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: $679 in Bamenda versus $964 in Bafoussam.

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

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

Living in Bamenda costs roughly 30% less than in Bafoussam, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.15 FCFA 2,997

$4.28 FCFA 2,493

20.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$120 FCFA 70.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.69 FCFA 3,894

$6.81 FCFA 3,968

-1.76%

Cappuccino

$1.15 FCFA 667

$2.17 FCFA 1,263

-47.00%

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

$1.68 FCFA 981

$1.65 FCFA 958

1.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 FCFA 391

$0.79 FCFA 462

-15.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.54 FCFA 895

$1.24 FCFA 723

24.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.70 FCFA 988

$2.55 FCFA 1,484

-33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.91 FCFA 1,696

$2.95 FCFA 1,715

-1.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 FCFA 486

$0.43 FCFA 251

95.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.03 FCFA 1,184

$2.18 FCFA 1,271

-6.88%

Eggs

$3.02 FCFA 1,757

$1.95 FCFA 1,135

54.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.41 FCFA 13.0K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.67 FCFA 2,139

$7.90 FCFA 4,603

-53.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.00 FCFA 2,911

$6.28 FCFA 3,656

-20.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 FCFA 1,481

$4.67 FCFA 2,718

-45.61%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 FCFA 515

$2.10 FCFA 1,225

-58.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.19 FCFA 691

$2.03 FCFA 1,180

-41.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.32 FCFA 766

$1.39 FCFA 810

-5.04%

Potato (1kg)

$2.97 FCFA 1,729

$3.38 FCFA 1,966

-12.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.47 FCFA 859

$2.15 FCFA 1,252

-31.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 FCFA 455

$0.77 FCFA 449

1.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 FCFA 419

$0.63 FCFA 370

14.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.75 FCFA 1,019

$2.65 FCFA 1,543

-33.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.25 FCFA 5,971

$8.81 FCFA 5,130

16.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.47 FCFA 857

$1.51 FCFA 878

-2.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 FCFA 1,018

$1.74 FCFA 1,015

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)

$0.63 FCFA 368

$0.60 FCFA 348

5.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.64 FCFA 371

$0.91 FCFA 531

-29.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 FCFA 3,259

$8.40 FCFA 4,893

-33.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 FCFA 821

$1.44 FCFA 839

-2.08%

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)

$175 FCFA 102.1K

$165 FCFA 95.9K

6.42%

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

$29.91 FCFA 17.4K

$26.17 FCFA 15.2K

14.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.60 FCFA 21.3K

$181 FCFA 105.7K

-79.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.27 FCFA 10.1K

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 FCFA 5,164

$8.78 FCFA 5,112

1.03%

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

$176 FCFA 102.7K

$521 FCFA 303.7K

-66.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,410 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.82 FCFA 15.0K

$81.6 FCFA 47.5K

-68.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.82 FCFA 25.5K

$68.4 FCFA 39.8K

-35.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.28 FCFA 27.5K

$140 FCFA 81.5K

-66.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$51.3 FCFA 29.9K

$151 FCFA 87.9K

-65.99%

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 Bamenda: September 26, 2026

Last update for Bafoussam: 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

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