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: $1,335 in Douala versus $964 in Bafoussam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,178 in Douala versus $1,669 in Bafoussam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,022 in Douala versus $2,374 in Bafoussam.

Living in Douala is roughly 38% more expensive than in Bafoussam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Douala 1% lower, Bafoussam 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.20 FCFA 2,449

$4.28 FCFA 2,493

-1.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$121 FCFA 70.3K

$120 FCFA 70.1K

0.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.01 FCFA 4,080

$6.81 FCFA 3,968

2.94%

Cappuccino

$2.07 FCFA 1,207

$2.17 FCFA 1,263

-4.61%

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

$1.70 FCFA 989

$1.65 FCFA 958

3.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 FCFA 453

$0.79 FCFA 462

-1.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.22 FCFA 713

$1.24 FCFA 723

-1.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 FCFA 1,537

$2.55 FCFA 1,484

3.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.93 FCFA 1,707

$2.95 FCFA 1,715

-0.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.44 FCFA 254

$0.43 FCFA 251

2.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.25 FCFA 1,312

$2.18 FCFA 1,271

3.21%

Eggs

$1.92 FCFA 1,116

$1.95 FCFA 1,135

-1.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.38 FCFA 13.0K

$22.41 FCFA 13.0K

-0.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.67 FCFA 4,467

$7.90 FCFA 4,603

-2.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.30 FCFA 3,670

$6.28 FCFA 3,656

0.32%

Apples (1kg)

$4.64 FCFA 2,704

$4.67 FCFA 2,718

-0.64%

Banana (1kg)

$2.05 FCFA 1,194

$2.10 FCFA 1,225

-2.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 FCFA 1,244

$2.03 FCFA 1,180

5.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 FCFA 822

$1.39 FCFA 810

1.44%

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 FCFA 1,967

$3.38 FCFA 1,966

Onion (1kg)

$2.15 FCFA 1,252

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 FCFA 416

$0.77 FCFA 449

-7.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 FCFA 388

$0.63 FCFA 370

6.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 FCFA 1,497

$2.65 FCFA 1,543

-3.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.90 FCFA 5,183

$8.81 FCFA 5,130

1.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.50 FCFA 874

$1.51 FCFA 878

-0.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 FCFA 1,034

$1.74 FCFA 1,015

2.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 FCFA 361

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.09 FCFA 9,954

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.63 FCFA 366

$0.60 FCFA 348

5.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 FCFA 501

$0.91 FCFA 531

-5.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.26 FCFA 4,811

$8.40 FCFA 4,893

-1.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.47 FCFA 856

$1.44 FCFA 839

2.08%

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

$30.7K FCFA 17.9M

$30.0K FCFA 17.5M

2.35%

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

$15.7K FCFA 9.2M

$15.7K FCFA 9.1M

0.46%

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

$165 FCFA 96.3K

$165 FCFA 95.9K

0.42%

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

$26.09 FCFA 15.2K

$26.17 FCFA 15.2K

-0.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$178 FCFA 103.4K

$181 FCFA 105.7K

-2.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.02 FCFA 23.9K

Cinema Ticket

$8.41 FCFA 4,899

$8.78 FCFA 5,112

-4.21%

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

$520 FCFA 302.8K

$521 FCFA 303.7K

-0.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,359 FCFA 2.0M

$3,410 FCFA 2.0M

-1.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.4 FCFA 47.4K

$81.6 FCFA 47.5K

-0.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.9 FCFA 39.5K

$68.4 FCFA 39.8K

-0.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$139 FCFA 80.9K

$140 FCFA 81.5K

-0.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$150 FCFA 87.1K

$151 FCFA 87.9K

-0.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 FCFA 334.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$328 FCFA 191.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,324 FCFA 770.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 FCFA 325.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,017 FCFA 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$965 FCFA 562.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$229 FCFA 133.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.04

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

Last update for Douala: September 26, 2026

Last update for Bafoussam: September 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $121 in Douala vs $120 in Bafoussam. Groceries flip the comparison at $280 vs $281, with Douala cheaper for home cooking.

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 38% 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 $2,002 in Douala and $1,446 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.

Childcare runs $520 in Douala versus $521 in Bafoussam. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bafoussam – a meal for two runs $120 versus $121 in Douala. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $964 in Bafoussam versus $1,335 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 38% less than in Douala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.