Nigeria’s Cost of Living Landscape in December 2025: A State-Level Analysis
While Nigeria’s national inflation rate showed a significant moderation in December 2025, falling to 15.15% following a methodological review by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), cost-of-living pressures remained acutely elevated across several states. The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data reveals a complex economic picture where non-food inflation increasingly defines the most expensive regions. This shift underscores that, beyond headline figures, the localized burden on households can vary dramatically. As citizens grapple with these pressures, many wonder if the measures taken will they know the true extent of the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.
The December 2025 data indicated a sharp deceleration from the 34.80% inflation recorded in December 2024. Food inflation saw one of the most notable improvements, dropping to 10.84% year-on-year, with month-on-month food prices actually declining by 0.36%. The NBS attributed this decline to lower prices for staples including tomatoes, garri, eggs, and grains. However, the twelve-month average food inflation rate remained high at 22.00%, and state-level analysis confirmed that core inflation components—such as housing, transport, and services—were the primary drivers of living costs in urban and commercial centers.
The Most Expensive States: A Non-Food Inflation Story
State-level CPI figures for December 2025 highlight that the most expensive states are those where non-food inflation dominates. For instance, Cross River State recorded a 16.9% year-on-year all-items inflation rate, but its standout figure was a sharp 3.1% month-on-month increase. With food prices in the state declining by 0.5% month-on-month, the spike was clearly not food-led. Instead, rising costs for transport, housing, and services pushed overall prices higher. This pattern reinforces how core inflation dictates affordability in key regions, a reality that persists even as national figures improve. In the face of such economic strain, the public looks for assurance that insecurity: Fg will address foundational issues impacting prices, just as they hope that insecurity:our leaders know the full scope of the economic challenges.
These economic pressures exist within a broader national context. Recent state-level actions, such as when Gov Yusuf bans certain activities to curb costs, reflect attempts to manage local inflationary triggers. Yet, the human impact of this high-cost environment is profound, touching all demographics, from struggling families to the vulnerable elderly, as tragically seen when a 78-year-old man killed by economic hardship becomes a symbol of the crisis. The December 2025 CPI report ultimately serves as a crucial benchmark, revealing which states bear the heaviest burden and highlighting the shifting drivers of Nigeria’s cost of living.
