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: $545 in Buea versus $725 in Yaounde.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $795 in Buea versus $1,195 in Yaounde.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,045 in Buea versus $1,665 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 59% lower, Yaounde 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.81 FCFA 1,020

$4.87 FCFA 2,745

-62.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.99 FCFA 24.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 FCFA 3,436

$5.80 FCFA 3,270

5.00%

Cappuccino

$2.13 FCFA 1,199

$2.59 FCFA 1,461

-17.76%

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

$1.27 FCFA 715

$1.48 FCFA 833

-14.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 FCFA 281

$0.69 FCFA 390

-27.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.04 FCFA 587

$1.17 FCFA 661

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 FCFA 787

$1.72 FCFA 970

-18.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.03 FCFA 1,710

$2.83 FCFA 1,598

7.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.38 FCFA 216

$0.99 FCFA 558

-61.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 FCFA 890

$1.11 FCFA 623

42.34%

Eggs

$2.58 FCFA 1,455

$1.83 FCFA 1,033

40.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 FCFA 7,875

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 FCFA 3,565

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 FCFA 2,472

$5.98 FCFA 3,371

-26.76%

Apples (1kg)

$3.44 FCFA 1,937

$4.63 FCFA 2,613

-25.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 FCFA 786

$2.10 FCFA 1,182

-33.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 FCFA 485

$2.06 FCFA 1,161

-58.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 FCFA 813

$1.19 FCFA 671

21.01%

Potato (1kg)

$1.80 FCFA 1,018

$1.61 FCFA 905

11.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 FCFA 788

$1.46 FCFA 822

-4.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 FCFA 324

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 FCFA 407

$1.00 FCFA 562

-28.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 FCFA 977

Wine (Bottle)

$8.89 FCFA 5,013

$8.78 FCFA 4,950

1.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 FCFA 718

$1.23 FCFA 694

3.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.73 FCFA 976

$1.60 FCFA 905

8.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 FCFA 336

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 FCFA 10.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.27 FCFA 154

$0.65 FCFA 365

-58.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 FCFA 260

$0.38 FCFA 215

21.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.16 FCFA 2,910

$5.60 FCFA 3,156

-7.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.21 FCFA 680

$1.35 FCFA 760

-10.37%

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

$19.3K FCFA 10.9M

$33.1K FCFA 18.7M

-41.72%

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

$21.3K FCFA 12.0M

$16.2K FCFA 9.1M

31.97%

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

$60.8 FCFA 34.3K

$79.3 FCFA 44.7K

-23.40%

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

$17.66 FCFA 9,959

$21.48 FCFA 12.1K

-17.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$109 FCFA 61.5K

$46.79 FCFA 26.4K

133.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.32 FCFA 14.8K

$26.01 FCFA 14.7K

1.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.30 FCFA 2,425

$7.26 FCFA 4,092

-40.77%

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 FCFA 3,689

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

$613 FCFA 345.9K

$346 FCFA 195.1K

77.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,832 FCFA 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.45 FCFA 20.0K

$16.69 FCFA 9,412

112.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.83 FCFA 13.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.67 FCFA 11.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 FCFA 39.2K

$58.2 FCFA 32.8K

19.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.9 FCFA 40.5K

$153 FCFA 86.1K

-52.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$61.7 FCFA 34.8K

$118 FCFA 66.5K

-47.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 FCFA 283.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$213 FCFA 120.2K

$256 FCFA 144.5K

-16.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$887 FCFA 500.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$626 FCFA 353.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$132 FCFA 74.3K

$189 FCFA 106.7K

-30.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Buea: May 31, 2026

Last update for Yaounde: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $71.9 in Buea and $153 in Yaounde. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yaounde pays 44% 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 ($545 vs $725 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Yaounde earns 44% less. 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: $71.9 in Buea versus $153 in Yaounde. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $613 in Buea versus $346 in Yaounde. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $545 per month in Buea versus $725 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.