Start from the federal allowance, add any state, local or place of assignment top-up you are paid, then enter your monthly costs. The calculator shows what is left or how short you are, how long a savings goal takes, and how much cash covers a late allowance.
Enter your income and your monthly costs
Everything is worked out in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Your answer
Your answer shows up here once you enter a monthly cost.
What to enter
- Federal allowance
- The monthly allowance NYSC pays. Empty means ₦77,000. Change it if NYSC changes the rate or your payment differs.
- State or local top-up
- Some states and local councils pay corps members extra. Enter it only if you are paid it. The page does not know which state you serve in.
- Stipend from your place of assignment
- Some employers pay corps members a stipend. Ask yours before you resume.
- Rent, food, transport, data, other
- Your monthly costs. Rent is usually the largest line. Use your own numbers, since prices differ a lot between cities.
- Amount you want to save
- A target. The page shows how many months it takes from what is left each month.
- Months of late allowance
- Allowance payments have run late before. This shows the cash that would cover your costs if none arrived for that many months.
Worked examples
The federal allowance alone
A corps member living on the federal allowance of ₦77,000 has made-up costs of ₦25,000 for rent, ₦30,000 for food, ₦10,000 for transport, ₦5,000 for data and ₦5,000 for other costs.
- Add your income: ₦77,000 federal = ₦77,000.
- Add your costs: ₦25,000 rent + ₦30,000 food + ₦10,000 transport + ₦5,000 data + ₦5,000 other = ₦75,000.
- Take costs from income: ₦77,000 – ₦75,000 = ₦2,000.
Costs come to ₦75,000, which is 97.4% of income, so ₦2,000 is left each month.
A state top-up and a place of assignment stipend
The same corps member is paid a ₦10,000 state top-up and a ₦15,000 stipend from the place of assignment. These are made-up figures to show the sums.
- Add your income: ₦77,000 federal + ₦10,000 top-up + ₦15,000 from your place of assignment = ₦102,000.
- Add your costs: ₦25,000 rent + ₦30,000 food + ₦10,000 transport + ₦5,000 data + ₦5,000 other = ₦75,000.
- Take costs from income: ₦102,000 – ₦75,000 = ₦27,000.
Income rises to ₦102,000, and ₦27,000 is left each month.
Rent that is too high
A corps member pays ₦55,000 for rent, with ₦30,000 for food, ₦10,000 for transport and ₦5,000 for data.
- Add your income: ₦77,000 federal = ₦77,000.
- Add your costs: ₦55,000 rent + ₦30,000 food + ₦10,000 transport + ₦5,000 data + ₦0 other = ₦100,000.
- Take costs from income: ₦77,000 – ₦100,000 = -₦23,000.
Costs of ₦100,000 are above the ₦77,000 of income, so the shortfall is ₦23,000 a month.
Saving, and preparing for a late allowance
A corps member with ₦57,000 of monthly costs wants to save ₦120,000 and wants a cushion for two months of late allowance.
- Add your income: ₦77,000 federal = ₦77,000.
- Add your costs: ₦20,000 rent + ₦25,000 food + ₦8,000 transport + ₦4,000 data + ₦0 other = ₦57,000.
- Take costs from income: ₦77,000 – ₦57,000 = ₦20,000.
- Divide your goal by what is left: ₦120,000 ÷ ₦20,000, rounded up to whole months.
- Multiply your costs by the months of delay: ₦57,000 × 2 = ₦114,000. That is the cash you would need on hand if no allowance arrived.
With ₦20,000 left each month, the saving goal takes 6 months. The cushion for two late months is ₦114,000.
The federal allowance
NYSC announced a monthly allowance of ₦77,000 from March 2025, up from ₦33,000. The Director-General said the rise follows the ₦70,000 national minimum wage, and a September 2026 report still gives ₦77,000 as the federal figure. This is the number the calculator starts with, and you can change it.
State and local top-ups
Some governments add to the federal allowance, and the amounts differ. Reports in 2026 include ₦10,000 a month in Kebbi State and ₦20,000 a month from a local council in Akwa Ibom. An Ebonyi approval of ₦30,000 was reported with doubt about whether it is being paid. Treat these as dated news, not a table to rely on. Ask your state NYSC office what applies to you, and enter only what you are paid.
When the allowance is late
Payments have run late before, so keep a cushion. The "months of late allowance" box multiplies your monthly costs by the months you enter, which is the cash that would cover you if nothing arrived.
How it is calculated
- Add your income: the federal allowance, any state or local top-up, and any stipend from your place of assignment.
- Add your monthly costs: rent, food, transport, airtime and data, and anything else.
- Take costs from income. A positive result is what is left each month. A negative result is the monthly shortfall.
- If you entered a savings goal, divide it by what is left and round up to whole months.
- If you entered months of late allowance, multiply your monthly costs by those months to get the cushion.
Left each month = allowance + top-up + stipend – monthly costs
Months to save = savings goal ÷ left each month, rounded up
Assumptions to keep in mind
- The federal allowance is ₦77,000 unless you change it. The calculator does not look up your state or your payment date.
- Top-ups and stipends are what you type. The page does not know whether your state or employer pays one.
- Every month is the same. Costs and income change in real life, so treat the answer as a guide.
- The allowance is treated as income with no tax taken off.
- A service year is 12 months, so a savings goal that takes longer than 12 months runs past your service.
Mistakes that give the wrong answer
Planning on a top-up you are not sure of
Several top-ups were announced and not confirmed as paid. Count only what lands in your account.
Forgetting camp and set-up costs
Rent often needs a year paid up front, and the first month has furniture and travel costs. Put those in your first month, not the monthly budget.
Ignoring late payment
If the allowance arrives weeks late, a budget with no cushion fails. Use the months of late allowance box.
Using costs from another city
Rent and food differ a lot between cities. Ask corps members already serving where you are posted.
Questions students ask
How much is the NYSC allowance?
The federal allowance is ₦77,000 a month. The Director-General announced it in March 2025, replacing ₦33,000, in line with the ₦70,000 national minimum wage. A September 2026 report still gives ₦77,000.
Do states pay corps members extra?
Some do. A 2026 report says Kebbi State approved ₦10,000 a month, and a local council in Akwa Ibom approved ₦20,000. Amounts and payment differ, so ask your state NYSC office and enter only what you are paid.
Does my place of assignment pay me anything?
Some employers pay a stipend, some do not, and it varies a lot. Ask before you resume, and enter it in the calculator.
When is the NYSC allowance paid?
It is meant to be paid monthly, but payments have run late before. Keep a cushion, and use the months of late allowance box to see how much.
Can I live on ₦77,000 a month?
It depends on your rent and your city. Enter your own costs and the calculator shows what is left or how short you are. Rent is usually what decides it.
Is the allowance taxed?
This page treats it as income with no tax taken off. Ask NYSC or a tax adviser if you need a ruling for your case.
