Lagos
Lagos, or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan port city in southwestern Nigeria. As of November 2025, the size of the city's population has been estimated to be between 17 and 21 million residents, making Lagos the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and one of the fastest-growing megacities in the world. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until the government's December 1991 decision to relocate its capital to Abuja, in the centre of the country. Apart from serving as a major African financial center, Lagos has also played a significant role in the national economy, serving as the economic hub of Lagos State and the entire country of Nigeria. The city has a significant influence on commerce, entertainment, technology, education, politics, tourism, art, and fashion in Africa. Lagos is also among the top ten of the world's fastest-growing cities and urban areas. A megacity, it has the second-highest GDP in Africa, and houses one of the largest and busiest seaports on the continent. Due to the large urban population and port traffic volumes, Lagos is classified as a Medium-Port Megacity.
Should you base here?
What this city's own numbers say about who it fits, how long you can realistically stay, and what to weigh before committing.
A good base for
- Stretching a budget — living costs sit on the lower end
- Working out of cafés and coworking — there's a real scene here
Less ideal for
- Travelers who weigh safety heavily — the score is on the low side
How long can you stay?
We don't have the visa window for this country on file yet — check the official source below before planning.
What to weigh first
- InternetWorth a look Median speeds are around 35 Mbps — usually fine, but have a backup for big calls.
Before you commit
This is a starting point, not legal or tax advice. Rules change — always confirm with official government sources before making plans.
Want this as a shareable brief — the trade-offs, a stay-length plan, and the checks to run? Generate a Decision Report (Pro).
Decision Report
A one-page brief for this city — your Fit Score, monthly cost, visa difficulty, tax-residency risk, best months, and the caveats to check first.
| Metric | Value | Score | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet Speed | 35 Mbps | 2/10 | Estimated | |
| Cost of Living | $1,500 /mo | 8/10 | Estimated | |
| Rent 1BR | $800 /mo | 8/10 | Estimated | |
| Safety Score | 3 /10 | 3/10 | Estimated | |
| Coworking | 15 spaces | 5/10 | ||
| Avg Temperature | 27.1°C | 8/10 |
Rent: 1BR city-centre estimate (USD/mo) compiled from NomadList, Expatistan and public nomad guides. Not officially sourced — use as a comparison signal, not a quote.
Cost breakdown
Assumes a central, single-occupancy lifestyle with moderate eating out. The total includes rent; non-rent items are estimated from regional patterns.
| Item | Detail | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | Central 1BR apartment | $800 | 53% |
| Food | Groceries + moderate dining out | $336 | 22% |
| Transport & comms | Local transit + mobile / internet | $154 | 10% |
| Other | Leisure, essentials, buffer | $210 | 14% |
| Total | Monthly estimate | $1,500 | 100% |
Rent is a published estimate (actual figure); other items are an estimated split of the total.
Climate Overview
Monthly temperature averaged from 2015–2024 (Open-Meteo archive). Humidity is an estimate from annual average.
| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Avg temperature | 27.1°C | 2015–2024 average |
| Warmest month | 31.96°C | Mar |
| Coldest month | 23.79°C | Aug |
| Humidity (annual) | 82% | Comfort range 40–60% |
| Sunshine | 3,409 h | Annual total |
| Precipitation | 1,357 mm | Annual total |
Air Quality
FairObserved: 2026-07-28 07:00
Visa Information
| N/A |
Tax Overview
| N/A |
Next Actions
Everything you need to move here.
| Find a stay | Hotels & apartments via Booking.com | Browse stays → |
|---|---|---|
| Nomad insurance | Global health coverage from SafetyWing | Get insured → |
| Get an eSIM | Stay connected on arrival with Airalo | View eSIM plans → |
| Move money | Low-fee international transfers with Wise | Open account → |
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