As Nigeria commemorates May Day 2026, an International Workers’ Day, a stark economic divide has emerged across the federation.
While the 2024 Minimum Wage Act set the legal floor at ₦70,000, the actual cost of living for Nigerian workers in 2026 varies so drastically by geography that a “living wage” in one state is a “poverty wage” in another.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and recent market indices reveal that regional inflation is now the primary factor determining a worker’s quality of life.
Recently, the NBS reported that the headline inflation rose to 15.38 per cent in March 2026 from 15.06% in February, while month-on-month inflation accelerated to 4.18% from 2.01%, indicating renewed pressure on household budgets despite a lower annual inflation rate compared with March 2025.
Food prices remained a major factor in the cost-of-living picture. National food inflation stood at 14.31% year-on-year in March 2026, but several states in the most expensive group recorded food inflation far above the national average, showing that workers in those states faced a double squeeze from general price increases and higher food costs.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass in commemorating the 2026 May Day evaluates the most expensive and cheapest states for Nigerian workers.
Expensive States
Bayelsa
According to data from the NBS, Bayelsa is the most expensive state in 2026. The state recorded an annual all-items inflation of 27.4%. Its all-items index rose from 107.5 in March 2025 to 137.0 in March 2026.
Food inflation was 33.3%, the highest in the list. This means food was not just a contributor but the major source of the cost-of-living shock in the state. Monthly food inflation was 5.8%, while all-items inflation rose by 8.4%, showing that non-food costs also accelerated sharply in March.
Sokoto
Sokoto was the second most expensive state for workers, with all-items inflation at 26.0%. The all-items index rose from 108.2 to 136.3.
Food inflation was even higher at 28.0%, making food the clear driver of inflation in the state. The monthly figures reinforce this, with food prices rising by 11.8% and all-items inflation increasing by 9.0%. For workers, this means the pressure was concentrated heavily on feeding costs.
Bauchi
Bauchi ranked third, with annual all-items inflation at 23.7%. Its index rose from 110.6 to 136.7.
Food inflation was 18.6%, below the all-items rate, suggesting that non-food costs had a stronger influence on the annual inflation burden. However, the monthly picture was severe, as food prices rose by 7.8% while all-items inflation surged by 9.4%. This points to a sharp broad-based rise in living costs.
Cross River
Cross River ranked fourth, with all-items inflation of 23.6%. Its all-items index rose from 109.2 in March 2025 to 135.0 in March 2026.
Food inflation stood at 21.4%, also close to the general inflation rate. Monthly food and all-items inflation both stood at 4.0%, showing that food and non-food categories moved at a similar pace in March.
Kwara
Kwara recorded annual all-items inflation of 22.9%, with the all-items index rising from 110.8 to 136.2.
Food inflation was 21.7%, close to the all-items rate, making food a major contributor to the state’s cost-of-living pressure. Every month, food rose by 7.5%, compared with 5.7% for all items. This means food prices were rising faster than the general basket in March.
Cheapest states
Osun
Osun emerged as the cheapest state for workers in 2026, with an annual all-items inflation of 5.3%. Its all-items index rose from 125.3 to 131.9.
Food inflation stood at 12.1%, far above the state’s all-items inflation rate. This means Osun’s low overall cost-of-living ranking was not due to cheap food alone. Food prices still increased meaningfully, but other parts of the consumption basket helped keep the overall inflation rate low.
Kano
Kano was the second cheapest state, with all-items inflation at 9.9%. Its all-items index rose from 121.6 to 133.6.
Food inflation was only 4.3%, meaning food was not a major driver of the state’s annual inflation. However, monthly all-items inflation stood at 4.0%, compared with 1.6% for food, suggesting that recent pressure came largely from non-food costs.
Kaduna
Kaduna recorded all-items inflation of 10.4%, with the index rising from 124.4 to 137.3.
Food inflation stood at 10.2%, almost matching the all-items rate. Monthly food and all-items inflation both stood at 5.4%, indicating that price pressure was evenly spread across the consumption basket.
Jigawa
Jigawa ranked fourth among the cheapest states, with annual all-items inflation at 10.7%. The index rose from 122.1 to 135.1.
Food inflation was 10.0%, slightly below the general rate. Monthly food inflation was 3.8%, while all-items inflation was 4.3%, suggesting that non-food items played a slightly stronger role in March.
Edo
Edo recorded all-items inflation of 11.2%, placing it among the cheaper states by the main index. Its all-items index rose from 120.1 to 133.5.
Food inflation, however, was high at 19.4%. This means workers in Edo may still have faced serious pressure on feeding costs despite the state ranking low on the overall cost-of-living index. Monthly food inflation was 5.4%, above the all-items monthly rate of 4.0%.
