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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $342 per month in Bamenda vs $348 in Maroua, rent included.

A couple spends around $526 per month in Bamenda vs $513 in Maroua, rent included.

A family of three spends $711 per month in Bamenda vs $679 in Maroua, rent included.

Bamenda is about 2% cheaper than Maroua, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Bamenda and Maroua are more affordable than the global median – Bamenda 75% lower, Maroua 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.79 FCFA 1,013

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 FCFA 3,413

Cappuccino

$0.89 FCFA 504

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

$0.50 FCFA 285

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 FCFA 205

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 FCFA 742

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 FCFA 974

Milk (1 liter)

$2.71 FCFA 1,532

$1.78 FCFA 1,007

52.25%

White Bread (500g)

$0.64 FCFA 359

$0.86 FCFA 484

-25.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 FCFA 560

$3.09 FCFA 1,744

-67.96%

Eggs

$3.28 FCFA 1,852

$2.78 FCFA 1,573

17.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.31 FCFA 2,999

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 FCFA 2,467

$5.37 FCFA 3,034

-18.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.33 FCFA 3,008

$3.59 FCFA 2,028

48.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 FCFA 1,482

$1.71 FCFA 964

53.22%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 FCFA 506

$0.87 FCFA 490

3.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 FCFA 410

$0.85 FCFA 483

-14.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.91 FCFA 517

$1.72 FCFA 970

-47.09%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 FCFA 777

$2.68 FCFA 1,514

-48.51%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 FCFA 608

$1.72 FCFA 970

-37.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 FCFA 312

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 FCFA 387

$0.85 FCFA 478

-20.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.38 FCFA 782

Wine (Bottle)

$8.95 FCFA 5,057

$11.40 FCFA 6,440

-21.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.30 FCFA 734

$0.92 FCFA 521

41.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 FCFA 781

$1.79 FCFA 1,013

-22.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.72 FCFA 974

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.43 FCFA 241

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 FCFA 189

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.00 FCFA 3,390

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.31 FCFA 742

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

$52.0 FCFA 29.4K

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

$17.56 FCFA 9,918

$8.97 FCFA 5,067

95.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.13 FCFA 19.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$9.07 FCFA 5,120

$17.75 FCFA 10.0K

-48.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.73 FCFA 977

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.97 FCFA 15.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.67 FCFA 25.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.9 FCFA 35.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.7 FCFA 50.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$159 FCFA 89.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$106 FCFA 59.9K

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

Last update for Bamenda: June 9, 2026

Last update for Maroua: June 9, 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: $342 in Bamenda, $348 in Maroua – roughly 2% apart. Maroua costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $513 per month in Bamenda and $522 in Maroua. 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 $348 in Maroua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $342 in Bamenda and $348 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.