Cost of Living Comparison Between Buea and Bamenda Cost of Living Comparison Between Buea and Bamenda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $545 per month in Buea vs $347 in Bamenda, rent included.

A couple spends around $795 per month in Buea vs $535 in Bamenda, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,045 per month in Buea vs $724 in Bamenda, rent included.

Buea costs about 57% more than Bamenda, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Buea and Bamenda are more affordable than the global median – Buea 59% lower, Bamenda 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 FCFA 1,020

$1.72 FCFA 968

5.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 FCFA 3,436

$6.29 FCFA 3,545

-3.18%

Cappuccino

$2.13 FCFA 1,199

$0.86 FCFA 483

147.67%

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

$1.27 FCFA 715

$0.55 FCFA 312

130.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 FCFA 281

$0.37 FCFA 207

35.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 FCFA 587

$1.32 FCFA 743

-21.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 FCFA 787

$1.80 FCFA 1,015

-22.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.03 FCFA 1,710

$2.66 FCFA 1,501

13.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 FCFA 216

$0.65 FCFA 366

-41.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 FCFA 890

$0.99 FCFA 560

59.60%

Eggs

$2.58 FCFA 1,455

$3.22 FCFA 1,818

-19.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 FCFA 2,436

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 FCFA 2,472

$5.38 FCFA 3,032

-18.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 FCFA 1,937

$2.73 FCFA 1,537

26.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 FCFA 786

$0.92 FCFA 518

51.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 FCFA 485

$0.68 FCFA 381

26.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 FCFA 813

$0.87 FCFA 489

65.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 FCFA 1,018

$1.45 FCFA 815

24.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 FCFA 788

$1.09 FCFA 616

28.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 FCFA 332

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 FCFA 407

$0.70 FCFA 394

2.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.44 FCFA 811

Wine (Bottle)

$8.89 FCFA 5,013

$9.13 FCFA 5,150

-2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 FCFA 718

$1.29 FCFA 726

-1.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 FCFA 976

$1.39 FCFA 783

24.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.73 FCFA 973

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.27 FCFA 154

$0.43 FCFA 240

-37.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 FCFA 260

$0.33 FCFA 189

39.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.16 FCFA 2,910

$6.09 FCFA 3,437

-15.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 FCFA 680

$1.27 FCFA 716

-4.72%

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

$19.3K FCFA 10.9M

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

$21.3K FCFA 12.0M

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

$60.8 FCFA 34.3K

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

$17.66 FCFA 9,959

$17.47 FCFA 9,855

1.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$109 FCFA 61.5K

$34.07 FCFA 19.2K

220.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.32 FCFA 14.8K

$8.73 FCFA 4,923

201.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.30 FCFA 2,425

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

$613 FCFA 345.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.45 FCFA 20.0K

$26.81 FCFA 15.1K

32.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$43.79 FCFA 24.7K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 FCFA 39.2K

$62.0 FCFA 34.9K

12.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.9 FCFA 40.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.7 FCFA 34.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 FCFA 120.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$132 FCFA 74.3K

$105 FCFA 59.2K

25.51%

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

Last update for Buea: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bamenda: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 26% higher in Buea, 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

Buea vs Bamenda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $545 in Buea, $347 in Bamenda – roughly 57% apart. Buea costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $818 per month in Buea and $520 in Bamenda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $545 in Buea and $347 in Bamenda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 10% cheaper in Buea – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $545 in Buea and $347 in Bamenda, 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, Buea makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.