Cost of Living Comparison Between Buea and Yaounde Cost of Living Comparison Between Buea and Yaounde

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $555 in Buea versus $736 in Yaounde.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $816 in Buea versus $1,190 in Yaounde.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,077 in Buea versus $1,644 in Yaounde.

Living in Buea costs roughly 25% less than in Yaounde, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Buea 58% lower, Yaounde 45% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 FCFA 986

$4.89 FCFA 2,803

-64.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.62 FCFA 25.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.08 FCFA 3,489

$5.65 FCFA 3,243

7.61%

Cappuccino

$2.17 FCFA 1,242

$2.73 FCFA 1,564

-20.51%

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

$1.21 FCFA 695

$1.43 FCFA 818

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 FCFA 281

$0.66 FCFA 379

-25.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 FCFA 592

$1.16 FCFA 663

-11.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 FCFA 791

$1.75 FCFA 1,004

-21.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.11 FCFA 1,783

$2.86 FCFA 1,640

8.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.39 FCFA 222

$1.02 FCFA 583

-61.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 FCFA 910

$1.11 FCFA 634

43.24%

Eggs

$2.67 FCFA 1,529

$1.79 FCFA 1,027

49.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.15 FCFA 8,115

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.11 FCFA 3,506

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.48 FCFA 2,567

$5.89 FCFA 3,379

-23.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.62 FCFA 2,076

$4.62 FCFA 2,648

-21.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 FCFA 797

$2.08 FCFA 1,191

-33.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 FCFA 496

$2.06 FCFA 1,182

-58.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 FCFA 817

$1.24 FCFA 711

14.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.73 FCFA 993

$1.67 FCFA 957

3.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 FCFA 831

$1.45 FCFA 832

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 FCFA 327

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 FCFA 416

$1.01 FCFA 577

-27.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.72 FCFA 986

Wine (Bottle)

$8.72 FCFA 5,004

$8.63 FCFA 4,949

1.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 FCFA 727

$1.28 FCFA 733

-0.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 FCFA 979

$1.55 FCFA 890

10.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 FCFA 349

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.38 FCFA 9,970

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.27 FCFA 156

$0.60 FCFA 346

-55.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 FCFA 267

$0.42 FCFA 240

11.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.15 FCFA 2,951

$5.78 FCFA 3,315

-10.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 FCFA 707

$1.34 FCFA 771

-8.21%

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

$19.1K FCFA 11.0M

$33.6K FCFA 19.3M

-43.10%

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

$21.1K FCFA 12.1M

$15.6K FCFA 9.0M

35.42%

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

$61.0 FCFA 35.0K

$78.6 FCFA 45.1K

-22.35%

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

$17.94 FCFA 10.3K

$21.11 FCFA 12.1K

-15.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$110 FCFA 63.2K

$47.48 FCFA 27.2K

132.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.41 FCFA 15.1K

$26.58 FCFA 15.2K

-0.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.30 FCFA 2,465

$7.21 FCFA 4,136

-40.36%

Cinema Ticket

$6.66 FCFA 3,822

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

$618 FCFA 354.4K

$335 FCFA 192.2K

84.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,827 FCFA 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.64 FCFA 19.9K

$16.31 FCFA 9,354

112.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.04 FCFA 13.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.51 FCFA 11.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 FCFA 39.8K

$58.0 FCFA 33.3K

19.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.6 FCFA 39.9K

$149 FCFA 85.3K

-53.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$62.5 FCFA 35.8K

$121 FCFA 69.3K

-48.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 FCFA 285.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$208 FCFA 119.1K

$252 FCFA 144.4K

-17.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$866 FCFA 496.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$614 FCFA 352.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$130 FCFA 74.8K

$184 FCFA 105.8K

-29.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Buea: July 13, 2026

Last update for Yaounde: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $69.6 in Buea and $149 in Yaounde. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yaounde pays 41% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Yaounde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Buea and Yaounde differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($555 vs $736 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 41% lower in Yaounde. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $69.6 in Buea versus $149 in Yaounde. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $618 in Buea versus $335 in Yaounde. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $555 per month in Buea versus $736 in Yaounde – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Buea 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 Buea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Yaounde. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.