Cost of Living Comparison Between Douala and Bamenda Cost of Living Comparison Between Douala and Bamenda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,650 per month in Douala vs $351 in Bamenda, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,687 per month in Douala vs $534 in Bamenda, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Douala vs $716 in Bamenda, rent included.

Douala costs about 370% more than Bamenda, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Douala sits 24% above the global median, while Bamenda is 74% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.94 FCFA 5,077

$1.72 FCFA 976

419.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$126 FCFA 71.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 FCFA 3,012

$6.20 FCFA 3,522

-14.35%

Cappuccino

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

$0.85 FCFA 483

112.94%

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

$1.72 FCFA 978

$0.55 FCFA 311

212.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 FCFA 474

$0.36 FCFA 206

130.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 FCFA 663

$1.32 FCFA 748

-11.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 FCFA 1,491

$1.75 FCFA 993

50.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.84 FCFA 1,615

$2.67 FCFA 1,515

6.37%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 FCFA 255

$0.60 FCFA 339

-25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 FCFA 1,330

$0.95 FCFA 538

146.32%

Eggs

$2.01 FCFA 1,139

$3.19 FCFA 1,813

-36.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.23 FCFA 13.2K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 FCFA 4,383

$4.39 FCFA 2,495

75.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.62 FCFA 3,757

$5.44 FCFA 3,089

21.69%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 FCFA 2,775

$2.72 FCFA 1,545

79.78%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 FCFA 1,197

$0.85 FCFA 481

148.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 FCFA 1,177

$0.70 FCFA 395

195.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 FCFA 801

$0.90 FCFA 511

56.67%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 FCFA 1,873

$1.37 FCFA 777

140.88%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 FCFA 1,291

$1.09 FCFA 618

108.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 FCFA 440

$0.58 FCFA 330

34.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 FCFA 353

$0.72 FCFA 410

-13.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 FCFA 1,953

$1.42 FCFA 807

142.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.70 FCFA 4,941

$10.18 FCFA 5,780

-14.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 FCFA 808

$1.29 FCFA 731

10.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 FCFA 1,074

$1.37 FCFA 779

37.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 FCFA 363

$1.79 FCFA 1,015

-64.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.56 FCFA 9,967

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 FCFA 310

$0.45 FCFA 258

22.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 FCFA 465

$0.31 FCFA 175

164.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.51 FCFA 4,832

$6.09 FCFA 3,457

39.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 FCFA 803

$1.28 FCFA 724

10.16%

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

$30.9K FCFA 17.6M

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

$15.7K FCFA 8.9M

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

$168 FCFA 95.2K

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

$26.17 FCFA 14.9K

$17.76 FCFA 10.1K

47.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$183 FCFA 104.0K

$33.77 FCFA 19.2K

442.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.46 FCFA 13.3K

$8.87 FCFA 5,036

164.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.46 FCFA 1,966

Cinema Ticket

$8.65 FCFA 4,911

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

$541 FCFA 307.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,435 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.0 FCFA 46.5K

$26.91 FCFA 15.3K

204.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.6 FCFA 39.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 FCFA 82.1K

$44.93 FCFA 25.5K

221.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$154 FCFA 87.5K

$60.7 FCFA 34.5K

153.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 FCFA 511.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 FCFA 337.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,908 FCFA 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 FCFA 632.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,048 FCFA 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 FCFA 555.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$211 FCFA 119.9K

$98.9 FCFA 56.2K

113.51%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Bamenda: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 114% higher in Douala, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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 Bamenda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,650 in Douala, $351 in Bamenda – roughly 370% apart. Douala costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,476 per month in Douala and $527 in Bamenda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,650 in Douala and $351 in Bamenda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 77% more in Douala, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bamenda, where all-in costs run around $351, than in Douala at $1,650. In Bamenda it covers expenses comfortably, while in Douala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bamenda – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Bamenda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Douala makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.