Travel vlogger highlights affordability gap between Lagos and Malaysia
Travel vlogger Adenike Daramola has criticised Lagos' high rental costs after comparing them with fully furnished apartments in Malaysia, saying residents pay more for less value despite lower incomes. In a video shared on social media, Daramola documented her stay in a serviced apartment in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital city, and used the experience to highlight what she believes is a growing affordability crisis in Lagos' real estate market.
Fully furnished apartment in Kuala Lumpur costs $27 per night
According to her, the fully furnished apartment cost about $27 per night and came with amenities that many Lagos residents would struggle to find even in high-priced rentals. Giving her followers a tour of the apartment, she showed off the bedroom, kitchen, dining area, bathroom, television, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, microwave, refrigerator and other household appliances included in the package. "This apartment costs about $27 per night here in Kuala Lumpur," she said.
Beyond the apartment itself, Daramola pointed out that residents also had access to several shared facilities including a rooftop swimming pool, gym, workspaces, relaxation areas, mini gardens, washing machines, dryers and 24-hour security. In Kuala Lumpur, monthly rentals between $250 and $350 routinely grant tenants access to premium communal facilities like rooftop pools, modern gyms, and co-working spaces.
Annual rent in Malaysia estimated at N4.2 million
The travel creator went on to compare long-term rental costs in Malaysia with what many people currently pay in Lagos. "A studio apartment in Kuala Lumpur costs between 1,000 to 1,500 Ringgit, which is about $250 to $350 per month," she explained. After converting the figures to Nigerian currency, she estimated that such an apartment would cost roughly N4.2 million annually, while coming fully furnished and offering access to premium facilities.
"This is the craziest part. Do you know that the apartment comes fully furnished? I'm talking about bed, mattress, wardrobe, refrigerator, AC, TV, washing machine, microwave and so on," she said.
Lagos tenants pay more for less, says vlogger
Daramola contrasted the experience with the rental market in Lagos, where tenants often pay significantly more for unfurnished apartments and are sometimes expected to handle renovations and fittings themselves. "Meanwhile, an agent will take you to a tiny and empty apartment in Lagos, confidently tell you that it is N6 million per annum," she said.
Many Nigerians resonated with complaints about Lagos landlords and agents demanding upwards of N6 million annually for unrenovated, empty, and structurally compromised properties. Questioning the affordability of housing in Nigeria's commercial capital, she also referenced the gap between wages and rent.
Minimum wage disparity highlights crisis
"The official minimum wage in Malaysia is 1,700 Ringgit per month, which is about N600,000, and here we are in Nigeria with N70,000 minimum wage and they expect us to pay 1,000 percent of our minimum wage for rent."
"The more I travel, the more I realise that Lagos is extremely ridiculously expensive. You pay a lot of money and you do not get value for what you're paying for."
Nigeria's housing sector has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years as rising inflation, construction costs, foreign exchange challenges and housing shortages continue to push rental prices higher, particularly in Lagos, Abuja and other major cities.
Online debate erupts over Lagos rental market
Her comments have since generated debate online, with many Nigerians agreeing that rental costs in Lagos have become increasingly disconnected from average incomes and the quality of housing available. "Why would I move into an empty apartment? I'm going to furnish it myself. I'm even going to renovate it. Some apartments are so terrible that you can't even stay there. Some you stay there for a month and the roof is already leaking. It is crazy," she said.
