Lagos state, often referred to as ‘the city that never sleeps,’ is Nigeria’s most sought-after destination.
The streets in Lagos are always bustling with activity, drawing not only international travelers but also individuals from all corners of Nigeria.
Every day, countless Nigerians from other parts of the country visit Lagos for various reasons.
Some visit for business, attracted by the booming markets, especially the clothing markets at various locations, and the popular ‘computer village’ in Ikeja.
And for others, Lagos represents a city of dreams, where people come in pursuit of greener pastures.
If you are in this city looking for a better life, read on! as we are going to share insights on 5 budget-friendly neighborhoods in Lagos where you can set up your new home.
Lagos is a city with varieties of neighborhoods, each with its special character and attraction.
The aim of this article is to help you find the perfect budget-friendly place to call home, making sure your Lagos experience is as fulfilling as it is affordable.
1. Agege
Agege is a city in the mainland part of Lagos state and a local government area, it is the most popular suburb in Lagos.
It has numerous neighborhoods and narrow streets, and they are all well connected.
One of the advantages of Agege is its closeness to Ikeja, Ikeja being the capital and one of the major business district in Lagos.
Houses in Agege are very affordable, and the food markets offer affordable commodities.
Houses in Agege are affordable, and they are mostly old “face-me-i-face-you” buildings.
One notable drawback about Agege is the prevalent cult groups and touts, especially in the Orile part of Agege.
But around Dopemu Agege, there are a good number of somewhat good looking 2-3 bedroom flats.
You will find “face-me-i-face-you” accommodation between N2500 to N5000, monthly. And one room apartments can range between 120,000 to 300,000, annually.
2 bedroom flats can range from N200,000 to N500,000 or a bit more, annually. And 3 bedroom flats can range from N300,000 to N700,000 or more, annually.
2. Iju-Agege
Iju-Agege is a suburb of Agege, that comprises of other several suburbs,
This suburb is among the top cheapest places to live in Lagos.
In Iju-Agege, one notable advantage is the affordability of foodstuffs available in the local markets, especially Oko-Oba Abattoir and Fagba markets.
Iju-Agege residents that live within Fagba, Obawole, Iju road Olaniyi mostly visit Oko-Oba Abattoir Market and Fabga Market.
Residents around Ishaga, Balogun and some parts of Obawole visit the Ishaga market.
If you are new to the area, with time, you will figure out the closest markets to your location.
Houses are reasonably cheap in Iju-Agege; “face-me-i-face-you” accommodation is very common, one room apartments (popularly known as self contained) is common too.
And likewise 2-3 bedrooms are equally common, plus rental short-let apartments can be found too.
In Iju-Agege you will find, “face-me-i-face-you” accommodation between N3000 to N5000, monthly. One room apartments can range between N120,000 to N300,000, annually.
Additionally, 3 bedroom flats can range from N250,000 to N800,000 or more annually. And 3 bedroom flats can range from N300,000 to N1,000,000 or more, annually
3. Abule Egba And It’s Environs
This is another big affordable suburb in Lagos state with lots of potential, under Alimosho local government area.
Abulegba is in close proximity to Agege and Iju-Agege, benefiting from the advantages of these two suburbs as well as having its own unique features.
The notable areas in Abule Egba are Olaniyi, Puposola, Charity road, a popular area known as ‘Social Club’ – filled with bars and restaurants and some other fun places.
And then there’s also Ojo-Oba and across, there’s other fast developing areas notably Ekoro.
Many residents of Abulegba frequently visit Ile-Epo market, particularly on weekends, for their food shopping needs.
Ile-Epo market is a big market for food, where traders sell a wide variety of affordable food items.
But some residents equally enjoy using the Oko-Oba Abattoir Market.
Okay, let’s talk about the housing! Housing choice in Abule Egba is very wide, all kinds of housing are very common, namely “face-me-i-face-you”, one room apartments, 2-4 bedroom houses.
Houses in Abule Egbe are all mostly affordable depending on where you look and your choice.
In Abule Egba and its environs, you can find “face-me-i-face-you” accommodation between N2000 to N5000, monthly. One room self contained apartments can range between N100,000 to N300,000, annually.
2 bedroom flats can range from N250,000 to N1,500,000 or more, annually. And 3 bedroom flats can range from N300,000 to N3,000,000 or more, annually.
4. Ayobo
This is a fast growing suburb under Alimosho local government, in Lagos state.
Ayobo is one of the most affordable places you can live in Lagos, or even own a piece of land, it is mostly known because Anchor University is located there.
This place recently became a fast growing destination because of the newly constructed road network linking its various streets and major roads.
So let’s talk about how Ayobo residents shop for foodstuffs! There’s the popular Ayobo Market for food shopping, and there is also Ipaja Modern Market.
A drawback of Ayobo is its distance from the main parts of Lagos, especially Ikeja. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the last town in Lagos state.
Another big drawback is that Ayobo experiences heavy traffic on its major roads, due to the high number of people who use its major roads to commute to and fro a neighboring Ogun state town – Aiyetiro.
Since this is a developing suburb, houses in this place are very affordable, and are mostly “face-me-i-face-you” and one-room self-contained apartments. Flats are somewhat rare to find in Ayobo.
You will find, “face-me-i-face-you” accommodation between N2500 to N5000 monthly, in Agege, one room apartments can range between N120,000 to N300,000, annually.
2 bedroom flats can range from N200,000 to N500,000 or a bit more, annually. 3 bedroom flats can range from N300,000 to N700,000 or more, annually.
5. Ogba
Ogba is the beating heart of Ikeja, and Ikeja is the capital of Lagos. This City is under Ojodu Local Council Developmental Area.
It is a residential and commercial area where you will find companies like Cadbury bournvita, Three Crown milk and a host of other companies.
This city is one of the favored destinations for Lagos residents on the mainland, thanks to its closeness to the capital city of Ikeja.
Choosing to reside in Ogba while working in Ikeja can significantly reduce your commute time. Ikeja is the biggest commerce center in Lagos.
In Ogba, you’ll find a blend of residential and commercial areas, with some parts exclusively dedicated to housing while others, especially those near the market, primarily serve commercial purposes.
Sunday Market is the main market for Ogba residents to buy foodstuffs. At Sunday Market Ogba you will find all kinds of foodstuffs including sea foods.
It’s important to know that food items in Sunday markets can be pricey, so some residents find another means.
Residents of Ogba and even Ikeja often visit markets in other suburbs, such as ‘Oko-Oba Abattoir Market’ along the old Abeokuta road, for their food shopping needs.
Oko-Oba Abattoir Market was meant for meat butchery and sales, but the market has evolved over time, with traders setting up shops and tables in open spaces selling other food items.
The market is located along the ‘old Abeokuta road’, if you are driving from Agege pen-cinema to Ojoba Abule Egba.
Also, there are a good number of good restaurants with good foods in Ogba.
House rents in Ogba are affordable for middle class families, and somewhat affordable for low class families.
In Ogba, “face-me-i-face-you” accommodations are rare to find; the housing options typically range from one-room self-contained apartments to mostly 2-4 bedroom flats.
You can find, “face-me-i-face-you” accommodation between N5000 to N7000, monthly, in Ogba, one room apartments can range between N150,000 to N300,000, annually.
2 bedroom flats can range from N300,000 to N2,000,000 or more, annually, 3 and 4 bedroom flats can range from N350,000 to N3,000,000 or more, annually.
And That’s A Wrap!
When searching for a place to call your home in Lagos, it’s important for you to have a clear idea of your housing needs and know where to search. Otherwise, just have the right real estate agent.
However, it’s important to note that renting newly constructed or renovated houses can be relatively expensive.
We Nigerians to prefer renting newly built properties, but older houses, especially those aged 10 years and above, are more budget-friendly.
The places covered in this article exist on the mainland part of Lagos state, and the house rent costs mentioned are influenced by factors such as the age of the house, appearance, facilities and its location.
After more research we will write more articles covering more places, including the island part of Lagos state – Yes there are also affordable places on the Lagos island.
