Cooking Gas In Nigeria More Expensive Than Saudi Arabia, Russia, India, Others Despite Lower Minimum Wage, Data Shows
Cooking Gas In Nigeria More Expensive Than Saudi Arabia, Russia, India, Others Despite Lower Minimum Wage, Data Shows
According to the data, cooking gas, also known as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), was priced at $0.674 per kilogram in Nigeria as of March 16, 2026. The figure places Nigeria among countries with relatively higher LPG prices despite its status as a major oil and gas producer.
Areview of data published on the Global Petroleum Price portal has revealed that cooking gas in Nigeria is more expensive than in several other countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, India, and Angola, raising fresh concerns over energy affordability in the West African country.
According to the data, cooking gas, also known as Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), was priced at $0.674 per kilogram in Nigeria as of March 16, 2026. The figure places Nigeria among countries with relatively higher LPG prices despite its status as a major oil and gas producer.
In contrast, the same commodity costs significantly less in a number of countries reviewed. In Saudi Arabia, LPG is priced at $0.290 per kilogram, while Russia records $0.388. Angola has one of the lowest prices at $0.109, while Azerbaijan stands at $0.091 per kilogram. Other countries listed include Honduras at $0.412, Belarus at $0.438, Armenia at $0.503, and the Dominican Republic at $0.596.
Further comparisons show Georgia at $0.624, India at $0.648, Paraguay at $0.656, and Chile at $0.674, placing Nigeria on par with Chile but still higher than many oil-producing nations and emerging economies.
In addition to pricing disparities, income levels further highlight the burden on Nigerian consumers.
Data on wage indicators shows that the minimum wage in Saudi Arabia is SAR 4,000, equivalent to about $1,065, while Nigeria’s minimum wage is approximately $49.
In Russia, the minimum wage stands at RUB 27,093, equivalent to about $321.32, underscoring the wider gap in purchasing power.
The rising cost of LPG in Nigeria reflects broader trends in the country’s energy market, where prices of petroleum products have continued to increase in recent months. These increases have had a direct impact on household energy costs, as more Nigerians rely on cooking gas as an alternative to kerosene and firewood.
On Tuesday, it was reported that Dangote Refinery increased its gantry price of LPG to N800 per kilogram, up from the previous N760/kg. The adjustment, which took effect on March 17, 2026, reflects ongoing changes in global energy costs and supply conditions.
Market checks indicate that the increase is linked to rising international crude oil prices, which have pushed up feedstock and refining costs, further influencing domestic pricing dynamics.
