Cost of Living Comparison Between Douala and Bafoussam Cost of Living Comparison Between Douala and Bafoussam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,636 in Douala versus $71.6 in Bafoussam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,621 in Douala versus $98.0 in Bafoussam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,606 in Douala versus $125 in Bafoussam.

Living in Douala is roughly 2186% more expensive than Bafoussam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Douala is 22% above, Bafoussam is 95% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.02 FCFA 5,062

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$126 FCFA 70.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.15 FCFA 2,890

Cappuccino

$1.89 FCFA 1,062

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

$1.68 FCFA 941

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 FCFA 467

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 FCFA 660

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 FCFA 1,492

Milk (1 liter)

$2.90 FCFA 1,627

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 FCFA 250

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 FCFA 1,258

Eggs

$1.91 FCFA 1,069

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.75 FCFA 12.8K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 FCFA 4,329

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.58 FCFA 3,690

Apples (1kg)

$4.94 FCFA 2,773

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 FCFA 1,177

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 FCFA 1,171

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 FCFA 762

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 FCFA 1,897

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 FCFA 1,256

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 FCFA 408

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 FCFA 375

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.59 FCFA 2,011

Wine (Bottle)

$8.32 FCFA 4,669

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 FCFA 758

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 FCFA 1,092

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 FCFA 362

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.48 FCFA 9,807

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 FCFA 306

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 FCFA 426

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.19 FCFA 4,592

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 FCFA 768

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

$31.0K FCFA 17.4M

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

$16.0K FCFA 9.0M

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

$170 FCFA 95.2K

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

$25.96 FCFA 14.6K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$182 FCFA 101.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.43 FCFA 13.1K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.47 FCFA 1,948

Cinema Ticket

$8.60 FCFA 4,822

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

$530 FCFA 297.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,540 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.1 FCFA 45.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.3 FCFA 39.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 FCFA 79.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 FCFA 86.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 FCFA 513.0K

$106 FCFA 59.5K

762.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 FCFA 328.3K

$71.7 FCFA 40.2K

716.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,889 FCFA 1.1M

$266 FCFA 149.0K

611.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,129 FCFA 633.3K

$122 FCFA 68.4K

825.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,108 FCFA 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,005 FCFA 563.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 FCFA 91.6K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.21

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

Last update for Douala: April 25, 2026

Last update for Bafoussam: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $915 in Douala and $106 in Bafoussam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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

Douala vs Bafoussam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bafoussam wins on cost – living expenses run 2186% lower than in Douala. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bafoussam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,454 in Douala and $107 in Bafoussam 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $915 in Douala versus $106 in Bafoussam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

At $71.6 in Bafoussam versus $1,636 in Douala, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bafoussam but tight or insufficient in Douala. The gap between the two cities makes Bafoussam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Douala and Bafoussam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bafoussam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2186% less than in Douala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.