active police presence' and 'unofficial night‑watch'. daytime feels safe enough - you can walk the streets without fear of being pulled into a 'stop‑and‑search' that ends up with you paying a bribe. after dark, you’ll see the familiar silhouette of a patrol with bright flashlights, but the back‑streets near Alade Market have a reputation for low‑level theft if you’re flashing a phone like a stage‑light. a local warned me that “the electricity meters are rigged - keep a photo‑journal on standby and never trust the guy in the blue vest”. i take that seriously, because a rigged meter can add an extra NGN 5k‑10k to your bill in a single night.

job market
if you’re looking for work, the informal sector runs the show - from street hawking to tech hubs in the Lagos Business School corridor. you can find a decent freelance gig paying NGN 150k-200k per month (writing, video editing, social‑media management), but the competition is fierce. many of my fellow drummers turn to night‑club gigs or teaching drum circles for extra cash; the pay is often cash‑only, which is perfect if you don’t have a bank account that can keep up with the “informal tax” they call “karakara”.

overheard gossip, i mean the drunk advice section, gives you the inside scoop:
> "they say the electricity meters here are rigged - keep a photo‑journal on standby and never trust the guy in the blue vest."
> "if you want cheap coffee, the tiny kiosk on Akerele Road uses single‑origin beans and they charge you a smile, not a bill."
> "avoid the back‑alley near Alade Market after dark - there’s a stash of spray‑paint thieves and the cops are… well, they’re not exactly on patrol."

weather & neighbours
the weather in Somolu is a thick, humid drumbeat. it feels like a studio filled with backstage speakers, every breath tastes like sweat and spice. it’s a relentless 30‑celsius heat, punctuated by the occasional rain‑burst that makes the streets glisten like wet canvas - perfect for a quick splash‑session before the next gig. just a short drive east you hit Ikeja, where the Ikeja Mall offers the kind of air‑conditioned comfort that makes your paint‑spray break down less. south, you’ll find Victoria Island, a 20‑minute flight away, where the sand is finer and the nightlife costs a lot more than a tub of cheap acrylics. a quick glance at TripAdvisor shows a bunch of reviews that say "great street food, noisy traffic, and a sense of chaos you can’t ignore". that’s basically the vibe i’m riding every day.

external references
if you need to get a sense of the place, check out these links:
- the city’s overall vibe on TripAdvisor - Somolu review
- my personal favorite spots on Yelp - Lagos food
- the local Reddit hangout - r/Somolu
- a quick map to see the lay of the land -


final note*
at the end of the month, my total came to roughly NGN 250k. that’s about $550‑$600 USD, depending on the exchange rate. it feels like a living collage, splattered with necessity and possibility. if you’re thinking about moving here, bring a strong pair of boots, a good sense of humor, and maybe a backup generator - because the “electric surcharge” can turn any night into a surprise solo.

welcome to Somolu.

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About the author: Nora Quinn

On a mission to simplify the complex stuff.

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