Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, has long been a city of contrasts. It is the land of endless opportunities and the place where dreams are made—or crushed. The city’s fast-paced lifestyle, expensive living costs, and harsh working conditions make it a tough terrain, especially for young professionals trying to build a future.
In 2024, Lagos was ranked as one of the worst cities to live in globally. But beyond the statistics, what does life in Lagos actually feel like for a young person earning a modest income? Is Lagos still the city of hope, or has it become a survival game?
The Cost of Survival: Transportation and Living Expenses
For a young professional earning ₦100,000 monthly, surviving in Lagos is nothing short of a balancing act. Rent, transportation, food, and utilities all compete for a slice of their limited paycheck.
- Rent: In Lagos, where landlords demand at least a year’s rent upfront, housing is a major financial burden. A decent self-contained apartment in a central location costs at least ₦800,000 per year—far beyond what most young professionals can afford. This forces many to live in distant, cheaper areas like Ikorodu, Mowe, or Badagry, where rent is lower but transportation costs are crushing.
- Transportation: The cost of commuting is a daily struggle. A one-way bus trip from the mainland to the island can cost between ₦1,000 and ₦2,500. Multiply that by 20 working days, and that’s nearly half of a ₦100,000 salary gone—just on getting to work. The alternative? Enduring long, overcrowded bus rides, leaving home at 4 AM to beat traffic, or trekking long distances when fares become unbearable.
- Food & Utilities: With inflation driving up food prices, even a simple meal of rice and beans costs nearly ₦1,500 at a roadside canteen. Electricity bills and internet subscriptions add to the financial strain, leaving little to no room for savings or personal growth.
A breakdown of expenses for a young Lagosian earning ₦100,000 might look like this:
- Rent (Shared Apartment on Outskirts) – ₦30,000
- Transportation (Buses, Keke, or Bike) – ₦30,000
- Food & Feeding – ₦25,000
- Utilities & Data – ₦10,000
- Miscellaneous (Emergencies, Social Life, Savings?) – ₦5,000
With no room for savings or personal growth, many are stuck in a cycle of survival rather than progress.
The Pressure to Survive: When Desperation Leads to Despair
With living costs skyrocketing and wages stagnant, many young professionals find themselves backed into a corner. Some take on multiple side gigs, working late into the night, barely getting enough sleep. Others, overwhelmed by financial pressure, turn to alternative means of survival—fraud, prostitution, or shady business deals.
Cybercrime, commonly called “Yahoo Yahoo,” has become an escape route for some young Lagosians who see no way out of their financial struggles. Likewise, the rise of transactional relationships, where young women exchange companionship for financial stability, shows how economic hardship pushes people into morally complex decisions.
Social media constantly glorifies luxury lifestyles, fueling the illusion that hard work alone is not enough. A young graduate working in a bank might earn ₦120,000 monthly, while another person flaunts millions online from questionable sources. The pressure is intense, and without strong moral grounding, some give in to shortcuts.
For many, the dream of “making it” in Lagos turns into an exhausting, soul-crushing reality where survival trumps ambition.
What is the Government Doing?
The Lagos State Government has acknowledged the city’s housing crisis and rising cost of living. Policies like the Lagos Rent-to-Own Scheme were introduced to help young professionals access affordable housing, but the impact has been minimal. The demand for affordable homes far outweighs supply, and bureaucratic bottlenecks make it difficult for the average Lagosian to benefit from these initiatives.
On transportation, the government launched the Blue Line Rail Project and expanded BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) services to ease commuting stress. However, the reality remains that public transport is still unreliable, expensive, and unsafe.
Until concrete steps are taken to address the root causes—high inflation, low wages, and exploitative housing policies—Lagos will remain a difficult place for young professionals to thrive.
The Harsh Reality of Lagos Living
Lagos is a city of dreams, but only for those who can afford it. While opportunities exist, they come at a heavy cost—one that many young professionals are struggling to pay.
The question remains: Is Lagos still habitable for young professionals, or has it become a city that only rewards the privileged? Until the government prioritizes affordable housing, fair wages, and better infrastructure, the Lagos dream will remain just that—a dream.
