Gidi GuideHow to make money in Lagos Life
There are five ways to earn: shifts, side gigs, businesses, property and politics. Here's the order that works, and the traps that keep new players broke.
The fastest order for a new player
- Take a job on day one and finish every shift. Banking needs no skill. Leaving a shift early cuts your pay, and players report a 15% bonus for winning four tasks in one shift.
- Eat before you work. Shifts burn energy, and food is what refills it. A cheap meal at Amala Shitta is the best value in the game.
- Use spare hours on side gigs. Carrying loads at Balogun Market pays about ₦2,250, and buka work at Amala Shitta needs no skill.
- Train the skill your next promotion asks for. Level 5 pay is many times level 1, so skills are where the real money is. Our skills guide shows what each one unlocks.
- Buy your first business once rent is covered. A Recharge & Data Kiosk or POS Stand pays back fastest. Then put the profit into the next one.
Every way to earn, compared
| Route | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs | Steady income from day one | Pay only grows if you train the right skill |
| Side gigs | Quick cash between shifts | Small amounts; the better gigs need skill levels |
| Businesses | Daily income that grows with you | Bad days, running costs and staff wages on Saturday |
| Property & land | Slow, long-term value | Upkeep, tax, selling fees and omo-onile on cheap plots |
| Governor | A daily stipend for a week | You need votes, and campaigning eats into work time |
| Betting | Nothing, honestly | Players say it has the worst odds in the game |
These figures are player-reported, not official. The game is patched often, so treat them as a starting point.
Tax changes the maths later on
Players report that the first ₦1,000,000 of pay each week is tax-free, and that business income isn't taxed at all. Even the best-paid career tops out around ₦528,000 a week, so most players pay no tax. If you ever earn past the allowance, businesses become the better place to grow. Our income tax guide has the full brackets.
Watch the weekly policy
The elected governor picks one city-wide policy. A minimum wage raise reportedly lifts shift pay by 15%, and a food subsidy cuts meal prices by 30%. Check the banner at the top of the game each week and plan around it. More in our governor guide.
What drains your money
- Nights out before your rent is covered
- Selling a business on a bad day, which returns only about 60% of the price
- Sending naira to strangers who ask for it
- Anyone offering to swap game money for real money. Game naira can't be cashed out.