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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $351 per month in Bamenda vs $557 in Buea, rent included.

A couple spends around $534 per month in Bamenda vs $800 in Buea, rent included.

A family of three spends $716 per month in Bamenda vs $1,043 in Buea, rent included.

Bamenda is about 37% cheaper than Buea, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Bamenda and Buea are more affordable than the global median – Bamenda 74% lower, Buea 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 FCFA 976

$1.79 FCFA 1,016

-3.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.20 FCFA 3,522

$6.05 FCFA 3,435

2.48%

Cappuccino

$0.85 FCFA 483

$2.20 FCFA 1,252

-61.36%

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

$0.55 FCFA 311

$1.26 FCFA 714

-56.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 FCFA 206

$0.52 FCFA 296

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 FCFA 748

$1.09 FCFA 619

21.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 FCFA 993

$1.37 FCFA 777

27.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.67 FCFA 1,515

$3.04 FCFA 1,726

-12.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 FCFA 339

$0.38 FCFA 216

57.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 FCFA 538

$1.64 FCFA 932

-42.07%

Eggs

$3.19 FCFA 1,813

$2.62 FCFA 1,490

21.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.39 FCFA 2,495

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.44 FCFA 3,089

$4.47 FCFA 2,539

21.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 FCFA 1,545

$3.56 FCFA 2,024

-23.60%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 FCFA 481

$1.39 FCFA 786

-38.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.70 FCFA 395

$0.86 FCFA 491

-18.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 FCFA 511

$1.43 FCFA 813

-37.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 FCFA 777

$1.78 FCFA 1,009

-23.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 FCFA 618

$1.37 FCFA 780

-20.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 FCFA 330

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 FCFA 410

$0.74 FCFA 420

-2.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.42 FCFA 807

Wine (Bottle)

$10.18 FCFA 5,780

$8.78 FCFA 4,985

15.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 FCFA 731

$1.27 FCFA 722

1.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 FCFA 779

$1.73 FCFA 983

-20.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.79 FCFA 1,015

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 FCFA 258

$0.25 FCFA 142

80.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 FCFA 175

$0.47 FCFA 265

-34.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 FCFA 3,457

$5.44 FCFA 3,086

11.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 FCFA 724

$1.25 FCFA 708

2.40%

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

$19.2K FCFA 10.9M

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

$20.9K FCFA 11.9M

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

$62.4 FCFA 35.4K

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

$17.76 FCFA 10.1K

$17.41 FCFA 9,886

2.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.77 FCFA 19.2K

$110 FCFA 62.5K

-69.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.87 FCFA 5,036

$26.45 FCFA 15.0K

-66.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.48 FCFA 2,546

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

$623 FCFA 353.5K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.91 FCFA 15.3K

$35.13 FCFA 19.9K

-23.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.93 FCFA 25.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.7 FCFA 34.5K

$69.8 FCFA 39.6K

-13.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$70.9 FCFA 40.3K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.4 FCFA 34.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$214 FCFA 121.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$98.9 FCFA 56.2K

$130 FCFA 74.0K

-24.14%

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

Last update for Bamenda: July 27, 2026

Last update for Buea: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 32% 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: $351 in Bamenda, $557 in Buea – roughly 59% apart. Buea costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $527 per month in Bamenda and $836 in Buea. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $351 in Bamenda and $557 in Buea. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% 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 $351 in Bamenda and $557 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.