Cost of Living Comparison Between Bafoussam and Bamenda Cost of Living Comparison Between Bafoussam and Bamenda

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $987 in Bafoussam versus $668 in Bamenda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,675 in Bafoussam versus $876 in Bamenda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,363 in Bafoussam versus $1,084 in Bamenda.

Living in Bafoussam is roughly 48% more expensive than in Bamenda, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bafoussam 28% lower, Bamenda 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.50 FCFA 2,525

$1.74 FCFA 973

158.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 FCFA 68.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.13 FCFA 3,999

$6.46 FCFA 3,622

10.37%

Cappuccino

$2.23 FCFA 1,249

$1.20 FCFA 674

85.83%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 FCFA 959

$1.32 FCFA 740

29.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 FCFA 483

$0.64 FCFA 356

34.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 FCFA 703

$1.53 FCFA 859

-18.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 FCFA 1,453

$1.79 FCFA 1,004

44.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.79 FCFA 1,562

$2.88 FCFA 1,616

-3.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 FCFA 233

$0.83 FCFA 467

-49.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 FCFA 1,250

$2.00 FCFA 1,122

11.50%

Eggs

$1.98 FCFA 1,112

$2.99 FCFA 1,678

-33.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.15 FCFA 13.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 FCFA 4,341

$3.83 FCFA 2,150

102.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.40 FCFA 3,590

$4.88 FCFA 2,739

31.15%

Apples (1kg)

$4.92 FCFA 2,759

$2.68 FCFA 1,502

83.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.07 FCFA 1,161

$0.86 FCFA 485

140.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 FCFA 1,158

$1.23 FCFA 687

67.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 FCFA 767

$1.34 FCFA 749

2.24%

Potato (1kg)

$3.32 FCFA 1,862

$3.04 FCFA 1,703

9.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 FCFA 1,216

$1.56 FCFA 877

39.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 FCFA 445

$0.80 FCFA 450

-1.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 FCFA 357

$0.78 FCFA 436

-17.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.56 FCFA 1,998

$1.73 FCFA 969

105.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.09 FCFA 5,099

$10.26 FCFA 5,752

-11.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 FCFA 821

$1.43 FCFA 804

2.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 FCFA 1,046

$1.72 FCFA 965

8.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 FCFA 727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.37 FCFA 5,252

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.63 FCFA 355

$0.60 FCFA 339

5.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 FCFA 481

$0.61 FCFA 341

40.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.44 FCFA 4,734

$5.61 FCFA 3,146

50.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 FCFA 838

$1.43 FCFA 803

4.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.3K FCFA 17.6M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$15.9K FCFA 8.9M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$167 FCFA 93.7K

$178 FCFA 100.1K

-6.37%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.00 FCFA 14.6K

$30.92 FCFA 17.3K

-15.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$181 FCFA 101.4K

$36.93 FCFA 20.7K

389.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.95 FCFA 10.1K

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 FCFA 4,862

$8.68 FCFA 4,868

-0.12%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$536 FCFA 300.8K

$175 FCFA 97.9K

207.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,523 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.5 FCFA 46.2K

$26.09 FCFA 14.6K

216.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 FCFA 39.2K

$43.97 FCFA 24.7K

59.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$144 FCFA 80.9K

$49.36 FCFA 27.7K

192.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 FCFA 86.1K

$52.0 FCFA 29.2K

195.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$70.6 FCFA 39.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$35.51 FCFA 19.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$98.5 FCFA 55.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.04

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bafoussam: August 15, 2026

Last update for Bamenda: August 17, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Bafoussam vs Bamenda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bamenda wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Bafoussam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bamenda the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,480 in Bafoussam and $1,001 in Bamenda to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

All in, you'll spend $987 per month in Bafoussam versus $668 in Bamenda – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Supermarket bills run roughly 60% higher in Bafoussam. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Bamenda gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Bafoussam and Bamenda are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bamenda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Bafoussam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.