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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $555 per month in Buea vs $345 in Bamenda, rent included.

A couple spends around $816 per month in Buea vs $521 in Bamenda, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,077 per month in Buea vs $698 in Bamenda, rent included.

Buea costs about 61% more than Bamenda, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both Buea and Bamenda are more affordable than the global median – Buea 58% lower, Bamenda 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 FCFA 986

$1.72 FCFA 987

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.08 FCFA 3,489

$6.11 FCFA 3,505

-0.49%

Cappuccino

$2.17 FCFA 1,242

$0.92 FCFA 527

135.87%

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

$1.21 FCFA 695

$0.54 FCFA 310

124.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 FCFA 281

$0.36 FCFA 208

36.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 FCFA 592

$1.32 FCFA 756

-21.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 FCFA 791

$1.79 FCFA 1,028

-22.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.11 FCFA 1,783

$2.57 FCFA 1,475

21.01%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 FCFA 222

$0.60 FCFA 342

-35.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 FCFA 910

$1.00 FCFA 576

59.00%

Eggs

$2.67 FCFA 1,529

$3.17 FCFA 1,820

-15.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.40 FCFA 2,522

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.48 FCFA 2,567

$5.23 FCFA 3,002

-14.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 FCFA 2,076

$2.71 FCFA 1,553

33.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 FCFA 797

$0.92 FCFA 530

51.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 FCFA 496

$0.69 FCFA 393

24.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 FCFA 817

$0.85 FCFA 485

67.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 FCFA 993

$1.37 FCFA 786

26.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 FCFA 831

$1.04 FCFA 599

39.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 FCFA 319

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 FCFA 416

$0.73 FCFA 417

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.40 FCFA 800

Wine (Bottle)

$8.72 FCFA 5,004

$8.51 FCFA 4,881

2.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 FCFA 727

$1.34 FCFA 769

-5.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 FCFA 979

$1.38 FCFA 791

23.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.79 FCFA 1,028

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.27 FCFA 156

$0.46 FCFA 262

-41.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 FCFA 267

$0.31 FCFA 178

51.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.15 FCFA 2,951

$6.26 FCFA 3,589

-17.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 FCFA 707

$1.28 FCFA 737

-3.91%

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

$19.1K FCFA 11.0M

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

$21.1K FCFA 12.1M

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

$61.0 FCFA 35.0K

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

$17.94 FCFA 10.3K

$17.37 FCFA 9,965

3.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$110 FCFA 63.2K

$33.81 FCFA 19.4K

225.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.41 FCFA 15.1K

$8.86 FCFA 5,079

198.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.30 FCFA 2,465

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

$618 FCFA 354.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.64 FCFA 19.9K

$26.91 FCFA 15.4K

28.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.15 FCFA 25.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 FCFA 39.8K

$60.8 FCFA 34.9K

14.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.6 FCFA 39.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$62.5 FCFA 35.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 FCFA 119.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$130 FCFA 74.8K

$102 FCFA 58.6K

27.71%

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

Last update for Buea: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bamenda: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 28% 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: $555 in Buea, $345 in Bamenda – roughly 61% apart. Buea costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $833 per month in Buea and $517 in Bamenda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $555 in Buea and $345 in Bamenda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Interestingly, groceries are about 6% 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 $555 in Buea and $345 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.