Cost of Living Comparison Between Buea and Maroua Cost of Living Comparison Between Buea and Maroua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $555 in Buea versus $349 in Maroua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $816 in Buea versus $509 in Maroua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,077 in Buea versus $670 in Maroua.

Living in Buea is roughly 59% more expensive than in Maroua, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Buea 58% lower, Maroua 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 FCFA 986

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.08 FCFA 3,489

Cappuccino

$2.17 FCFA 1,242

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

$1.21 FCFA 695

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 FCFA 281

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 FCFA 592

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 FCFA 791

Milk (1 liter)

$3.11 FCFA 1,783

$1.80 FCFA 1,032

72.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 FCFA 222

$0.85 FCFA 488

-54.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 FCFA 910

$2.99 FCFA 1,713

-46.82%

Eggs

$2.67 FCFA 1,529

$2.87 FCFA 1,645

-6.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.27 FCFA 3,021

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.37 FCFA 3,082

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.48 FCFA 2,567

$3.46 FCFA 1,982

29.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 FCFA 2,076

$1.77 FCFA 1,016

104.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 FCFA 797

$0.86 FCFA 494

61.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 FCFA 496

$0.91 FCFA 522

-5.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 FCFA 817

$1.79 FCFA 1,025

-20.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 FCFA 993

$2.61 FCFA 1,495

-33.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 FCFA 831

$1.74 FCFA 997

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 FCFA 416

$0.87 FCFA 498

-16.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.72 FCFA 5,004

$11.15 FCFA 6,396

-21.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 FCFA 727

$0.85 FCFA 488

49.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 FCFA 979

$1.75 FCFA 1,003

-2.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.27 FCFA 156

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 FCFA 267

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.15 FCFA 2,951

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 FCFA 707

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

$52.0 FCFA 29.8K

17.37%

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

$17.94 FCFA 10.3K

$9.04 FCFA 5,184

98.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$110 FCFA 63.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.41 FCFA 15.1K

$17.33 FCFA 9,937

52.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.30 FCFA 2,465

$1.81 FCFA 1,037

137.57%

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

$618 FCFA 354.4K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.64 FCFA 19.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 FCFA 39.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.6 FCFA 39.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$62.5 FCFA 35.8K

$87.1 FCFA 50.0K

-28.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 FCFA 119.1K

$157 FCFA 90.0K

32.27%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$130 FCFA 74.8K

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

Last update for Buea: July 13, 2026

Last update for Maroua: July 13, 2026

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 Maroua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Buea and Maroua differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($555 vs $349 including rent). Maroua is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $833 in Buea and $523 in Maroua to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Buea pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $555 per month in Buea versus $349 in Maroua – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Maroua gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Maroua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Buea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.