How much does professional home care actually cost in Lagos? We break down salaries, placement fees, and hidden expenses across every care category — with 2026 data.
One of the most opaque aspects of the Nigerian domestic staffing market is pricing. Families do not know what others are paying. Staff do not know what others are earning. Agencies often quote wildly different numbers for the same role. This lack of transparency hurts everyone — it leads to underpayment, overcharging, and mismatched expectations.
At COHCASEL, we believe pricing should be clear, justified, and consistent. Here is what professional home care in Lagos actually costs in 2026, based on our placement data.
Nanny and Childcare Salaries (Monthly, Lagos)
| Role | Live-Out | Live-In | CHMC Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Nanny (no cert) | ₦30,000 – ₦50,000 | ₦25,000 – ₦40,000 | — |
| CHMC Bronze Nanny | ₦50,000 – ₦80,000 | ₦40,000 – ₦65,000 | +68% |
| CHMC Silver Nanny | ₦80,000 – ₦130,000 | ₦65,000 – ₦110,000 | +114% |
| CHMC Gold Nanny | ₦130,000 – ₦220,000 | ₦110,000 – ₦180,000 | +220% |
| Global-Ready Nanny | ₦200,000+ | ₦160,000+ | +variable |
Live-in rates reflect accommodation and meals being provided. CHMC Premium shows the average salary uplift compared to uncertified staff at the same responsibility level.
Elder Care Salaries (Monthly, Lagos)
| Role | Live-Out | Live-In | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Companion Carer (non-medical) | ₦40,000 – ₦70,000 | ₦35,000 – ₦55,000 | Social companion, light housework |
| CHMC Silver Caregiver | ₦80,000 – ₦140,000 | ₦65,000 – ₦115,000 | Medication management, mobility support |
| CHMC Gold Caregiver | ₦140,000 – ₦250,000 | ₦115,000 – ₦200,000 | Complex care, dementia-trained |
| Live-in Nursing Aide | — | ₦160,000 – ₦280,000 | 24-hour presence, medical monitoring |
Household Management and Housekeeping
| Role | Live-Out | Live-In |
|---|---|---|
| Housekeeper (general) | ₦30,000 – ₦55,000 | ₦25,000 – ₦45,000 |
| CHMC Silver Housekeeper | ₦60,000 – ₦100,000 | ₦50,000 – ₦80,000 |
| Home Manager (Gold certified) | ₦180,000 – ₦350,000 | ₦150,000 – ₦280,000 |
| Housekeeper/Chef | ₦60,000 – ₦120,000 | ₦50,000 – ₦95,000 |
A Home Manager is a distinct role from a housekeeper. A CHMC Gold-certified Home Manager oversees the entire household — staff schedules, vendor management, inventory, meal planning, and family logistics. It is a senior position that commands a senior salary.
Placement Fees and Agency Costs
Salaries are one part of the cost. The other is the placement process itself. Here is what that looks like in 2026:
- COHCASEL Managed Placement: One-time placement fee of 15–20% of annual salary, depending on role level. Includes background checks, CHMC verification, trial period management, and a 30-day replacement guarantee.
- Direct hire (no agency): No placement fee, but you absorb all vetting costs (background checks: ₦15,000 – ₦30,000, medical screening: ₦10,000 – ₦25,000, reference verification: time cost). You also manage everything yourself.
- Informal agency (referral-only): Typically ₦20,000 – ₦50,000 finder's fee. No verification, no guarantee, no ongoing management.
Hidden Costs Most Families Do Not Budget For
The salary and placement fee are the visible costs. Here are the ones families consistently underestimate:
- Medical expenses and emergencies. Budget ₦50,000 – ₦100,000 per year for unplanned medical costs — both the staff member's health and any injuries sustained on the job.
- Annual leave and sick days. Legally, domestic workers in Nigeria are entitled to 6 days of paid annual leave and 6 sick days. If your nanny takes leave, you need backup care or you need to manage those days yourself.
- Feeding a live-in staff member. Add ₦20,000 – ₦35,000 per month to your food budget for each live-in staff member.
- Transport. If your staff member commutes, monthly transport allowance is ₦10,000 – ₦25,000 depending on distance.
- Training and certification renewal. First aid certification expires every two years. CHMC renewal is annual. Budget ₦15,000 – ₦30,000 per year for continuing education.
The Diaspora Premium
For families managing care from abroad, there are additional costs:
- COHCASEL Diaspora Management Fee: ₦30,000 – ₦50,000/month on top of placement, covering coordination, monthly reports, quarterly home visits, and emergency response.
- Currency risk: If you pay in foreign currency, the exchange rate fluctuation can add 5–15% to your effective cost over a year.
- Communication costs: Data bundles for video calls, international calling credit, and any remittance fees.
What You Should Not Pay For
Just as important as knowing what things cost is knowing what you should not be paying:
- Registration fees to view candidate profiles. Legitimate agencies earn from placements, not profile access.
- Salary advances to strangers. This is a common scam pattern. A legitimate agency pays staff after the first month of work — you pay the agency, who pays the staff.
- Prices far below market rate. If a nanny with "10 years of experience" is asking for ₦25,000/month, ask why. Either the experience is overstated or something else is wrong.
The Bottom Line
Professional home care in Lagos costs somewhere between ₦50,000 and ₦350,000 per month, depending on the role, certification level, and whether it is live-in or live-out. The total cost — including placement, management, and hidden expenses — is typically 1.3x to 1.5x the base salary.
Understanding these numbers upfront prevents the most common problem in domestic staffing: mismatched expectations. Know what you need, know what it costs, and budget accordingly.
For a personalised cost estimate based on your specific needs, use our placement calculator or speak with our team directly.
Comments are disabled on this blog. Questions or feedback? Email us at hello@cohcasel.com or WhatsApp us at +234 800 264 2735.
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