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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Bamenda costs roughly 32% less than in Bafoussam, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.74 FCFA 973

$4.50 FCFA 2,525

-61.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$122 FCFA 68.2K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.46 FCFA 3,622

$7.13 FCFA 3,999

-9.40%

Cappuccino

$1.20 FCFA 674

$2.23 FCFA 1,249

-46.19%

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

$1.32 FCFA 740

$1.71 FCFA 959

-22.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 FCFA 356

$0.86 FCFA 483

-25.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.53 FCFA 859

$1.25 FCFA 703

22.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 FCFA 1,004

$2.59 FCFA 1,453

-30.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.88 FCFA 1,616

$2.79 FCFA 1,562

3.23%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 FCFA 467

$0.42 FCFA 233

97.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 FCFA 1,122

$2.23 FCFA 1,250

-10.31%

Eggs

$2.99 FCFA 1,678

$1.98 FCFA 1,112

51.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.15 FCFA 13.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.83 FCFA 2,150

$7.74 FCFA 4,341

-50.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.88 FCFA 2,739

$6.40 FCFA 3,590

-23.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 FCFA 1,502

$4.92 FCFA 2,759

-45.53%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 FCFA 485

$2.07 FCFA 1,161

-58.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.23 FCFA 687

$2.06 FCFA 1,158

-40.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.34 FCFA 749

$1.37 FCFA 767

-2.19%

Potato (1kg)

$3.04 FCFA 1,703

$3.32 FCFA 1,862

-8.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 FCFA 877

$2.17 FCFA 1,216

-28.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 FCFA 450

$0.79 FCFA 445

1.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 FCFA 436

$0.64 FCFA 357

21.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 FCFA 969

$3.56 FCFA 1,998

-51.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.26 FCFA 5,752

$9.09 FCFA 5,099

12.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.43 FCFA 804

$1.46 FCFA 821

-2.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 FCFA 965

$1.87 FCFA 1,046

-8.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 FCFA 727

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.37 FCFA 5,252

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 FCFA 339

$0.63 FCFA 355

-4.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 FCFA 341

$0.86 FCFA 481

-29.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.61 FCFA 3,146

$8.44 FCFA 4,734

-33.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 FCFA 803

$1.49 FCFA 838

-4.03%

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)

$178 FCFA 100.1K

$167 FCFA 93.7K

6.80%

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

$30.92 FCFA 17.3K

$26.00 FCFA 14.6K

18.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.93 FCFA 20.7K

$181 FCFA 101.4K

-79.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.95 FCFA 10.1K

Cinema Ticket

$8.68 FCFA 4,868

$8.67 FCFA 4,862

0.12%

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

$175 FCFA 97.9K

$536 FCFA 300.8K

-67.46%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,523 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.09 FCFA 14.6K

$82.5 FCFA 46.2K

-68.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.97 FCFA 24.7K

$70.0 FCFA 39.2K

-37.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.36 FCFA 27.7K

$144 FCFA 80.9K

-65.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$52.0 FCFA 29.2K

$153 FCFA 86.1K

-66.11%

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 Bamenda: August 17, 2026

Last update for Bafoussam: August 15, 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

Bamenda vs Bafoussam: 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 $1,001 in Bamenda and $1,480 in Bafoussam 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 $668 per month in Bamenda versus $987 in Bafoussam – 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, Bamenda and Bafoussam 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.