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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $351 per month in Bamenda vs $1,650 in Douala, rent included.

A couple spends around $534 per month in Bamenda vs $2,687 in Douala, rent included.

A family of three spends $716 per month in Bamenda vs $3,723 in Douala, rent included.

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

Bamenda sits 74% below the global median, while Douala is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 FCFA 976

$8.94 FCFA 5,077

-80.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$126 FCFA 71.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.20 FCFA 3,522

$5.31 FCFA 3,012

16.76%

Cappuccino

$0.85 FCFA 483

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

-53.04%

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

$0.55 FCFA 311

$1.72 FCFA 978

-68.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 FCFA 206

$0.83 FCFA 474

-56.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 FCFA 748

$1.17 FCFA 663

12.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 FCFA 993

$2.63 FCFA 1,491

-33.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.67 FCFA 1,515

$2.84 FCFA 1,615

-5.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 FCFA 339

$0.45 FCFA 255

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 FCFA 538

$2.34 FCFA 1,330

-59.40%

Eggs

$3.19 FCFA 1,813

$2.01 FCFA 1,139

58.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.23 FCFA 13.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.39 FCFA 2,495

$7.72 FCFA 4,383

-43.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.44 FCFA 3,089

$6.62 FCFA 3,757

-17.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 FCFA 1,545

$4.89 FCFA 2,775

-44.38%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 FCFA 481

$2.11 FCFA 1,197

-59.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.70 FCFA 395

$2.07 FCFA 1,177

-66.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 FCFA 511

$1.41 FCFA 801

-36.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 FCFA 777

$3.30 FCFA 1,873

-58.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 FCFA 618

$2.27 FCFA 1,291

-51.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 FCFA 330

$0.78 FCFA 440

-25.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 FCFA 410

$0.62 FCFA 353

16.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.42 FCFA 807

$3.44 FCFA 1,953

-58.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.18 FCFA 5,780

$8.70 FCFA 4,941

17.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 FCFA 731

$1.42 FCFA 808

-9.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 FCFA 779

$1.89 FCFA 1,074

-27.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.79 FCFA 1,015

$0.64 FCFA 363

179.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.56 FCFA 9,967

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 FCFA 258

$0.55 FCFA 310

-18.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 FCFA 175

$0.82 FCFA 465

-62.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 FCFA 3,457

$8.51 FCFA 4,832

-28.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 FCFA 724

$1.41 FCFA 803

-9.22%

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

$30.9K FCFA 17.6M

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

$15.7K FCFA 8.9M

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

$168 FCFA 95.2K

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

$17.76 FCFA 10.1K

$26.17 FCFA 14.9K

-32.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.77 FCFA 19.2K

$183 FCFA 104.0K

-81.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.87 FCFA 5,036

$23.46 FCFA 13.3K

-62.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.46 FCFA 1,966

Cinema Ticket

$8.65 FCFA 4,911

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

$541 FCFA 307.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,435 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.91 FCFA 15.3K

$82.0 FCFA 46.5K

-67.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.6 FCFA 39.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.93 FCFA 25.5K

$145 FCFA 82.1K

-68.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.7 FCFA 34.5K

$154 FCFA 87.5K

-60.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 FCFA 511.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 FCFA 337.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,908 FCFA 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 FCFA 632.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,048 FCFA 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 FCFA 555.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$98.9 FCFA 56.2K

$211 FCFA 119.9K

-53.16%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Douala: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 114% 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: $351 in Bamenda, $1,650 in Douala – roughly 370% apart. Douala 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 $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 $351 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 77% 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 $351, 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.