Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Buenos Aires and Yaounde

For one person, living is cheaper in Yaounde: $789 a month against $1,685 in Buenos Aires, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,685
/mo nomad
Yaounde
🇨🇲 Cameroon
$789
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Buenos Aires and in Yaounde

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Buenos Aires and in Yaounde actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,685 in Buenos Aires versus $789 in Yaounde.

  • Buenos Aires $1,685
  • Yaounde $789

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,742 in Buenos Aires versus $1,225 in Yaounde.

  • Buenos Aires $2,742
  • Yaounde $1,225

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,799 in Buenos Aires versus $1,661 in Yaounde.

  • Buenos Aires $3,799
  • Yaounde $1,661

Living in Buenos Aires is roughly 114% more expensive than in Yaounde, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Buenos Aires is 26% above, Yaounde is 41% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Buenos Aires
Yaounde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.73 ARS 28.4K
$3.51 FCFA 2,051
433.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.5 ARS 97.8K
$50.5 FCFA 29.5K
27.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.88 ARS 19.5K
$5.22 FCFA 3,053
146.74%
Cappuccino
$3.98 ARS 6,029
$1.96 FCFA 1,145
103.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 ARS 3,103
$1.53 FCFA 898
33.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 ARS 2,349
$0.54 FCFA 318
187.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.84 ARS 5,830
$1.27 FCFA 744
202.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.60 ARS 6,970
$1.73 FCFA 1,014
165.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
Yaounde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 ARS 2,181
$3.66 FCFA 2,143
-60.66%
White Bread (500g)
$2.46 ARS 3,738
$1.09 FCFA 638
125.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.63 ARS 2,467
$1.32 FCFA 772
23.48%
Eggs
$2.89 ARS 4,385
$2.10 FCFA 1,228
37.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.65 ARS 16.1K
$13.54 FCFA 7,923
-21.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
$6.16 FCFA 3,605
62.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.74 ARS 20.8K
$6.70 FCFA 3,919
105.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.75 ARS 4,166
$5.19 FCFA 3,037
-47.01%
Banana (1kg)
$2.18 ARS 3,300
$2.01 FCFA 1,178
8.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.45 ARS 2,205
$2.02 FCFA 1,180
-28.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.99 ARS 3,013
$1.37 FCFA 803
45.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 ARS 1,885
$1.64 FCFA 960
-24.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 ARS 1,921
$1.45 FCFA 847
-12.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.70 ARS 2,575
$1.09 FCFA 635
55.96%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 ARS 2,617
$0.66 FCFA 388
162.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.18 ARS 6,337
$1.68 FCFA 981
148.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.80 ARS 8,790
$8.32 FCFA 4,869
-30.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 ARS 3,163
$1.37 FCFA 803
52.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 ARS 4,198
$1.96 FCFA 1,146
41.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Buenos Aires
Yaounde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.75 ARS 1,132
$0.58 FCFA 339
29.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.15 ARS 41.2K
$17.43 FCFA 10.2K
55.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.62 ARS 2,451
$0.59 FCFA 343
174.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 ARS 1,481
$0.45 FCFA 262
117.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.72 ARS 11.7K
$6.06 FCFA 3,546
27.39%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ARS 2,058
$1.41 FCFA 826
-3.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K ARS 42.5M
$32.4K FCFA 19.0M
-13.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K ARS 52.4M
$21.3K FCFA 12.5M
62.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
Yaounde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 ARS 326.9K
$80.3 FCFA 47.0K
168.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.61 ARS 38.8K
$17.09 FCFA 9,997
49.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.36 ARS 47.6K
$51.9 FCFA 30.4K
-39.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
Yaounde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.82 ARS 75.6K
$23.33 FCFA 13.6K
113.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.06 ARS 25.9K
$7.27 FCFA 4,251
134.66%
Cinema Ticket
$10.43 ARS 15.8K
$8.59 FCFA 5,025
21.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Buenos Aires
Yaounde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$466 ARS 706.7K
$610 FCFA 357.1K
-23.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,057 ARS 13.7M
$2,355 FCFA 1.4M
284.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
Yaounde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122 ARS 185.2K
$16.95 FCFA 9,915
620.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$97.4 ARS 147.8K
$27.00 FCFA 15.8K
260.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 ARS 177.4K
$25.98 FCFA 15.2K
350.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140 ARS 211.9K
$55.7 FCFA 32.6K
150.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
Yaounde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$763 ARS 1.2M
$140 FCFA 81.9K
445.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$505 ARS 766.1K
$185 FCFA 108.2K
173.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,598 ARS 2.4M
$409 FCFA 239.5K
290.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,185 ARS 1.8M
$211 FCFA 123.2K
462.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,678 ARS 4.1M
$847 FCFA 495.6K
216.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,858 ARS 2.8M
$593 FCFA 347.2K
213.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Buenos Aires
Yaounde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$954 ARS 1.4M
$190 FCFA 111.1K
402.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
57.25
13
340.38%

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

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 6, 2026

Last update for Yaounde: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Buenos Aires
$505
Yaounde
$185 63.4% $320
Groceries & Markets
Buenos Aires
$284
Yaounde
$253 10.9% $31
Eating Out
Buenos Aires
$279
Yaounde
$85 69.4% $194
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Buenos Aires
$273
Yaounde
$149 45.2% $123
Clothing & Footwear
Buenos Aires
$214
Yaounde
$57 73.6% $158
Sport & Entertainment
Buenos Aires
$71
Yaounde
$41 42.7% $30
Getting Around
Buenos Aires
$37
Yaounde
$23 38.4% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $763 in Buenos Aires and $140 in Yaounde. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buenos Aires pays 403% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $64.0 in Buenos Aires vs $50.0 in Yaounde for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $253 per month, with Yaounde cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🇨🇲 Yaounde
🕒 Local time
00:23 12:23 AM
04:23 4:23 AM
4 h ahead of Buenos Aires
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,891,082 Capital
1,817,524 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

XAF, USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,517 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.59 USD). 1 EUR = 1,701 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.88 EUR).

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 585 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.52 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Buenos Aires Yaounde 8,440 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Buenos Aires
  • Yaounde

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Buenos Aires vs Yaounde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Buenos Aires and in Yaounde?
Buenos Aires and Yaounde differ by about 114% in total monthly costs ($1,685 vs $789 including rent). Yaounde is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Buenos Aires or Yaounde?
Average pay runs 403% higher in Buenos Aires, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Buenos Aires and in Yaounde?
Rent for a central apartment: $763 in Buenos Aires versus $140 in Yaounde. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Buenos Aires and Yaounde?
Childcare runs $466 in Buenos Aires versus $610 in Yaounde. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Buenos Aires. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $789 in Yaounde versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yaounde but tight or insufficient in Buenos Aires. The gap between the two cities makes Yaounde the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Buenos Aires and Yaounde?
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.
Is Buenos Aires or Yaounde safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Buenos Aires and Yaounde are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Buenos Aires or Yaounde?
Expats usually find Yaounde gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Buenos Aires. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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