The cheapest shortlets in Abuja are usually in the big residential districts and the towns around the city, such as Gwarinpa, Kubwa, Lugbe and Karu. You can also pay less a night by staying longer, avoiding busy dates and choosing a smaller flat. Always compare the full bill and your daily travel, not just the night price.
This guide shows where your naira goes further, how to cut the cost of each night, and how to tell a good deal from a risky one.
What “cheap” means in Abuja right now
We do not print one Abuja price here. Prices change with the district, the size of the flat and your dates, so any single figure would soon be wrong. The honest answer is the total for your own dates, shown on a live listing.
A cheap stay is the lowest cost for your whole trip. That has three parts:
- The night price. What the host charges for each night.
- The full bill. The nights, plus any cleaning fee and a refundable caution deposit, less any discount.
- The cost of the trip. Rides to your meetings or family, food, and power if it is not included.
A flat with a low night price that is an hour from your meetings can cost more in the end than a dearer flat nearby. To see what is on offer today, start with shortlet apartments in Abuja or browse all Abuja shortlets.
Areas where your naira goes further
Abuja’s central districts, such as Maitama, Asokoro and Wuse 2, usually cost the most. The big residential districts and the towns around the city usually cost less. Here is how the value areas compare:
| Area | Why it can cost less | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Gwarinpa | A large residential district with many flats and houses | Busy roads into the centre at rush hour |
| Kubwa | A town on the edge of the city, with lower rents | A longer trip into the central districts |
| Lugbe | On the airport road, with lower rents than the centre | Handy for flights, but a longer ride into town |
| Karu and nearby towns | Lower rents on the eastern edge of the city | Heavy traffic at rush hour |
| Lokogoma, Apo and Life Camp | Residential districts that guests also search | Check the road, the power and the security |
| Garki | An older central district that can offer fair value | Compare the finish and the power carefully |
Pick the value area closest to where you need to be. If your meetings are in the central districts, a flat on the right side of town saves you money every single day.
Here is how that plays out. Say you have a week of meetings in the central districts. Flat A is in Wuse 2, a short ride away. Flat B is in Kubwa, with a lower night price but a long ride each way. Add a week of rides to Flat B’s bill, plus the hours lost in traffic, and Flat A can end up the cheaper trip. Now say you are visiting family in Kubwa. Flat B wins easily, because you hardly travel at all.
Flying in or out early? A flat in Lugbe, on the airport road, can save a very early ride across the city. Visiting family in Gwarinpa? Stay there, and spend the money you save on the visit itself.
Ways to pay less a night
If your plans are flexible, these are the most reliable ways to bring the price down:
- Stay longer. Many hosts give a percentage off a week or a month, or a free night, such as “stay 5 nights, get 1 free”.
- Avoid the busiest dates. Big conferences, public holidays, Sallah and Christmas all push prices up. Shift your trip by a few days if you can. If you must travel then, read about booking a shortlet for Sallah.
- Choose a smaller flat. A studio or one-bedroom shortlet in Abuja costs less than a bigger flat in the same area.
- Share a bigger flat. A three-bedroom split between colleagues or family can cost each person less than separate rooms.
- Book early. The best-value flats go first, especially around holidays.
- Check what is included. A slightly higher price that includes power, generator fuel, water and Wi-Fi can beat a lower one that does not.
- Watch the cleaning fee. For a short stay, a big one-off cleaning fee can cancel out a low night price.
People search for a monthly shortlet in Abuja too. If you will be in town for several weeks, ask about a weekly or monthly price before you book night by night.
Travelling as a group or a family? Work out the cost per person, not per flat. A bigger flat with a kitchen can beat two small ones, and cooking some meals yourself cuts the cost of the trip as well as the stay.
Cheap but not risky
A bargain is only a bargain if the flat is real. Scammers use low prices as bait, so be most careful with the cheapest adverts. Stop and check if you see any of these:
- a price far below similar flats in the same area;
- pressure to pay by transfer at once to “hold” the date;
- a “caution fee” demanded first, before anything else is agreed;
- photos that appear on other adverts, or no live video call;
- nothing in writing: no full price, no rules and no cancellation terms.
Our guide to shortlet scams in Nigeria explains all ten warning signs. A real flat can still be a poor deal, so ask these questions before you pay:
- Power. How many hours a day, and is generator fuel included? A cheap flat with little power can mean a hot, sleepless week.
- Water. Is there running water all day, or only at set times?
- Security. Is there a gate, a guard or an estate entrance? Is the street well lit at night?
- The road. Is the road to the flat tarred? In the rainy season, some untarred roads become hard to use.
- The flat itself. Ask for a live video call from inside, so you see today’s condition, not old photos.
On Cabans, a shortlet that takes online bookings is paid securely online through Paystack, never by transfer to a host. You pay Paystack’s payment fee as the guest. It is shown before you pay, and it is not refunded if you cancel. If you cancel before the free-cancellation deadline, you get a full refund of the booking within 14 days at most, and usually in about 5 days.
How to compare two listings
When two flats look alike, put them side by side. Fill in each line for both, for your exact dates, and the cheaper stay becomes clear:
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Nights for your dates, less any discount | Night prices can change from date to date |
| Cleaning fee | Charged once, so it matters most on short stays |
| Caution deposit | Refundable, but you need the money up front |
| Payment fee | Some sites add one when you pay; check it is shown first |
| Power, fuel, water and Wi-Fi | Paying for them separately can wipe out a saving |
| Daily rides | A far-away flat costs more to travel from each day |
| Cancellation terms | A cheap stay you cannot cancel is a risk if plans change |
On Cabans, pick your dates in a listing’s booking box and the “Price Breakdown” card fills in most of these lines for you: the nights, any discount, the “Cleaning fee”, the “Caution deposit (refundable)” and the “Total”. See how to check dates and the price for a stay.
Ready to look? See Abuja shortlets, or start in a value area such as Gwarinpa or Garki. Own a furnished flat in Abuja? List your short let on Cabans and reach guests looking for value.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find a cheap shortlet in Abuja?
Look first in the big residential districts and the towns around the city, such as Gwarinpa, Kubwa, Lugbe, Karu and Lokogoma. Night prices there are usually lower than in Maitama, Asokoro or Wuse 2. Then check how long the ride will be to where you need to go.
Is it cheaper to book a shortlet in Abuja for a week or a month?
Usually, yes, per night. Many hosts give a discount for longer stays or a free night after a set number of nights. A one-off cleaning fee is also spread over more nights when you stay longer.
Are shortlets in Gwarinpa cheaper than in Wuse 2 or Maitama?
A similar flat usually costs less per night in Gwarinpa than in Wuse 2 or Maitama. But prices change with size, finish and dates, so compare live listings for your own dates before you decide.
Is a very cheap shortlet in Abuja safe?
It can be, but a price far below similar flats nearby is also a common scam sign. Ask for a live video call from inside the flat, get the full price and rules in writing, and never pay a stranger by transfer to hold a date.
What should I add to the night price when I compare?
Add any cleaning fee, the refundable caution deposit, any payment fee, and what you will spend on rides each day. Also ask whether power, generator fuel, water and Wi-Fi are included, because paying for them separately adds up.
Is a shortlet cheaper than a hotel in Abuja?
For groups, families and longer stays it often is, because you share one flat and can cook your own meals. For one person staying one night, a simple hotel room can cost less. Compare the full total for your trip, not the headline price.
Who pays the payment fee when I book on Cabans?
You do, as the guest. You pay securely online through Paystack, and Paystack’s payment fee is shown before you pay. So the total you see before paying is the total you pay.
Related guides
Shortlet scams: 10 warning signs · How much is a shortlet in Lagos? · Relocating to Abuja · Abuja serviced apartment service charges · Shortlet business in Abuja · Where to stay in Abuja
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