How to price your shortlet apartment in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt (2026 guide)
Clavibase
Pricing a shortlet in Nigeria does not have to be guesswork if you know where to look. However, the range is wide enough that copying a competitor’s rate can leave serious money on the table or price you out of bookings entirely. Here’s an indicative city-by-city view for 2026 and a practical way to use it.
Rates change frequently and can vary by estate, amenities, season, and listing quality. Treat the ranges below as a starting point, then compare them with current listings in your immediate neighbourhood.
Lagos
Lagos has a wide range of shortlet prices, which makes location one of the biggest pricing factors.
- Studio apartments: ₦15,000–₦50,000/night
- 1-bedroom: ₦20,000–₦80,000/night
- 2-bedroom: ₦40,000–₦150,000/night
- Luxury serviced apartments: ₦150,000–₦300,000/night
Neighbourhood often matters as much as apartment size. Lekki Phase 1 and 2 and Victoria Island usually sit toward the higher end of the market. Areas further from the Island, such as Yaba or other parts of the Mainland, tend to attract a different mix of guests, including students, tech workers, and cost-conscious travellers rather than expatriates and business guests.
One thing worth watching is that some estates restrict or prohibit shortlets. Always check the current rules in your lease, building, and estate before setting up, regardless of how attractive the potential rate may be.
Abuja
Abuja attracts a significant corporate and diplomatic market, and pricing reflects that. Reliable electricity, in particular, can command a real premium.
- 1-bedroom with guaranteed 24-hour power: up to ₦180,000/night
- 3-bedroom units: up to ₦300,000/night
If your Abuja property has consistent backup power, price accordingly and make it a headline feature in your listing. Reliable power is a practical selling point that should be easy for guests to find.
Port Harcourt
Port Harcourt has an active shortlet market, with demand that includes oil and gas industry traffic.
- GRA Phase 1–3 (premium): ₦80,000–₦200,000/night
- Trans Amadi (industrial/corporate): ₦50,000–₦120,000/night
- Newer residential zones (e.g. Eliozu): from ₦35,000/night
Corporate relocations and contractor housing contribute to demand alongside leisure travel, so reliable power, security, and proximity to corporate offices can matter more than décor.
How to actually set your price
Start with your neighbourhood’s range, not the city average. A citywide number has limited value because a two-bedroom apartment in Lekki Phase 1 and one in a quieter Mainland estate are not competing for exactly the same guest.
Price power and security as features, not assumptions. Reliable electricity and visible security infrastructure can support a higher rate. If you have them, say so explicitly and test a price toward the top of your local range.
Think in occupancy, not just nightly rate. A high nightly rate with a half-empty calendar can earn less than a slightly lower rate with consistent bookings. Compare projected shortlet income with the costs and stability of a long-term lease on the same unit. A rate that fills your calendar consistently may be worth more than one that produces only occasional spikes.
Build in a weekly or monthly discount. Longer stays can reduce turnover costs, including cleaning, guest changeover, and vacancy risk, even at a lower nightly rate. Test a modest discount for stays of a week or longer and adjust it using your own booking data.
Revisit your pricing seasonally. Demand often rises around December, January, and major events. Review your rates before peak periods instead of leaving one flat price in place all year.
Keep it simple to test and adjust
The biggest pricing mistake is not setting the wrong number once. It is setting a number and never reviewing it. Markets shift with the season, neighbourhood competition, and events happening in the city. Clavibase lets you update pricing and run vouchers directly on your booking page, so testing a new rate or seasonal discount does not require you to edit your Instagram bio and several listing platforms every time.
Ready to make your pricing easier to manage? Start free with Clavibase.