Cost of Living Comparison Between Bamenda and Yaounde Cost of Living Comparison Between Bamenda and Yaounde

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $347 per month in Bamenda vs $725 in Yaounde, rent included.

A couple spends around $535 per month in Bamenda vs $1,195 in Yaounde, rent included.

A family of three spends $724 per month in Bamenda vs $1,665 in Yaounde, rent included.

Bamenda is about 52% cheaper than Yaounde, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bamenda and Yaounde are more affordable than the global median – Bamenda 74% lower, Yaounde 46% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.72 FCFA 976
$4.87 FCFA 2,769
-64.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$43.99 FCFA 25.0K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.29 FCFA 3,576
$5.80 FCFA 3,298
8.45%
Cappuccino
$0.86 FCFA 487
$2.59 FCFA 1,474
-66.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 FCFA 315
$1.48 FCFA 840
-62.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 FCFA 209
$0.69 FCFA 394
-46.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.32 FCFA 750
$1.17 FCFA 667
12.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 FCFA 1,024
$1.72 FCFA 978
4.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.66 FCFA 1,515
$2.83 FCFA 1,612
-6.01%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 FCFA 369
$0.99 FCFA 563
-34.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 FCFA 565
$1.11 FCFA 629
-10.81%
Eggs
$3.22 FCFA 1,834
$1.83 FCFA 1,042
75.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$13.96 FCFA 7,944
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.32 FCFA 2,458
$6.32 FCFA 3,596
-31.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.38 FCFA 3,059
$5.98 FCFA 3,401
-10.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 FCFA 1,550
$4.63 FCFA 2,636
-41.04%
Banana (1kg)
$0.92 FCFA 523
$2.10 FCFA 1,192
-56.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.68 FCFA 385
$2.06 FCFA 1,171
-66.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.87 FCFA 493
$1.19 FCFA 677
-26.89%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 FCFA 822
$1.61 FCFA 913
-9.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 FCFA 621
$1.46 FCFA 829
-25.34%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 FCFA 335
$0.57 FCFA 327
3.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70 FCFA 397
$1.00 FCFA 567
-30.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.44 FCFA 818
$1.73 FCFA 986
-16.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.13 FCFA 5,196
$8.78 FCFA 4,994
3.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 FCFA 732
$1.23 FCFA 700
4.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 FCFA 790
$1.60 FCFA 913
-13.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.73 FCFA 982
$0.60 FCFA 339
188.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$17.76 FCFA 10.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.43 FCFA 243
$0.65 FCFA 368
-33.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 FCFA 190
$0.38 FCFA 217
-13.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.09 FCFA 3,467
$5.60 FCFA 3,184
8.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 FCFA 722
$1.35 FCFA 767
-5.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$33.1K FCFA 18.8M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$16.2K FCFA 9.2M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$79.3 FCFA 45.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.47 FCFA 9,941
$21.48 FCFA 12.2K
-18.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.07 FCFA 19.4K
$46.79 FCFA 26.6K
-27.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$8.73 FCFA 4,966
$26.01 FCFA 14.8K
-66.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.26 FCFA 4,128
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.54 FCFA 3,722
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$346 FCFA 196.8K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$1,832 FCFA 1.0M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.81 FCFA 15.3K
$16.69 FCFA 9,495
60.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$23.83 FCFA 13.6K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$43.79 FCFA 24.9K
$19.67 FCFA 11.2K
122.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.0 FCFA 35.2K
$58.2 FCFA 33.1K
6.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$153 FCFA 86.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$118 FCFA 67.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$503 FCFA 286.0K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$256 FCFA 145.8K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$887 FCFA 504.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$626 FCFA 356.2K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$105 FCFA 59.7K
$189 FCFA 107.6K
-44.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
6
-

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

Last update for Bamenda: June 2, 2026

Last update for Yaounde: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 80% higher in Yaounde, 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 Yaounde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Bamenda and Yaounde compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $347 in Bamenda, $725 in Yaounde – roughly 109% apart. Yaounde costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Bamenda compared to Yaounde?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $520 per month in Bamenda and $1,088 in Yaounde. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Bamenda or Yaounde?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $347 in Bamenda and $725 in Yaounde. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Yaounde, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How far does $1,200 go in Bamenda vs Yaounde?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $347 in Bamenda and $725 in Yaounde, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Bamenda or Yaounde?
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.
How do I decide between Bamenda and Yaounde?
If budget matters most, go with Bamenda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yaounde makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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