A shortlet in Lagos has no single price. What you pay depends on four things: the area, the size of the flat, your dates and how long you stay. The full bill can also include a cleaning fee and a refundable caution deposit on top of the nights.
This guide explains each part of the price, so you can read any listing and know what a fair total looks like for your trip.
The short answer
We do not print one “average” Lagos price here. A figure that is right for a studio in Yaba in March is wrong for a three-bedroom flat in Ikoyi at Christmas. The honest answer is the price for your own dates, shown on a live listing.
Here is how Lagos shortlet prices usually compare, from lower to higher:
- Size: a studio or one-bedroom costs less than a three-bedroom flat or a duplex.
- Area: much of the Mainland costs less than Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki.
- Dates: a quiet weekday costs less than a busy weekend, a public holiday or December.
- Length: a week or a month often costs less per night than one or two nights.
To see real prices today, start with shortlet apartments in Lagos, or go straight to an area such as Lekki or Ikeja.
What changes the price of a night
Hosts set their own night prices. Most of them think about the same few things:
- The area. Flats near offices, the beach and nightlife cost more to rent and run, so their nights cost more.
- The size. More bedrooms and bathrooms mean a higher price, but often a lower price per person.
- Power. Round-the-clock power from a generator, inverter or solar is expensive to provide. Flats that offer it usually charge for it.
- The building. A pool, a gym, lifts, parking and 24-hour security all add to the price.
- The dates. Many hosts charge more for weekends, public holidays and December.
- How long you stay. Many hosts give a discount for a week or a month.
The number of guests matters less than people think. Many hosts set a price for the whole flat and a maximum number of guests. Ask the host if you are not sure.
Extras push the price up too. A private pool, a cinema room, a games room or a sea view all cost the host money to provide, and they show up in the night price. If you only need a clean, cool room with steady power, you can often save by skipping the extras. If you want a pool for a group weekend, compare a few flats that have one, such as shortlets in Lekki. For a film night, see our guide to shortlets with a cinema or games room.
Island vs Mainland prices
Lagos is often split into the Island side (Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki and Ajah) and the Mainland (Ikeja, Yaba, Surulere, Gbagada and more). On the whole, a similar flat costs more per night on the Island.
| Side | Areas guests search | What you usually get for the price |
|---|---|---|
| Island | Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Lekki Phase 1, Lekki, Ajah | Closeness to offices, restaurants and the beach; higher night prices, with Ajah usually lower than Ikoyi or VI |
| Mainland | Ikeja, Yaba, Surulere, Gbagada, Magodo | Lower night prices and often more space; Ikeja is close to the airport |
The cheapest night is not always the cheapest trip. If all your meetings or parties are on the Island, a Mainland flat can cost you hours in traffic and a lot in ride fares. Choose the side where you will spend most of your time. Our guide to the best areas for a shortlet in Lagos compares each area.
The full bill: cleaning fee, caution deposit and discounts
A Lagos shortlet bill usually has up to five parts. Ask for all of them before you pay:
- Nights. The night price times the number of nights. If some nights cost more, each group is shown separately.
- A discount for a longer stay, taken off the nights only.
- A cleaning fee, charged once per stay, not per night. Not every host charges one.
- A caution deposit. This is money held in case something is damaged. You get it back after check-out, less the cost of any damage the host can show.
- A payment fee. Some booking sites add a small fee for processing your payment. A fair site shows it before you pay.
Here is how the parts fit together for a seven-night stay with a longer-stay offer:
| Line | How it is worked out |
|---|---|
| Nights | 7 × the night price for your dates |
| Discount: 7+ nights, 10% off | One tenth of the nights, taken off |
| Cleaning fee | Added once, whatever the length of stay |
| Caution deposit (refundable) | Added once, and paid back after you leave |
| Payment fee | Added when you pay, if the site charges one |
| Total to pay | All of the lines above |
Notice two things. The discount comes off the nights only, never the cleaning fee or the deposit. And the deposit is your own money, which should come back after you leave. So a flat with a lower night price but a big cleaning fee can cost more for a short stay than a flat with a higher night price and no fee.
Paying less for longer stays
If your dates are flexible, these are the most reliable ways to lower the price of each night:
- Stay longer. Many hosts offer a percentage off a week or a month, or a free night, such as “stay 5 nights, get 1 free”.
- Avoid the busiest dates. Arriving a few days before Christmas or after New Year can change the price a lot.
- Choose a smaller flat. A studio or one-bedroom in a good area can beat a bigger flat further away. Try one-bedroom shortlets in Ikeja.
- Share a bigger flat. A three-bedroom split between three friends can cost each person less than three separate rooms.
- Book early. The best-value flats go first, especially for December.
Planning a December trip? Read Detty December in Lagos: plan your stay early before you book.
How to see the real price before you pay
A low night price can hide a high total. Before you pay anything, get these in writing:
- the price of each night, for your exact dates;
- the cleaning fee, if any, and the caution deposit;
- what is included: power hours, generator fuel, water, Wi-Fi and any cleaning during the stay;
- check-in and check-out times;
- the cancellation terms: until when you can cancel, and how much comes back;
- how and when the caution deposit is returned.
Be careful with any listing that will not show a full price, or that asks you to pay a “caution fee” first to hold a date. Those are warning signs, and our guide to shortlet scams in Nigeria lists ten more.
On Cabans, a shortlet that takes online bookings shows the real price before you pay. Pick your check-in and check-out dates in the booking box, and the “Price Breakdown” card lists the nights, any discount, the “Cleaning fee”, the “Caution deposit (refundable)” and the “Total”. It also shows until when you can cancel for a full refund.
You pay securely online through Paystack. Paystack’s payment fee is paid by you, the guest, and it is shown before you pay, so there are no surprises at the end. The fee is not refunded if you cancel.
See how to check dates and the price for a stay, or follow how to book a shortlet in Lagos, step by step. On a tight budget? Read how to pay less a night for a shortlet in Lagos.
Find a shortlet you can book and compare the full bill for your dates. If you own a furnished flat in Lagos, you can also list your short let on Cabans.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a shortlet apartment in Lagos per night?
There is no single price. A night costs more on the Island than on most of the Mainland, more for a bigger flat, and more on busy dates such as December. Check live listings for your own dates, and look at the full bill, not just the night price.
Why are shortlets on the Island more expensive?
Rents, service charges and power costs are usually higher in Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki, and many guests want to stay close to offices, the beach and nightlife there. Hosts pass those costs on in the night price.
Is the caution deposit part of the shortlet price?
You pay it with the booking, but it is not a charge for the stay. It is held in case something is damaged, and it should come back to you after check-out, less the cost of any damage the host can show.
Are shortlets more expensive in December?
Often, yes. Many hosts raise prices for busy dates, and December in Lagos is one of the busiest times of the year. Booking early gives you more choice at better prices.
Is a weekly or monthly shortlet cheaper per night?
Usually. Many hosts offer a discount for longer stays, or a free night after a set number of nights. A longer stay also spreads a one-off cleaning fee over more nights.
Are there extra fees on top of the night price?
Often, yes. Look for a cleaning fee, a refundable caution deposit and any payment fee added when you pay. The night price is only one line of the bill, so always compare the final total for your dates.
What do I pay when I book a shortlet on Cabans?
The nights for your dates, less any discount the host offers, plus the host’s cleaning fee and caution deposit if they set them. The deposit is refundable. You also pay Paystack’s payment fee, and it is shown before you pay.
Related guides
Best areas for a shortlet in Lagos · Detty December in Lagos · Shortlet scams: 10 warning signs · Short let vs hotel in Lagos · Short let in Ikeja · Shortlet prices across Nigeria
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