Cost of Living Comparison Between Bamenda and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Bamenda and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $696 per month in Bamenda vs $2,296 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $934 per month in Bamenda vs $3,376 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,171 per month in Bamenda vs $4,457 in Lisbon, rent included.

Bamenda is about 70% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Bamenda sits 49% below the global median, while Lisbon is 68% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bamenda
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.38 FCFA 3,077
$17.59 €15.33
-69.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$62.9 €54.8
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.47 FCFA 3,694
$11.58 €10.10
-44.13%
Cappuccino
$1.15 FCFA 658
$3.10 €2.70
-62.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 FCFA 983
$2.49 €2.17
-30.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 FCFA 378
$1.74 €1.52
-62.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.61 FCFA 917
$3.48 €3.03
-53.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73 FCFA 988
$3.44 €3.00
-49.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bamenda
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.97 FCFA 1,699
$1.15 €1.00
158.26%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 FCFA 481
$1.91 €1.66
-56.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 FCFA 1,193
$1.50 €1.31
39.33%
Eggs
$2.98 FCFA 1,706
$3.98 €3.47
-25.13%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$13.29 €11.59
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.73 FCFA 2,131
$8.01 €6.98
-53.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.91 FCFA 2,804
$18.04 €15.73
-72.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.58 FCFA 1,473
$2.35 €2.05
9.79%
Banana (1kg)
$0.91 FCFA 521
$1.75 €1.53
-48.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.20 FCFA 686
$1.85 €1.62
-35.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 FCFA 786
$2.55 €2.22
-45.88%
Potato (1kg)
$3.09 FCFA 1,764
$1.84 €1.61
67.93%
Onion (1kg)
$1.55 FCFA 885
$2.10 €1.83
-26.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 FCFA 476
$1.49 €1.30
-44.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 FCFA 419
$0.82 €0.71
-10.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.80 FCFA 1,029
$7.10 €6.19
-74.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.08 FCFA 5,762
$5.91 €5.15
70.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 FCFA 826
$1.31 €1.15
10.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 FCFA 1,020
$2.13 €1.86
-15.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Bamenda
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.34 FCFA 766
$2.36 €2.05
-43.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.33 FCFA 5,334
$46.62 €40.63
-79.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.60 FCFA 341
$4.08 €3.55
-85.29%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.61 FCFA 346
$1.14 €0.99
-46.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.63 FCFA 3,220
$17.09 €14.90
-67.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 FCFA 827
$2.31 €2.01
-37.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$34.1K €29.7K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$41.4K €36.1K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bamenda
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$178 FCFA 101.6K
$169 €147
5.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.39 FCFA 17.4K
$19.33 €16.85
57.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.88 FCFA 21.6K
$33.51 €29.21
13.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bamenda
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.96 FCFA 10.3K
$48.84 €42.57
-63.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$19.43 €16.94
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.96 FCFA 5,118
$9.57 €8.34
-6.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bamenda
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$179 FCFA 102.1K
$696 €607
-74.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$17.4K €15.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bamenda
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.27 FCFA 15.0K
$105 €91.8
-75.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.46 FCFA 24.8K
$47.75 €41.62
-8.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.75 FCFA 27.3K
$101 €87.6
-52.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.7 FCFA 30.7K
$124 €108
-56.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bamenda
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$69.6 FCFA 39.7K
$1,662 €1,449
-95.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$35.89 FCFA 20.5K
$1,246 €1,086
-97.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,965 €2,584
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,049 €1,786
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$7,834 €6,829
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$4,464 €3,892
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bamenda
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$97.5 FCFA 55.7K
$1,632 €1,422
-94.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
3.78
-

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

Last update for Bamenda: September 14, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $69.6 in Bamenda versus $1,662 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 1574% higher in Lisbon, 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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bamenda and in Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $696 in Bamenda, $2,296 in Lisbon – roughly 230% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Bamenda compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,044 per month in Bamenda and $3,444 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Bamenda and Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bamenda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bamenda or Lisbon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $696 in Bamenda and $2,296 in Lisbon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Bamenda and Lisbon?
Kindergarten costs $179 per month in Bamenda and $696 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bamenda, where all-in costs run around $696, than in Lisbon at $2,296. In Bamenda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Bamenda and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $696 in Bamenda to $2,296 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Bamenda or Lisbon safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Bamenda and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Bamenda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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