Cooking Gas In Nigeria More Expensive Than Saudi Arabia, Russia, India, Others Despite Lower Minimum Wage, Data Shows

Cooking gas prices in Nigeria have come under renewed scrutiny after fresh data showed that the country ranks among those with relatively high costs, despite being a major oil and gas producer.

A review of figures from the Global Petroleum Price indicates that Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Nigeria was priced at $0.674 per kilogram as of March 16, 2026. This places the country on par with Chile but higher than several oil-producing and emerging economies.

In comparison, LPG is significantly cheaper in countries such as Saudi Arabia at $0.290 per kilogram and Russia at $0.388. Even lower prices were recorded in Angola at $0.109 and Azerbaijan at $0.091 per kilogram. Other countries reviewed include India at $0.648 and Georgia at $0.624, both slightly below Nigeria’s rate.

Beyond pricing, income disparities further highlight the burden on Nigerian consumers. For instance, the minimum wage in Saudi Arabia is about $1,065, compared to roughly $49 in Nigeria, while Russia’s minimum wage stands at about $321—indicating significantly stronger purchasing power in those countries.

The rising cost of LPG reflects broader pressures in Nigeria’s energy market, where petroleum product prices have continued to climb in recent months. Many households increasingly rely on cooking gas as a cleaner alternative to kerosene and firewood, making price increases more impactful.

Adding to the pressure, the Dangote Refinery recently raised its ex-depot LPG price to ₦800 per kilogram from ₦760, effective March 17, 2026. The adjustment has been linked to rising global crude oil prices, which have increased production and supply costs, ultimately affecting domestic gas prices.