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: $964 in Bafoussam versus $679 in Bamenda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,669 in Bafoussam versus $906 in Bamenda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,374 in Bafoussam versus $1,133 in Bamenda.

Living in Bafoussam is roughly 42% more expensive than in Bamenda, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bafoussam 29% lower, Bamenda 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.28 FCFA 2,493

$5.15 FCFA 2,997

-16.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 FCFA 70.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.81 FCFA 3,968

$6.69 FCFA 3,894

1.79%

Cappuccino

$2.17 FCFA 1,263

$1.15 FCFA 667

88.70%

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

$1.65 FCFA 958

$1.68 FCFA 981

-1.79%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 FCFA 462

$0.67 FCFA 391

17.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 FCFA 723

$1.54 FCFA 895

-19.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 FCFA 1,484

$1.70 FCFA 988

50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.95 FCFA 1,715

$2.91 FCFA 1,696

1.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.43 FCFA 251

$0.84 FCFA 486

-48.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 FCFA 1,271

$2.03 FCFA 1,184

7.39%

Eggs

$1.95 FCFA 1,135

$3.02 FCFA 1,757

-35.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.41 FCFA 13.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.90 FCFA 4,603

$3.67 FCFA 2,139

115.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.28 FCFA 3,656

$5.00 FCFA 2,911

25.60%

Apples (1kg)

$4.67 FCFA 2,718

$2.54 FCFA 1,481

83.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 FCFA 1,225

$0.88 FCFA 515

138.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.03 FCFA 1,180

$1.19 FCFA 691

70.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 FCFA 810

$1.32 FCFA 766

5.30%

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 FCFA 1,966

$2.97 FCFA 1,729

13.80%

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 FCFA 1,252

$1.47 FCFA 859

46.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 FCFA 449

$0.78 FCFA 455

-1.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 FCFA 370

$0.72 FCFA 419

-12.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 FCFA 1,543

$1.75 FCFA 1,019

51.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.81 FCFA 5,130

$10.25 FCFA 5,971

-14.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.51 FCFA 878

$1.47 FCFA 857

2.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 FCFA 1,015

$1.75 FCFA 1,018

-0.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.26 FCFA 735

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.30 FCFA 5,416

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 FCFA 348

$0.63 FCFA 368

-4.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 FCFA 531

$0.64 FCFA 371

42.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.40 FCFA 4,893

$5.60 FCFA 3,259

50.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 FCFA 839

$1.41 FCFA 821

2.13%

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

$30.0K FCFA 17.5M

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

$15.7K FCFA 9.1M

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

$165 FCFA 95.9K

$175 FCFA 102.1K

-6.04%

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

$26.17 FCFA 15.2K

$29.91 FCFA 17.4K

-12.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$181 FCFA 105.7K

$36.60 FCFA 21.3K

395.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.27 FCFA 10.1K

Cinema Ticket

$8.78 FCFA 5,112

$8.87 FCFA 5,164

-1.01%

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

$521 FCFA 303.7K

$176 FCFA 102.7K

195.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,410 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.6 FCFA 47.5K

$25.82 FCFA 15.0K

216.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.4 FCFA 39.8K

$43.82 FCFA 25.5K

56.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$140 FCFA 81.5K

$47.28 FCFA 27.5K

195.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$151 FCFA 87.9K

$51.3 FCFA 29.9K

194.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$68.8 FCFA 40.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$34.77 FCFA 20.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$97.2 FCFA 56.6K

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: September 26, 2026

Last update for Bamenda: September 26, 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 42% 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 $1,446 in Bafoussam and $1,018 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 $964 per month in Bafoussam versus $679 in Bamenda – a 42% 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 42% less than in Bafoussam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.