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Claim: Different Facebook users claimed that Nigerians have a higher purchasing power at home than in Canada, where a haircut costs N37,000.
Verdict: MISLEADING. While the nominal price of a haircut in Canada may be higher, the real economic cost, when adjusted for income levels and purchasing power, reveals a more considerable cost-of-living difference in Canada than in Nigeria.
Full Text
Many Nigerians have struggled to maintain their standard of living since the Bola Tinubu administration began. The government’s removal of fuel subsidies triggered a staggering increase in petrol prices. At the same time, liberalising the foreign exchange market has depreciated the naira’s value.
With inflation soaring to 34.6% as of November 2024, and the cost of essentials such as food, transportation, and healthcare rising sharply, many Nigerians are struggling to maintain their standard of living.
As a result, some are seeking opportunities abroad—a phenomenon known as “Japa.” Canada became one of the top destinations for these hopeful migrants, drawn by its reputation for stability, better job prospects, and higher living standards.
However, the desperation to leave has also made many vulnerable to scams. DUBAWA has previously investigated how fraudulent actors designed marriage scam schemes to defraud Nigerians eager to migrate to Canada.
Recently, some Facebook users attempted to dissuade Nigerians from migrating to Canada, claiming that the cost of living is lower in Nigeria than in Canada. On April 17, 2025, one such user, Uchechukwu Kenneth, stated that having a haircut costs approximately N37,000 in Canada. As of Apr. 28, 2025, the post had gained 93 reactions and 44 comments. We also found the claim here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
The comment section was filled with contradicting opinions. Emmanuel Ubi said it takes one hour to earn 10 times the cost of a haircut in Canada, implying the superiority of Canada’s economy.
However, others disagreed. Using a popular slang to express disagreement, Mbani Favour simply said, “Rest, bro.” Augustus Nwabueze said it depends on the person’s area. “I pay around 80k plus 40 40-minute drive to barb my hair.”
The differing thoughts prompted DUBAWA to fact-check the viral claim.
Haircut price in Canada
The cost of a haircut varies across Canada, which comprises 10 provinces and three territories. These regions are commonly grouped as follows: Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba); Central Canada (Ontario, Quebec); Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island); and Northern Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut).
Toronto, Ontario, Canada’s largest city and a central economic hub, averages around CAD34 for a regular men’s haircut. Prices range from as low as CAD 10 in basic barbershops to well over CAD 1,000 in high-end or celebrity salons.
Montreal, located in Quebec, is about 10% cheaper than Toronto, with the average men’s haircut costing roughly CAD 30.60. Moving west to Vancouver, British Columbia, the average price drops to approximately CAD 25.50, which is about 25% less than the rate in Toronto.
Across the rest of Canada, including smaller cities and rural areas, the typical cost for a basic men’s haircut ranges from CAD 20 to CAD $40. Haircuts are generally more expensive for women, ranging from CAD30 to CAD70, depending on the region and the salon. Overall, the national average for a men’s haircut is generally between CAD25 and CAD50, while women’s haircuts range from CAD45 to CAD75.
As of April 28, 2025, a Canadian dollar equals N1,161. Therefore, N37,000 will be converted to approximately CAD32, which is around the average price across the country. It can be agreed that a haircut truly costs approximately N37,000 in Canada.
A broader context
The claim’s narrow focus on raw haircut prices overlooks fundamental economic realities that define true affordability. While Canada’s nominal costs are undeniably higher, the real financial burden paints a different picture when adjusted for income, purchasing power, and systemic factors.
Canada’s average monthly post-tax salary of $3,905 dwarfs Nigeria’s $193, meaning a N37,000 haircut (equivalent to $17) consumes just 0.6% of a Canadian’s monthly income. In comparison, a N2,000 haircut (roughly $1.88) presents a heavier burden of 1.4% on Nigerians’ earnings.
Nigeria’s 24.23% inflation rate in March 2025, over ten times Canada’s 2.3%, has eroded wages and savings. This is compounded by the Naira’s 100 %+ depreciation since 2023, making imported goods more expensive. In contrast, Canada’s stable currency and lower inflation preserve the value of incomes, cushioning residents against price shocks.
While Canada’s overall cost of living is higher, its GDP per capita of $53,560, compared to Nigeria’s $806.84, enables Canadians to absorb higher nominal costs without sacrificing living standards. Services that appear nominally cheaper impose a heavier relative burden in lower-income economies, such as Nigeria.
Structural advantages further relieve Canadians from financial strain. Public healthcare, subsidised childcare, and unemployment benefits reduce out-of-pocket expenses, whereas Nigerians often pay privately for services due to weaker infrastructure.
Focusing on nominal prices overlooks these systemic inequities, falsely equating Canada’s higher costs with greater hardship when, in fact, the opposite is true. Nigerians face a dual crisis of stagnant wages and inflation-driven price surges. In contrast, Canadians benefit from robust wages, price stability, and social protections that collectively ease the real economic burden of living expenses.
“Haircut price unfavourable to Nigerians”- Experts
Arome Adaji, a financial accountant, said the reality behind the numbers negates the perception that a haircut is cheaper in Nigeria than Canada. “This comparison is misleading because it ignores real economic values, how much of an average person’s income is required to afford the haircut, and what that money means in each country’s economic context,” he said.
He revealed that the nominal value of goods and services does not take into account the currency’s purchasing power in the local context. He said, “Nominal value is the face value of the money or price of the goods in the current currency, unlike the real economic value that considers average income and the broader economic environment.”
Arome analysed the contrasting data on the inflation rate, currency stability, cost of living, and structural support in both countries. When comparing prices between countries, Arome advised that the real economic value matters more, not just the face value of money.
“Incomes are much lower, and the cost of basic needs takes up a bigger share of earnings. A haircut is less affordable for the average Nigerian than for a Canadian. A CAD$20 haircut is a small fraction of what Canadians earn, while N2,000 is a bigger chunk of an average Nigerian’s monthly income,” he said.
Akinlo Anthony, a professor of economics at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, urged Nigerians to compare the currency value of both countries. He said the better quality of life in Canada made the amount more affordable than in Nigeria. Considering Nigeria’s low quality of life, he advised differentiating by inflation rate.
He said, “Quality of life determines virtually everything. In developing countries like Nigeria, the inflation rate is always double that of advanced countries, where it often stays between two and three per cent.”
Conclusion
Though the claim used correct surface-level data, it fails to account for the differences in earnings and purchasing power between the two countries. Comparing prices directly without this context creates a misleading picture of the fundamental economic realities facing migrants.
