Comparing two job offers in different Nigerian cities

A job in Lagos, Abuja or Port Harcourt can look like a clear step up on paper. Before you accept, the question to answer is what you will keep each month after your largest costs are paid, not what the advert says.

Start with the net figure

Use the net figure from each offer, as explained in our guide to reading salary adverts. Compare net to net. Gross figures in different cities can hide different deductions and allowances.

Costs that change from city to city

• Housing. Rents vary widely within each city. Landlords often ask for several months up front, so check the total cash needed at the start, not only the monthly figure.
• Transport. A longer commute can cost more each month than the raise you are being offered. Price the route you would actually take.
• Power and water. Find out what a comparable flat pays for electricity and whether it has an inverter or generator. Ask the landlord for recent bills.
• Travel to family. Count the visits you expect to make each year.

The time cost

Hours spent commuting are unpaid. Two hours a day in traffic is ten hours a week. Include that in the comparison, because it shapes your health, your sleep and whether you can keep the job.

Compare the cost of a home

Housing is often the largest difference between two cities. Rent, service charges, and the cost of moving in can outweigh a small gap in pay. Compare the cost of a similar home in each place, not the cheapest option you would never accept, and include the deposit and agent fees in the first year.

Look at what your household needs as well. Schools, healthcare and the distance to family can change the decision in ways a spreadsheet cannot. Write those down next to the numbers, so that the choice is made on the whole picture.

Once you have a monthly figure for each city, subtract it from the net pay. The amount left is what you can save, spend or send home, and it is the number that matters most when you compare the two offers.