Nigeria, my country. There is now a saying I have been hearing for some weeks now and it is that the cost of living is now killing the living. How true it is? We shall know soon!
Gone are those days when things were so cheap that we could afford to live with a small income. I mean, remember the time we bought a cup of rice for just #50-#100 and others? We were living fine then and the salary was enough to keep a family going without complaints.
But today? A lot has gone worse. Inflation has taken things to an extremely higher level. The poor cannot breathe, likewise the rich are lamenting too. Can you imagine? Prices of goods and services have skyrocketed and some people think it was due to the dollar increment but something was done to bring the price down but still, things are up. I was forced to write on my status that we Nigerians are our problems, which is greediness.
However, in some locations here in my country, the cost of living is different. I'd wanted to serve in Port Harcourt then because I wanted to change my environment from the West to the East for exploration, but I quickly changed my mind when my younger sister who was living there told me how much she was paying house rent, although she stayed with 2 of her friends in a 3 bedroom flat which costs them #900,000 annually. That was why I decided to change my location back to the west — Oyo State because things are still cheap compared to that place and even Lagos. I used to say those living in Lagos are the big bosses, but there are still some cheaper places.
Where I am staying for my service, I paid #50,000 for a 2 bedroom flats even though I only use one of the rooms since my stuff isn't enough, the other room is closed and there is no bringing in another person. There are also places here that I was surprised by how cheap the rents are and even the foodstuffs here are still cheaper compared to other places like the ones I mentioned. The last time I heard, a bag of rice was at #60,000 here and in Lagos and Port Harcourt, it was over #70,000 which makes this state's cost of living so low that a family can still live happily with their income.
Compared to many other countries, the cost of living here in Nigeria can be relatively lower, especially when we talk of house rent and other necessities. My younger sister has moved to the US now and she explained the cost of living over there which when she calculated it, I knew we are still enjoying here in my country. Imagine earning $1000 over there, removing tax, house rent per month is over $400, electricity etc, how much would remain from the $1000? In Nigeria, we only pay house rent of that amount yearly but over there, it is monthly.
Last week, my sister started a business of making puff puff snacks which she is very good at, she sent the flyer and I was surprised by the price she intended to deliver it.
I couldn't stop laughing when I saw 7 pieces of the snacks for $5 (#5000+) whereas, in Nigeria, you can get 7 pieces of that for just #350-500 depending on the location. Though they make money over there, the tax payment, rent, electricity, data etc will kill someone. Over there, you have to tighten your belt to live fine, yes, in some cities here too, you have to do the same but the cost of living is still better and lower compared to other countries.
Will my earnings fetch me more or less in other countries?
Right now, I am earning #33,000 as a youth corper which isn't still enough to keep me sane, thanks to the side hustle I have that enables me to earn in dollars which is helping me to cope better. I would say that my current earnings for both works aren't enough to fetch me more in other countries like the US or UK in terms of basic amenities because I would have to work hard for more jobs to be able to live fine and afford whatever I want. In Nigeria, I can still manage to live fine depending on the location and aside from that, living a minimalist lifestyle and cutting one's coat according to their sizes would help us navigate the cost of living.
Would I relocate to other countries if I had the chance?
Even if I would want to relocate, it won't be based on the cost of living because Nigeria is better for that. Relocating to another country would solely be on the education aspect while also engaging myself more in jobs that could fetch me more while enrolling in my studies and doing a side job to keep me going with their cost of living.
Both images belongs to me