Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 450,000 NGN per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 18,000,000 NGN)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 250,000 NGN per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 10,000,000 NGN)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 400,000 NGN per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 24,000,000 NGN)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 200,000 NGN per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 12,000,000 NGN)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 375,000 NGN per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 30,000,000 NGN)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 187,500 NGN per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 15,000,000 NGN)
- Corporate Tax
- 30% (Large companies), 20% (Medium companies)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents staying >183 days
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 24%
- VAT
- 7.5%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC legislation, but general anti-avoidance rules apply.
- Property Tax
- Land Use Charge (Based on assessed value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Consent Fees and Stamp Duty (approx. 5-10% total)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific visa yet; remote workers often fall under Personal Income Tax Act (PITA).
Essentials
- City
- Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
- Population
- Approximately 1,900,000
- Internet Speed
- Fiber (20-50 Mbps), 4G LTE consistently around 15 Mbps
- Currency & Banking
- Nigerian Naira (NGN). 1 USD ≈ 1,600 NGN (March 2026 market estimate)
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water like Eva or Gossy (approx. 250 NGN per 75cl)
- Power
- 240V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type G (UK style). Power is inconsistent; backups are essential.
- SIM Card
- MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria. 10GB data costs approx. 5,000 NGN
- Banking for Expats
- GTBank, Zenith Bank. Use OPay or PalmPay for easy mobile transfers.
- Accommodation
- Short-stay apartments and hotels via Booking.com or local agents
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderately; POS terminals are common, but bank transfers are the preferred digital method.
- Short Term Rentals
- Presido Apartments (GRA), Protea Hotel by Marriott (from 120,000 NGN/night)
- Budget Accommodation
- Edo Heritage Hotel (approx. 25,000 NGN/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- GRA (Government Reservation Area) - safest and most developed
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Ekenwan Road or GRA for better proximity to hubs and consistent power grids
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Edo Innovation Hub, ICE Road (Daily desk: 3,000 NGN)
- Best Cafe for Work
- The Glass House Cafe, GRA (Good Wi-Fi, Excellent coffee)
- Networking Events
- Edo Tech Meetups at Edo Innovates; Benin City Business Forum
- Social Events for Expats
- Benin Club (Membership required, social hub for professionals)
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt (most active), Uber
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Not recommended; 'Okada' (motorcycles) are restricted in many zones
- Best Beach Nearby
- Gelegele Seaport (river beach), approx. 45 mins drive
- Top Regional Airline
- Air Peace, United Nigeria Airlines (Flights to Lagos/Abuja starting at 90,000 NGN)
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Qatar Airways (via Lagos Murtala Muhammed Airport)
- Highway Access
- A2 Highway (North-South), A121 (to Lagos)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Rail (Ujevwu Station is the nearest major link)
- Public Transport Passes
- ECTS (Edo City Transport Service) - Pay per ride (approx. 300-500 NGN)
- Regional Travel
- Interstate buses via God Is Good Motors (GIGM) in Utako
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) or Lily Hospitals (Private)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- BodyTrust Fitness Gym, GRA
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- G-Multi Fitness Centre, Sapele Road (Monthly: 15,000 NGN)
- Laundry Services
- Clean Ace Dry Cleaners, Boundary Road (Shirt: 1,200 NGN)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Chowdeck, Glovo
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Bini Black Soup (Omoebe) with Pounded Yam
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Sabor Lagos (Benin Branch) - Salad options and meatless sides
- Best Dessert Spots
- Cold Stone Creamery, GRA; Jevinik Restaurant (Traditional desserts)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Santana Market, Oba Market
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Jumia Nigeria, Konga
- Grocery Delivery
- PricePally (Bulk buying), Manor Supermarket
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Etete/GRA Nightlife Strip (Vignis, Club Novonia)
- Local Brewery
- Guinness Nigeria Brewery (Ikpoba Hill)
- Wine Bars
- The Winehouse, GRA
- Street Food Stalls
- Suya spots at Ring Road (Stick: 1,000 - 3,000 NGN)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Mr. Bigg's (Fast Food), Real Cuisine (Chinese/Continental)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Oba's Palace, Ring Road
- Museums & Art Venues
- Benin City National Museum (Entry: 500 NGN for locals, 2,000 NGN for foreigners)
- Historical Sites
- Benin Moat (Iya) - prehistoric earthworks
- Religious Sites
- Holy Aruosa Cathedral (Oldest church in Benin)
- Annual Events
- Igue Festival (December)
- Cultural Districts
- Igun Street (UNESCO Heritage site for Bronze Casting)
- Theater Venues
- Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub
- Local Markets
- Ekenwan Market (Fresh organic produce)
- Music Scene
- Highlife and Afrobeats (Local joints in Uzebu)
- Street Art
- Bronze statues at statuesque junctions like Ring Road
- Cooking Classes
- Local workshops arranged via Edo Innovates hub
- Art Galleries
- Omoebe Art Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Chief Ogiamien’s House (survived the 1897 British expedition)
- Local Heritage
- The Coral Beads and Bronze Works
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Okomu National Park (90 mins away)
- National Parks Nearby
- Okomu National Park (Home to the white-throated monkey)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Uniben Ugbowo Campus (Safe for morning jogs/cycles)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Ikpoba River Bridge views
- Birdwatching Locations
- Okomu Sanctuary forest trails
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Private resorts like Kada Plaza outskirts
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- DHL Benin, GIG Logistics (GIGL)
- Tech Repair Services
- Airport Road Phone Hub
- Table Tennis Spots
- Benin Club Sports Center
- Language Classes
- Bini Language Institute (various local centers)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Edo State Central Library
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Novonia Privé Casino
- Community Centers
- The Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre
- Gaming Lounges
- Kada Plaza Cinema & Gaming Zone