Cost of Living Comparison Between Bamenda and Maroua Cost of Living Comparison Between Bamenda and Maroua

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $351 per month in Bamenda vs $355 in Maroua, rent included.

A couple spends around $534 per month in Bamenda vs $517 in Maroua, rent included.

A family of three spends $716 per month in Bamenda vs $679 in Maroua, rent included.

Bamenda is about 1% cheaper than Maroua, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bamenda and Maroua are more affordable than the global median – Bamenda 74% lower, Maroua 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 FCFA 976

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.20 FCFA 3,522

Cappuccino

$0.85 FCFA 483

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

$0.55 FCFA 311

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 FCFA 206

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 FCFA 748

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 FCFA 993

Milk (1 liter)

$2.67 FCFA 1,515

$1.80 FCFA 1,025

48.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.60 FCFA 339

$0.84 FCFA 475

-28.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 FCFA 538

$2.97 FCFA 1,689

-68.01%

Eggs

$3.19 FCFA 1,813

$2.83 FCFA 1,609

12.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.34 FCFA 3,034

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.39 FCFA 2,495

$5.16 FCFA 2,932

-14.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.44 FCFA 3,089

$3.52 FCFA 1,998

54.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.72 FCFA 1,545

$1.79 FCFA 1,017

51.96%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 FCFA 481

$0.85 FCFA 483

Oranges (1kg)

$0.70 FCFA 395

$0.85 FCFA 482

-17.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 FCFA 511

$1.78 FCFA 1,008

-49.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 FCFA 777

$2.66 FCFA 1,512

-48.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 FCFA 618

$1.72 FCFA 975

-36.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 FCFA 330

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 FCFA 410

$0.91 FCFA 517

-20.88%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.42 FCFA 807

Wine (Bottle)

$10.18 FCFA 5,780

$11.35 FCFA 6,442

-10.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.29 FCFA 731

$0.87 FCFA 492

48.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 FCFA 779

$1.80 FCFA 1,023

-23.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.79 FCFA 1,015

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 FCFA 258

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 FCFA 175

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 FCFA 3,457

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 FCFA 724

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

$53.2 FCFA 30.2K

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

$17.76 FCFA 10.1K

$8.92 FCFA 5,063

99.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.77 FCFA 19.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.87 FCFA 5,036

$17.39 FCFA 9,872

-48.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.91 FCFA 15.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.93 FCFA 25.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.7 FCFA 34.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.8 FCFA 51.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 FCFA 89.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$98.9 FCFA 56.2K

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

Last update for Bamenda: July 27, 2026

Last update for Maroua: July 26, 2026

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 Maroua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $351 in Bamenda, $355 in Maroua – roughly 1% apart. Maroua costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $527 per month in Bamenda and $532 in Maroua. 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 $355 in Maroua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Maroua, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $351 in Bamenda and $355 in Maroua, 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, Maroua makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.