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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $335 per month in Bamenda vs $346 in Maroua, rent included.

A couple spends around $525 per month in Bamenda vs $518 in Maroua, rent included.

A family of three spends $715 per month in Bamenda vs $689 in Maroua, rent included.

Bamenda is about 3% 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

$1.72 FCFA 964

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.24 FCFA 3,499

Cappuccino

$0.87 FCFA 486

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

$0.52 FCFA 291

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 FCFA 187

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 FCFA 709

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 FCFA 978

Milk (1 liter)

$2.69 FCFA 1,510

$1.78 FCFA 1,001

51.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.65 FCFA 364

$0.86 FCFA 484

-24.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 FCFA 534

$2.97 FCFA 1,668

-68.01%

Eggs

$3.15 FCFA 1,766

$2.75 FCFA 1,541

14.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.45 FCFA 3,054

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.42 FCFA 2,479

$5.20 FCFA 2,916

-15.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.31 FCFA 2,976

$3.45 FCFA 1,933

53.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.63 FCFA 1,476

$1.80 FCFA 1,009

46.11%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 FCFA 512

Oranges (1kg)

$0.73 FCFA 411

$0.89 FCFA 500

-17.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 FCFA 503

$1.72 FCFA 967

-47.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 FCFA 797

$2.68 FCFA 1,503

-47.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 FCFA 586

$1.79 FCFA 1,005

-41.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 FCFA 312

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 FCFA 389

$0.90 FCFA 506

-23.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.39 FCFA 777

Wine (Bottle)

$7.31 FCFA 4,101

$11.73 FCFA 6,580

-37.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 FCFA 747

$0.85 FCFA 477

56.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 FCFA 767

$1.78 FCFA 997

-23.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.81 FCFA 1,013

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.43 FCFA 241

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 FCFA 172

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.11 FCFA 3,426

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.32 FCFA 741

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

$52.0 FCFA 29.2K

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

$17.74 FCFA 9,948

$9.05 FCFA 5,073

96.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.53 FCFA 19.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$8.91 FCFA 4,996

$17.57 FCFA 9,855

-49.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.78 FCFA 1,001

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.85 FCFA 15.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.64 FCFA 24.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.3 FCFA 35.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.0 FCFA 48.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 FCFA 88.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$107 FCFA 60.1K

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

Last update for Bamenda: April 25, 2026

Last update for Maroua: April 27, 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: $335 in Bamenda, $346 in Maroua – roughly 3% apart. Maroua costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $503 per month in Bamenda and $519 in Maroua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $335 in Bamenda and $346 in Maroua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 18% 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 $335 in Bamenda and $346 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.