Cooking gas (LPG)
₦15,000 – ₦21,250
estimated monthly cost, family of 4–5
- Clean, fast and smoke-free
- Easy to budget per refill
- Prices swing with depot supply
- Upfront cylinder and cooker cost
Best for: Most urban households
Energy & Solar · Compare
Cooking Fuel: Gas vs Kerosene vs Charcoal vs Electric: Prices Compared
Electric cooking on Band B tariff is the cheapest at about ₦5,600–₦6,750 a month, if power is available, followed by LPG at about ₦15,000–₦21,250. Kerosene is the dearest at about ₦50,500–₦79,650 a month, with firewood bought in the city close behind.
Updated October 20266 optionsLow confidenceestimated monthly cost for a family of 4–5 (per-unit price in specs)
Quick answer · October 2026
Cheapest: Electric cooker (Band B) at ₦5,623 – ₦6,750. Priciest: Firewood at ₦60,000 – ₦75,000. (estimated monthly cost for a family of 4–5 (per-unit price in specs))
Price comparison
| Option | Typical price | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Electric cooker (Band B) Cheapest | ₦5,623 – ₦6,750 | estimated monthly cost, family of 4–5 |
| Charcoal | ₦16,000 – ₦20,000 | estimated monthly cost, family of 4–5 |
| Cooking gas (LPG) | ₦15,000 – ₦21,250 | estimated monthly cost, family of 4–5 |
| Electric cooker (Band A) | ₦18,855 | estimated monthly cost, family of 4–5 |
| Kerosene | ₦50,500 – ₦79,650 | estimated monthly cost, family of 4–5 |
| Firewood Priciest | ₦60,000 – ₦75,000 | estimated monthly cost, family of 4–5 |
Typical retail ranges in Nigeria, October 2026, sorted cheapest first. The bar shows each range against the most expensive option.
Compare two side by side
Each option at a glance
Kerosene
₦50,500 – ₦79,650
estimated monthly cost, family of 4–5
- Cheap stove
- Sold in small quantities
- Most expensive fuel per month
- Smoke, fumes and fire risk
Best for: Few cases; switch to LPG if possible
Charcoal
₦16,000 – ₦20,000
estimated monthly cost, family of 4–5
- Can be bought in small portions
- Cheap stove
- Indoor smoke and carbon monoxide risk
- Slow and messy; bag sizes vary
Best for: Outdoor cooking and grilling
Electric cooker (Band A)
₦18,855
estimated monthly cost, family of 4–5
- No fuel runs or smoke
- About 20 hours of supply promised
- Band A tariff is high
- Outages stop cooking
Best for: Band A homes with steady power
Electric cooker (Band B)
Cheapest₦5,623 – ₦6,750
estimated monthly cost, family of 4–5
- Cheapest running cost of all options
- Clean and simple
- Only about 16 hours of supply
- Needs a backup fuel
Best for: Band B homes with a backup stove
Firewood
Priciest₦60,000 – ₦75,000
estimated monthly cost, family of 4–5
- Free or cheap where it can be gathered
- No equipment cost
- Costly when bought in cities
- Heavy smoke harms health
Best for: Rural homes that can gather wood
Specifications compared
| Feature | Cooking gas (LPG) | Kerosene | Charcoal | Electric cooker (Band A) | Electric cooker (Band B) | Firewood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per unit | ₦1,200–₦1,700 per kg (12.5kg refill ₦15,000–₦20,625) | ₦2,020–₦3,186 per litre | ₦8,000–₦10,000 per bag | ₦209.50 per kWh | ₦62.48–₦75 per kWh | ₦2,000–₦2,500 per bundle of 5 pieces |
| Monthly quantity assumed | 12.5kg (one refill) | 25 litres | 2 bags | 90kWh (3kWh/day) | 90kWh (3kWh/day) | 30 bundles (5 pieces/day) |
| Price date | Sep–Oct 2026 | May 2026 (latest NBS) | May–Jun 2026 | Tariff in force since Jul 2024 (Oct 2026) | 2026 (varies by DisCo) | May 2026 (Abuja) |
| Equipment needed | Cylinder, regulator, gas cooker | Kerosene stove | Charcoal stove/pot | Hotplate or induction cooker | Hotplate or induction cooker | Three-stone or wood stove |
Swipe sideways on a phone to see all options.
What to check before you buy
Ask the gas shop's per-kg rate and confirm the scale reads zero before filling.
Never burn charcoal indoors or in closed kitchens; carbon monoxide can kill.
Check your DisCo band on your token receipt before choosing electric cooking.
An induction cooker needs flat-bottomed, magnetic pots; check before buying.
Related price guides
All prices
Buying cooking fuel: gas vs kerosene vs charcoal vs electric in bulk?
Tell suppliers the brand, quantity and delivery location. Compare real Quotes or Offers through Finelib Match.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to cook in Nigeria now?
If you have Band B power, electric cooking costs about ₦5,600–₦6,750 a month in our estimate. Otherwise LPG is usually cheapest, about ₦15,000–₦21,250 for one 12.5kg refill a month.
Why is kerosene so expensive?
NBS put the national average at ₦2,971.94 per litre in May 2026, and Lagos at ₦3,185.71. At 25 litres a month, a family would spend about ₦50,500–₦79,650, far more than gas.
How were the monthly costs worked out?
We multiplied reported unit prices by assumed use for a family of 4–5: 12.5kg gas, 25 litres kerosene, 2 bags charcoal, 90kWh electricity or 30 bundles of firewood. Your use may differ.
Sources
How we check prices- Cooking Gas Price: How Much Nigerians Pay to Refill 12.5kg Cylinder in Abuja, Lagos, Other States — Legit.ng, 2026-10
- Kerosene Price Drops to N2,971, Sokoto Records Highest Cost — Legit.ng (NBS data), 2026-06
- Abuja residents resort to charcoal, firewood amid rising energy costs — The Frontier (NAN), 2026-05
- Charcoal, firewood business booms as Abuja residents groan over rising gas prices — Daily Trust, 2026-06
- Electricity Tariff Nigeria 2026: Bands — NaijaSabi, 2026-10
- Band A Electricity Tariff Nigeria — SolarDecide, 2026-04
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