By Oluchukwu Nnonyelu

Lagos doesn’t have two cities; it has two economies. One for the Mainland, and one for the Island. Same weather, same landmark, but the cost of living? Worlds apart.

The Island sells a dream. Places like Lekki, Victoria Island, and Ikoyi are often seen as the standard for luxury, where the roads are mostly smoother, the rooftops higher, and life more aesthetic. But that aesthetic comes at a steep cost. Rent alone can swallow your salary before it hits your account. A two-bedroom flat in Lekki can cost anywhere from ₦3.5 million to ₦10 million per year, which is two times what you’d pay in Magodo, Ikeja, or Surulere.

And it doesn’t stop at rent. Everything fuel, food, laundry, even a simple haircut, comes with what many now call the “Island tax.” Living there often feels like paying extra for the illusion of ease. Sometimes, it’s not luxury, it’s just a well-framed struggle.

Meanwhile, the Mainland offers something else. It’s noisy and unpredictable, but it’s also more accommodating. Life stretches further on the mainland because you can budget without panicking. A plate of food, transport fare, or even an internet subscription tends to be cheaper, or at least negotiable. But here’s the twist: live in Agege, Egbeda, or Yaba, and people assume you’re still “coming up.” In Lagos, zip code status can be louder than your actual lifestyle.

Still, many Islanders are quietly performing financial gymnastics, living paycheck to paycheck to uphold a version of success that looks better than it feels. The pressure is real. Because in Lagos, the Island is often equated with “arrival,” while the Mainland suggests you’re still struggling financially.

But that idea is outdated. Cost of living in Lagos isn’t just about income; it’s about choices. Comfort or clout? Peace or prestige? Reality or perception?

Because the truth is, in this city, it’s not where you live, it’s how you’re living.