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: $777 in Buea versus $371 in Maroua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Buea versus $542 in Maroua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,041 in Buea versus $714 in Maroua.

Living in Buea is roughly 110% more expensive than in Maroua, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Buea 43% lower, Maroua 73% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 FCFA 1,005

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$123 FCFA 69.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.11 FCFA 3,444

Cappuccino

$2.14 FCFA 1,207

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

$1.30 FCFA 733

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 FCFA 272

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 FCFA 604

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 FCFA 883

Milk (1 liter)

$2.97 FCFA 1,673

$1.78 FCFA 1,006

66.85%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 FCFA 218

$0.85 FCFA 477

-54.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 FCFA 934

$2.95 FCFA 1,664

-43.73%

Eggs

$1.99 FCFA 1,122

$5.92 FCFA 3,334

-66.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.80 FCFA 12.8K

$5.43 FCFA 3,060

319.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.02 FCFA 4,519

$5.33 FCFA 3,006

50.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.37 FCFA 2,464

$3.50 FCFA 1,973

24.86%

Apples (1kg)

$3.59 FCFA 2,025

$1.76 FCFA 991

103.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 FCFA 781

$0.86 FCFA 484

61.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 FCFA 488

$0.86 FCFA 483

1.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 FCFA 807

$1.81 FCFA 1,022

-20.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.74 FCFA 980

$2.67 FCFA 1,506

-34.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 FCFA 812

$1.74 FCFA 983

-17.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 FCFA 447

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 FCFA 387

$0.87 FCFA 488

-20.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 FCFA 1,472

Wine (Bottle)

$8.94 FCFA 5,039

$11.28 FCFA 6,359

-20.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 FCFA 686

$0.90 FCFA 508

35.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 FCFA 968

$1.81 FCFA 1,019

-4.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.28 FCFA 159

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 FCFA 305

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.23 FCFA 2,950

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 FCFA 700

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

$19.4K FCFA 11.0M

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

$15.7K FCFA 8.9M

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

$61.6 FCFA 34.7K

$53.0 FCFA 29.9K

16.07%

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

$17.75 FCFA 10.0K

$8.66 FCFA 4,881

104.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$176 FCFA 99.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.36 FCFA 14.9K

$17.96 FCFA 10.1K

46.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.40 FCFA 2,479

$1.80 FCFA 1,015

144.44%

Cinema Ticket

$8.98 FCFA 5,062

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

$540 FCFA 304.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,502 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.55 FCFA 20.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.4 FCFA 39.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 FCFA 80.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.3 FCFA 39.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.3 FCFA 50.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 FCFA 90.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$135 FCFA 76.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.04

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

Last update for Buea: August 31, 2026

Last update for Maroua: September 1, 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 110% in total monthly costs ($777 vs $371 including rent). Maroua is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $1,165 in Buea and $556 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Buea. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $777 per month in Buea versus $371 in Maroua – a 110% 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 110% less than in Buea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.