Cost of Living Comparison Between Bamenda and Buea Cost of Living Comparison Between Bamenda and Buea

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $335 per month in Bamenda vs $555 in Buea, rent included.

A couple spends around $525 per month in Bamenda vs $802 in Buea, rent included.

A family of three spends $715 per month in Bamenda vs $1,049 in Buea, rent included.

Bamenda is about 40% cheaper than Buea, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bamenda and Buea are more affordable than the global median – Bamenda 75% lower, Buea 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 FCFA 964

$1.81 FCFA 1,013

-4.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 FCFA 3,499

$6.34 FCFA 3,554

-1.58%

Cappuccino

$0.87 FCFA 486

$2.16 FCFA 1,210

-59.72%

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

$0.52 FCFA 291

$1.27 FCFA 710

-59.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 FCFA 187

$0.49 FCFA 273

-32.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 FCFA 709

$1.04 FCFA 581

21.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 FCFA 978

$1.43 FCFA 800

21.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.69 FCFA 1,510

$3.03 FCFA 1,702

-11.22%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 FCFA 364

$0.38 FCFA 216

71.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 FCFA 534

$1.64 FCFA 920

-42.07%

Eggs

$3.15 FCFA 1,766

$2.57 FCFA 1,443

22.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 FCFA 2,479

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.31 FCFA 2,976

$4.30 FCFA 2,414

23.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 FCFA 1,476

$3.58 FCFA 2,008

-26.54%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 FCFA 512

$1.43 FCFA 803

-36.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 FCFA 411

$0.85 FCFA 476

-14.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 FCFA 503

$1.38 FCFA 776

-34.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 FCFA 797

$1.81 FCFA 1,013

-21.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 FCFA 586

$1.44 FCFA 808

-27.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 FCFA 312

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 FCFA 389

$0.75 FCFA 418

-8.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.39 FCFA 777

Wine (Bottle)

$7.31 FCFA 4,101

$8.92 FCFA 5,002

-18.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 FCFA 747

$1.26 FCFA 704

5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 FCFA 767

$1.80 FCFA 1,009

-23.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.81 FCFA 1,013

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.43 FCFA 241

$0.25 FCFA 140

72.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 FCFA 172

$0.46 FCFA 260

-32.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.11 FCFA 3,426

$5.27 FCFA 2,957

15.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 FCFA 741

$1.18 FCFA 664

11.86%

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

$19.4K FCFA 10.9M

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

$21.1K FCFA 11.8M

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

$62.8 FCFA 35.2K

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

$17.74 FCFA 9,948

$17.38 FCFA 9,746

2.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.53 FCFA 19.4K

$111 FCFA 62.3K

-68.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.91 FCFA 4,996

$26.57 FCFA 14.9K

-66.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.29 FCFA 2,405

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

$626 FCFA 350.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.85 FCFA 15.1K

$35.46 FCFA 19.9K

-24.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.64 FCFA 24.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.3 FCFA 35.0K

$71.2 FCFA 39.9K

-12.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.7 FCFA 40.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.0 FCFA 34.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$210 FCFA 117.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$107 FCFA 60.1K

$136 FCFA 76.4K

-21.43%

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

Last update for Bamenda: April 25, 2026

Last update for Buea: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 27% higher in Buea, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Buea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $335 in Bamenda, $555 in Buea – roughly 65% apart. Buea costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $503 per month in Bamenda and $832 in Buea. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $335 in Bamenda and $555 in Buea. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Buea – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $335 in Bamenda and $555 in Buea, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Bamenda – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bamenda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Buea makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.