Cost of Living Comparison Between Cameroon and South Africa Cost of Living Comparison Between Cameroon and South Africa

Name: South Africa
Address: ZA

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $849 per month in Cameroon vs $1,137 in South Africa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,367 per month in Cameroon vs $1,773 in South Africa, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,884 per month in Cameroon vs $2,408 in South Africa, rent included.

The cost of living in Cameroon is roughly 25% lower than in South Africa on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.

Both Cameroon and South Africa are more affordable than the global median – Cameroon 38% lower, South Africa 17% lower.

Cost ranges are similar: Cameroon spans $357–$1,382, South Africa $633–$1,817. City choice affects budget similarly in either country.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.85 FCFA 2,196

$11.22 R 182

-65.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$89.6 FCFA 51.1K

$42.86 R 697

108.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.22 FCFA 3,550

$5.77 R 93.8

7.80%

Cappuccino

$1.94 FCFA 1,106

$2.41 R 39.22

-19.50%

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

$1.71 FCFA 973

$1.19 R 19.41

43.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 FCFA 385

$0.87 R 14.22

-22.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.27 FCFA 722

$2.40 R 39.06

-47.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 FCFA 977

$2.99 R 48.66

-42.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.88 FCFA 1,644

$1.25 R 20.32

130.40%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 FCFA 428

$1.10 R 17.83

-31.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.78 FCFA 1,014

$1.77 R 28.72

0.56%

Eggs

$2.16 FCFA 1,233

$2.51 R 40.82

-13.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.44 FCFA 8,814

$8.46 R 138

82.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.30 FCFA 3,025

$5.41 R 88.0

-2.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.12 FCFA 3,495

$7.94 R 129

-22.92%

Apples (1kg)

$3.56 FCFA 2,031

$1.82 R 29.55

95.60%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 FCFA 747

$1.69 R 27.40

-22.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 FCFA 891

$1.73 R 28.14

-9.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 FCFA 841

$1.77 R 28.78

-16.95%

Potato (1kg)

$2.21 FCFA 1,263

$1.47 R 23.90

50.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 FCFA 950

$1.46 R 23.82

13.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 FCFA 437

$1.25 R 20.40

-38.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 FCFA 396

$1.16 R 18.81

-40.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.79 FCFA 1,022

$3.31 R 53.9

-45.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.61 FCFA 4,916

$4.88 R 79.3

76.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 FCFA 843

$1.53 R 24.84

-3.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 FCFA 1,131

$2.05 R 33.29

-3.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 FCFA 470

$1.69 R 27.42

-51.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.36 FCFA 9,909

$62.8 R 1,020

-72.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 FCFA 344

$1.08 R 17.51

-44.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 FCFA 313

$0.94 R 15.35

-41.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.12 FCFA 3,493

$7.90 R 128

-22.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 FCFA 854

$1.43 R 23.21

4.90%

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

$30.9K FCFA 17.7M

$36.6K R 595.3K

-15.50%

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

$18.1K FCFA 10.4M

$31.1K R 506.0K

-41.68%

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

$151 FCFA 86.2K

$131 R 2,132

15.23%

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

$23.68 FCFA 13.5K

$35.38 R 575

-33.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$135 FCFA 77.0K

$41.24 R 671

227.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.27 FCFA 16.1K

$34.46 R 560

-17.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.87 FCFA 3,349

$11.85 R 193

-50.46%

Cinema Ticket

$8.69 FCFA 4,960

$7.58 R 123

14.64%

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

$535 FCFA 305.5K

$231 R 3,764

131.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,366 FCFA 1.9M

$5,534 R 90.0K

-39.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.3 FCFA 37.3K

$55.0 R 895

18.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.6 FCFA 36.9K

$33.73 R 548

91.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 FCFA 79.6K

$100 R 1,631

39.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$127 FCFA 72.6K

$91.5 R 1,487

38.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$359 FCFA 205.1K

$501 R 8,151

-28.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 FCFA 88.8K

$418 R 6,805

-62.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$859 FCFA 490.3K

$955 R 15.5K

-10.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 FCFA 158.0K

$826 R 13.4K

-66.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,038 FCFA 1.2M

$1,158 R 18.8K

75.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$991 FCFA 565.8K

$788 R 12.8K

25.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$155 FCFA 88.4K

$1,542 R 25.1K

-89.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.96

11.24

68.68%

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

Last update for Cameroon: September 13, 2026

Last update for South Africa: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Average rent: $112 in Cameroon vs $444 in South Africa. For reference, capital cities sit at $147 in Yaounde and $320 in Bloemfontein.

Average salary: $163 in Cameroon vs $1,543 in South Africa. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 296% higher in South Africa.

Dining out costs 95% more in Cameroon.

Public transport is 70% more expensive in South Africa.

Salaries are 847% higher in South Africa, and purchasing power comes out stronger in South Africa.

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

Cameroon vs South Africa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cameroon is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 41% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.

Housing costs more in South Africa, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but South Africa consistently has higher rents.

Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Cameroon, contributing to the overall 41% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.

$1,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Cameroon, but in South Africa it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.

Cameroon is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.