A Nigerian woman living in Poland has challenged the widespread belief that life abroad automatically guarantees financial comfort, describing the rising cost of accommodation, transportation and feeding as major pressures confronting many immigrants.
In a video shared online, the woman said many people in Nigeria often assume that relatives and friends living overseas are financially comfortable without understanding the economic struggles they may be facing.
“People in Nigeria will just be thinking that they are enjoying, they are enjoying and they are enjoying,” she said. “They don’t know that they are going through a lot.”
According to her, some Nigerians who relocated abroad several years ago have been unable to return home because of financial constraints, despite spending between 10 and 20 years outside the country.
She explained that the cost of international travel could be difficult for people whose earnings are largely consumed by monthly expenses.
“Imagine seeing somebody for 10 years and not having enough money to buy a ticket to go home,” she said, adding that some residents abroad struggle to save after paying for rent, transportation and other necessities.
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Using an example of a worker earning about €3,800 monthly, the woman attempted to illustrate how taxes and basic living expenses could significantly reduce disposable income.
She said a substantial part of the income could go into rent, particularly for shared accommodation, while transportation and groceries would further reduce the amount left for savings or personal needs.
“Rent is about €2,000 for shared apartments. Feeding has not even entered,” she said.
The woman also dismissed claims that Poland is generally cheap, arguing that the country may appear affordable to people relocating from wealthier European countries or the United States but could still be financially demanding for many residents earning local wages.
“Poland is expensive, and that’s just the honest truth,” she said. “When people are shouting that Poland is cheap, Poland is cheap, it is because if you come from the UK, America, Germany or Switzerland, Poland may be very affordable.”
She, however, maintained that the experience could be different for people who live and work in Poland and depend on local earnings.
“Trust me, people that are living here cannot afford the lifestyle,” she added.
The woman’s comments have renewed conversations about the realities of migration, particularly the gap between public perceptions of life abroad and the financial pressures experienced by many immigrants.
While opportunities abroad may offer improved access to employment, education and public services, the cost of housing, taxation, transportation and everyday living can make it difficult for some migrants to maintain a comfortable lifestyle or save enough money to support relatives back home.
Her account also highlights the importance of understanding individual circumstances rather than assuming that everyone living outside Nigeria is financially successful.
