Cost of Living Comparison Between Bamenda and Douala Cost of Living Comparison Between Bamenda and Douala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $342 per month in Bamenda vs $1,650 in Douala, rent included.

A couple spends around $526 per month in Bamenda vs $2,654 in Douala, rent included.

A family of three spends $711 per month in Bamenda vs $3,658 in Douala, rent included.

Bamenda is about 79% cheaper than Douala, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Bamenda sits 75% below the global median, while Douala is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 FCFA 1,013

$8.77 FCFA 4,954

-79.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$125 FCFA 70.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 FCFA 3,413

$5.34 FCFA 3,016

13.11%

Cappuccino

$0.89 FCFA 504

$1.82 FCFA 1,030

-51.10%

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

$0.50 FCFA 285

$1.64 FCFA 927

-69.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 FCFA 205

$0.79 FCFA 448

-54.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 FCFA 742

$1.13 FCFA 637

15.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 FCFA 974

$2.58 FCFA 1,456

-33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 FCFA 1,532

$2.81 FCFA 1,589

-3.56%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 FCFA 359

$0.45 FCFA 251

42.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 FCFA 560

$2.31 FCFA 1,307

-57.14%

Eggs

$3.28 FCFA 1,852

$2.02 FCFA 1,139

62.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.79 FCFA 12.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 FCFA 2,467

$7.72 FCFA 4,362

-43.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.33 FCFA 3,008

$6.63 FCFA 3,744

-19.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 FCFA 1,482

$4.86 FCFA 2,742

-46.09%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 FCFA 506

$2.09 FCFA 1,183

-56.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 FCFA 410

$2.16 FCFA 1,217

-66.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 FCFA 517

$1.36 FCFA 767

-33.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 FCFA 777

$3.33 FCFA 1,879

-58.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 FCFA 608

$2.17 FCFA 1,227

-50.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 FCFA 312

$0.79 FCFA 447

-30.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 FCFA 387

$0.62 FCFA 352

9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 FCFA 782

$3.47 FCFA 1,958

-60.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.95 FCFA 5,057

$8.57 FCFA 4,840

4.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 FCFA 734

$1.42 FCFA 800

-8.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 FCFA 781

$1.95 FCFA 1,099

-29.23%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 FCFA 974

$0.68 FCFA 385

152.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.61 FCFA 9,946

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.43 FCFA 241

$0.56 FCFA 314

-23.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 FCFA 189

$0.75 FCFA 425

-56.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.00 FCFA 3,390

$8.46 FCFA 4,780

-29.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 FCFA 742

$1.44 FCFA 814

-9.03%

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

$30.3K FCFA 17.1M

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

$16.0K FCFA 9.0M

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

$167 FCFA 94.1K

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

$17.56 FCFA 9,918

$26.57 FCFA 15.0K

-33.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.13 FCFA 19.3K

$185 FCFA 104.6K

-81.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.07 FCFA 5,120

$23.91 FCFA 13.5K

-62.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.63 FCFA 2,051

Cinema Ticket

$8.71 FCFA 4,921

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

$534 FCFA 301.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,478 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.97 FCFA 15.2K

$81.3 FCFA 45.9K

-66.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.9 FCFA 38.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.67 FCFA 25.2K

$143 FCFA 80.5K

-68.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.9 FCFA 35.0K

$155 FCFA 87.7K

-60.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$927 FCFA 523.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 FCFA 334.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,895 FCFA 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,132 FCFA 639.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,065 FCFA 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$988 FCFA 557.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$106 FCFA 59.9K

$162 FCFA 91.5K

-34.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.21

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

Last update for Bamenda: June 9, 2026

Last update for Douala: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 53% higher in Douala, 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 Douala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $342 in Bamenda, $1,650 in Douala – roughly 383% apart. Douala costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $513 per month in Bamenda and $2,476 in Douala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $342 in Bamenda and $1,650 in Douala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 78% more in Douala, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bamenda, where all-in costs run around $342, than in Douala at $1,650. In Bamenda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Douala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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, Douala makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.