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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Bamenda 74% lower, Yaounde 45% lower.

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

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