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The short answer
Moving into a one-bedroom flat in Asaba costs far more in the first month than the rent alone. In our labelled example the total is about ₦3.05 million: a year's rent of ₦1 million, ₦300,000 in agency, agreement and caution fees, ₦350,000 to move belongings from Lagos, ₦1.2 million to furnish, and smaller sums for power, water, gas, health cover and food. The caution deposit is refundable; the rest is spent.
People moving to Asaba for a job, a posting or a fresh start usually plan for the rent and are then surprised by everything around it. Most landlords want a year upfront, agents and lawyers charge their fees on top, and an empty flat needs furniture, power and water before it is liveable. This guide adds up the first month so you can plan the full amount.
A labelled first-month total
| Item (example only) | Amount | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|
| Rent, one-bedroom flat, one year | ₦1,000,000 | No |
| Agency fee (10%, negotiable) | ₦100,000 | No |
| Agreement fee (10%, negotiable) | ₦100,000 | No |
| Caution deposit | ₦100,000 | Yes, less proven damage |
| Moving belongings from Lagos by truck | ₦350,000 | No |
| Furnishing: bed, mattress, cooker, fridge, fan, curtains, basics | ₦1,200,000 | No |
| First electricity tokens | ₦30,000 | No |
| Water (tanker or borehole contribution) | ₦20,000 | No |
| Cooking gas refill | ₦25,000 | No |
| DSCHC informal health plan, one year | ₦7,000 | No |
| Food for the first month | ₦120,000 | No |
| Total (example) | ₦3,052,000 |
In this example, only ₦1,000,000 of the ₦3,052,000 is rent. Fees and setting up the home cost more than the rent itself, which is why the first month needs its own savings plan.
The items people forget
Fees on top of rent
Agency and agreement fees are commonly quoted as percentages of the rent and are negotiable. Ask what the agreement fee covers and whether the landlord will share it. Get receipts for each fee in the name of the person you paid.
Power and meter
Check whether the flat has its own prepaid meter or shares one. A shared meter causes disputes over who used what. Find out the tariff band from a previous receipt: under NERC's July 2025 order for BEDC, Band A was ₦209.50 per kWh with at least 20 hours of supply, and lower bands cost less but promise fewer hours. NERC has since issued a September 2026 MYTO order, so check today's rate. See how to buy a BEDC token in Asaba.
Water
Ask how the building gets water: a borehole shared by tenants, a tank filled by tanker, or public supply. Ask whether tenants contribute to borehole repairs or diesel for the pump, and how much.
Health cover
The Delta State Contributory Health Commission's informal plan costs ₦7,000 a year, and services start 60 to 90 days after payment is confirmed. Enrol in your first week so cover starts before you need it.
Check the property before you pay
- Meet the landlord, or see the agent's written authority to let the property.
- Confirm the building is not on government land. Delta State's land recovery taskforce said in June 2024 that it was demolishing illegal structures on government land in Asaba, including around 74 Road at Anwai-Asaba and at Musa Camp, without compensation.
- Inspect for leaks, wiring, doors and windows, and photograph everything before you move in.
- Read the tenancy agreement for the rent review clause, notice period and caution refund terms.
- Pay into an account in the landlord's or agency's name and keep every receipt.
A simple timeline
- Six to three months before
- Save for the full first-month total, not just rent. Decide which areas suit your work and budget.
- Two months before
- Start viewing flats, in person or through someone you trust. Ask for written quotes for rent and all fees.
- One month before
- Sign the agreement after the checks above, pay, and book the truck. Get moving quotes in writing, including loading and offloading.
- Moving week
- Photograph the flat, read the meter, change the locks if the agreement allows, buy tokens and gas.
- First week
- Enrol for health cover, update your address with your bank and employer, and keep all receipts together.
Moving in the middle of the rainy season or in December, when trucks and labour are in demand, can push the moving line up. If you can choose your dates, avoid the busiest weeks.
Ways to cut the first-month bill
- Negotiate the agency and agreement fees, or a flat fee instead of percentages.
- Move only what is worth the truck space; sell bulky old furniture before you leave and buy locally.
- Furnish in stages: bed, cooking and a fan first, the rest over the following months.
- Ask about a furnished flat if you are on a short posting.
For the monthly picture once you have settled in, see cost of living in Asaba, and for the scams to avoid while house-hunting, money scams common in Asaba. Moving costs in general: moving house in Nigeria.
Where Pryme fits
A Fixed Savings Box can build the moving fund before you go (Savings Boxes). Pay rent and fees from the app and generate a verifiable receipt with VerifyDoc.ai, so both you and the landlord have a record that can be checked as unaltered (receipts).
Questions people ask
How much do I need to move to Asaba?
In our labelled example for a one-bedroom flat, about ₦3.05 million in the first month, including a year's rent, fees, moving from Lagos and furnishing. Your total depends on rent and how much you already own.
How much is a one-bedroom flat in Asaba?
There is no official rent index. Our example used ₦1 million a year; compare several listings in the area you want.
Is caution fee refundable in Asaba?
A caution deposit is meant to be refunded at the end of the tenancy, less proven damage. Put the terms in the tenancy agreement.
What should I check before renting a house in Asaba?
The landlord's identity, that the building is not on government land, the meter arrangement, water supply and the agreement terms.
Sources
- NERC: BEDC July 2025 Supplementary Order (ORDER/NERC/2025/060) · accessed Oct 2026
- NERC homepage (September 2026 MYTO notice; complaint route) · accessed Oct 2026
- Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC): scheme, plans and enrolment · accessed Oct 2026
- Delta State Government: Delta declares war on land grabbers (22 Jun 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.