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: $1,650 in Douala versus $70.7 in Bafoussam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,654 in Douala versus $98.0 in Bafoussam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,658 in Douala versus $125 in Bafoussam.

Living in Douala is roughly 2234% more expensive than Bafoussam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Douala is 23% above, Bafoussam is 95% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.77 FCFA 4,954

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$125 FCFA 70.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.34 FCFA 3,016

Cappuccino

$1.82 FCFA 1,030

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

$1.64 FCFA 927

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 FCFA 448

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 FCFA 637

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 FCFA 1,456

Milk (1 liter)

$2.81 FCFA 1,589

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 FCFA 251

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 FCFA 1,307

Eggs

$2.02 FCFA 1,139

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.79 FCFA 12.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 FCFA 4,362

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.63 FCFA 3,744

Apples (1kg)

$4.86 FCFA 2,742

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 FCFA 1,183

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 FCFA 1,217

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 FCFA 767

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 FCFA 1,879

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 FCFA 1,227

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 FCFA 447

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 FCFA 352

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.47 FCFA 1,958

Wine (Bottle)

$8.57 FCFA 4,840

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 FCFA 800

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 FCFA 1,099

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 FCFA 385

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.61 FCFA 9,946

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 FCFA 314

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 FCFA 425

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.46 FCFA 4,780

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 FCFA 814

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

$30.3K FCFA 17.1M

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)

$167 FCFA 94.1K

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

$26.57 FCFA 15.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$185 FCFA 104.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.91 FCFA 13.5K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.63 FCFA 2,051

Cinema Ticket

$8.71 FCFA 4,921

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

$534 FCFA 301.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,478 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 FCFA 45.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.9 FCFA 38.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 FCFA 80.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$155 FCFA 87.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$927 FCFA 523.8K

$106 FCFA 60.0K

773.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 FCFA 334.5K

$71.2 FCFA 40.2K

731.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,895 FCFA 1.1M

$268 FCFA 151.5K

606.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,132 FCFA 639.5K

$124 FCFA 70.1K

812.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,065 FCFA 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$988 FCFA 557.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$162 FCFA 91.5K

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Bafoussam: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $927 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 2234% 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 $2,476 in Douala and $106 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: $927 in Douala versus $106 in Bafoussam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

At $70.7 in Bafoussam versus $1,650 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 2234% less than in Douala. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.