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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $685 per month in Bamenda vs $829 in Yaounde, rent included.

A couple spends around $911 per month in Bamenda vs $1,260 in Yaounde, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,137 per month in Bamenda vs $1,690 in Yaounde, rent included.

Bamenda is about 17% cheaper than Yaounde, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bamenda and Yaounde are more affordable than the global median – Bamenda 50% lower, Yaounde 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.20 FCFA 2,932

$3.61 FCFA 2,033

44.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 FCFA 30.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 FCFA 3,832

$5.25 FCFA 2,959

29.52%

Cappuccino

$1.17 FCFA 658

$2.04 FCFA 1,150

-42.65%

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

$1.75 FCFA 986

$1.53 FCFA 860

14.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 FCFA 354

$0.54 FCFA 304

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 FCFA 920

$1.24 FCFA 701

31.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 FCFA 1,026

$1.76 FCFA 990

3.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.97 FCFA 1,673

$3.80 FCFA 2,142

-21.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 FCFA 447

$1.11 FCFA 628

-28.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.01 FCFA 1,135

$1.32 FCFA 746

52.27%

Eggs

$2.99 FCFA 1,686

$2.16 FCFA 1,216

38.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.28 FCFA 8,049

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.77 FCFA 2,125

$6.03 FCFA 3,401

-37.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.00 FCFA 2,816

$6.77 FCFA 3,818

-26.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 FCFA 1,505

$5.26 FCFA 2,964

-49.24%

Banana (1kg)

$0.88 FCFA 494

$2.11 FCFA 1,189

-58.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.21 FCFA 683

$2.17 FCFA 1,225

-44.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 FCFA 785

$1.47 FCFA 828

-5.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.19 FCFA 1,797

$1.69 FCFA 953

88.76%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 FCFA 881

$1.44 FCFA 810

8.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 FCFA 453

$1.12 FCFA 633

-28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 FCFA 452

$0.68 FCFA 385

17.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.72 FCFA 971

$1.73 FCFA 976

-0.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.09 FCFA 5,685

$8.96 FCFA 5,051

12.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 FCFA 817

$1.42 FCFA 801

2.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 FCFA 986

$2.04 FCFA 1,152

-14.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.32 FCFA 743

$0.60 FCFA 340

120.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.37 FCFA 5,283

$17.94 FCFA 10.1K

-47.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.63 FCFA 356

$0.64 FCFA 359

-1.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 FCFA 342

$0.43 FCFA 242

41.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.65 FCFA 3,185

$6.23 FCFA 3,514

-9.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 FCFA 808

$1.48 FCFA 832

-3.38%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$33.6K FCFA 18.9M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.3K FCFA 12.6M

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

$175 FCFA 98.8K

$82.1 FCFA 46.3K

113.42%

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

$31.29 FCFA 17.6K

$18.00 FCFA 10.1K

73.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.31 FCFA 21.0K

$52.9 FCFA 29.8K

-29.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.61 FCFA 9,923

$24.24 FCFA 13.7K

-27.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.33 FCFA 4,129

Cinema Ticket

$8.68 FCFA 4,895

$8.66 FCFA 4,879

0.23%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$177 FCFA 99.9K

$642 FCFA 361.9K

-72.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,469 FCFA 1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.44 FCFA 14.9K

$17.46 FCFA 9,841

51.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.47 FCFA 25.1K

$28.15 FCFA 15.9K

57.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.49 FCFA 27.3K

$26.92 FCFA 15.2K

80.13%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.6 FCFA 30.2K

$57.6 FCFA 32.5K

-6.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.1 FCFA 40.1K

$147 FCFA 82.6K

-51.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$35.23 FCFA 19.9K

$191 FCFA 107.6K

-81.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 FCFA 231.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 FCFA 122.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$888 FCFA 500.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$621 FCFA 349.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$101 FCFA 57.0K

$192 FCFA 108.4K

-47.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Bamenda: August 30, 2026

Last update for Yaounde: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $71.1 in Bamenda versus $147 in Yaounde. 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 90% 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

Monthly costs with rent: $685 in Bamenda, $829 in Yaounde – roughly 21% apart. Yaounde costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,028 per month in Bamenda and $1,243 in Yaounde. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $685 in Bamenda and $829 in Yaounde. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $177 per month in Bamenda and $642 in Yaounde. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $685 in Bamenda and $829 in Yaounde, 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, Yaounde makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.