🙂A single person spends $345 per month in Bamenda vs $736 in Yaounde, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $521 per month in Bamenda vs $1,190 in Yaounde, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $698 per month in Bamenda vs $1,644 in Yaounde, rent included.
🙂Bamenda is about 53% cheaper than Yaounde, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Bamenda and Yaounde are more affordable than the global median – Bamenda74% lower, Yaounde45% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.72FCFA 988
$4.89FCFA 2,806
-64.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$44.62FCFA 25.6K
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.11FCFA 3,509
$5.65FCFA 3,246
8.14%
Cappuccino
$0.92FCFA 528
$2.73FCFA 1,566
-66.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54FCFA 310
$1.43FCFA 819
-62.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36FCFA 208
$0.66FCFA 379
-45.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.32FCFA 757
$1.16FCFA 664
13.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79FCFA 1,029
$1.75FCFA 1,005
2.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.57FCFA 1,476
$2.86FCFA 1,641
-10.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60FCFA 342
$1.02FCFA 583
-41.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.00FCFA 577
$1.11FCFA 635
-9.91%
Eggs
$3.17FCFA 1,822
$1.79FCFA 1,028
77.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$14.15FCFA 8,123
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.40FCFA 2,525
$6.11FCFA 3,510
-27.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.23FCFA 3,005
$5.89FCFA 3,382
-11.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.71FCFA 1,555
$4.62FCFA 2,651
-41.34%
Banana(1kg)
$0.92FCFA 530
$2.08FCFA 1,192
-55.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.69FCFA 394
$2.06FCFA 1,183
-66.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.85FCFA 486
$1.24FCFA 711
-31.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37FCFA 787
$1.67FCFA 958
-17.96%
Onion(1kg)
$1.04FCFA 600
$1.45FCFA 832
-28.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56FCFA 320
$0.57FCFA 328
-1.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73FCFA 417
$1.01FCFA 578
-27.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.40FCFA 801
$1.72FCFA 987
-18.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.51FCFA 4,886
$8.63FCFA 4,954
-1.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34FCFA 770
$1.28FCFA 734
4.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38FCFA 792
$1.55FCFA 891
-10.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79FCFA 1,029
$0.61FCFA 349
193.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$17.38FCFA 9,981
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46FCFA 262
$0.60FCFA 346
-23.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31FCFA 178
$0.42FCFA 240
-26.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.26FCFA 3,593
$5.78FCFA 3,319
8.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28FCFA 737
$1.34FCFA 772
-4.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$33.6KFCFA 19.3M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$15.6KFCFA 9.0M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$78.6FCFA 45.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.37FCFA 9,975
$21.11FCFA 12.1K
-17.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.81FCFA 19.4K
$47.48FCFA 27.3K
-28.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$8.86FCFA 5,085
$26.58FCFA 15.3K
-66.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$7.21FCFA 4,140
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.66FCFA 3,826
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$335FCFA 192.4K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$1,827FCFA 1.0M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.91FCFA 15.5K
$16.31FCFA 9,364
64.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$24.04FCFA 13.8K
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$44.15FCFA 25.3K
$19.51FCFA 11.2K
126.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.8FCFA 34.9K
$58.0FCFA 33.3K
4.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$149FCFA 85.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$121FCFA 69.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$498FCFA 285.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$252FCFA 144.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$866FCFA 497.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$614FCFA 352.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bamenda
Yaounde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$102FCFA 58.6K
$184FCFA 105.9K
-44.62%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Yaounde: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 81% 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 in Yaounde compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $345 in Bamenda, $736 in Yaounde – roughly 114% 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 $517 per month in Bamenda and $1,104 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 $345 in Bamenda and $736 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 54% 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 compared to Yaounde?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $345 in Bamenda and $736 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.