Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Douala and Maroua

For one person, living is cheaper in Maroua: $348 a month against $1,334 in Douala, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Douala, Cameroon
Maroua, Cameroon
Douala
🇨🇲 Cameroon
$1,334
/mo nomad
Maroua
🇨🇲 Cameroon
$348
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Douala and in Maroua

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Douala and in Maroua actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,334 per month in Douala vs $348 in Maroua, rent included.

  • Douala $1,334
  • Maroua $348

A couple spends around $2,160 per month in Douala vs $519 in Maroua, rent included.

  • Douala $2,160
  • Maroua $519

A family of three spends $2,985 per month in Douala vs $690 in Maroua, rent included.

  • Douala $2,985
  • Maroua $690

Douala costs about 283% more than Maroua, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Douala and Maroua are more affordable than the global median – Douala 2% lower, Maroua 74% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Douala
Maroua
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.37 FCFA 2,558
-
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 FCFA 71.1K
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.93 FCFA 4,053
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.13 FCFA 1,246
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64 FCFA 960
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76 FCFA 445
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.20 FCFA 704
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 FCFA 1,528
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Douala
Maroua
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.90 FCFA 1,698
$1.66 FCFA 972
74.70%
White Bread (500g)
$0.41 FCFA 238
$0.84 FCFA 489
-51.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.18 FCFA 1,277
$2.84 FCFA 1,662
-23.24%
Eggs
$1.85 FCFA 1,082
$5.62 FCFA 3,290
-67.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$22.34 FCFA 13.1K
$5.13 FCFA 2,998
335.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.87 FCFA 4,604
$5.24 FCFA 3,064
50.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.18 FCFA 3,614
$3.31 FCFA 1,936
86.71%
Apples (1kg)
$4.60 FCFA 2,692
$1.72 FCFA 1,003
167.44%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 FCFA 1,185
$0.87 FCFA 508
133.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 FCFA 1,215
$0.87 FCFA 511
139.08%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 FCFA 809
$1.74 FCFA 1,016
-20.69%
Potato (1kg)
$3.18 FCFA 1,860
$2.60 FCFA 1,519
22.31%
Onion (1kg)
$2.15 FCFA 1,260
$1.71 FCFA 1,000
25.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.76 FCFA 443
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 FCFA 391
$0.82 FCFA 480
-18.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53 FCFA 1,478
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$8.59 FCFA 5,024
$11.12 FCFA 6,504
-22.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 FCFA 821
$0.87 FCFA 511
60.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78 FCFA 1,041
$1.75 FCFA 1,022
1.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Douala
Maroua
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.66 FCFA 388
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.06 FCFA 9,978
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.58 FCFA 338
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 FCFA 476
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.33 FCFA 4,871
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.41 FCFA 824
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.4K FCFA 17.2M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.6K FCFA 9.1M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Douala
Maroua
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 FCFA 94.9K
$51.6 FCFA 30.2K
214.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.14 FCFA 14.7K
$8.43 FCFA 4,932
198.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$178 FCFA 103.9K
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Douala
Maroua
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.23 FCFA 24.1K
$16.99 FCFA 9,937
142.67%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$1.69 FCFA 988
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.77 FCFA 5,129
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Douala
Maroua
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$505 FCFA 295.5K
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,387 FCFA 2.0M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Douala
Maroua
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$80.1 FCFA 46.8K
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.1 FCFA 39.8K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 FCFA 79.6K
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$147 FCFA 86.0K
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Douala
Maroua
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$567 FCFA 331.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 FCFA 183.0K
$83.7 FCFA 48.9K
273.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,338 FCFA 782.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$542 FCFA 316.9K
$154 FCFA 89.9K
252.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,976 FCFA 1.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$952 FCFA 556.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Douala
Maroua
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$222 FCFA 129.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
19.04
0
-

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

Last update for Douala: October 24, 2026

Last update for Maroua: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Douala
$365
Maroua
–
Accommodation & Living
Douala
$313
Maroua
–
Groceries & Markets
Douala
$277
Maroua
–
Clothing & Footwear
Douala
$194
Maroua
–
Eating Out
Douala
$102
Maroua
–
Sport & Entertainment
Douala
$59
Maroua
–
Getting Around
Douala
$24
Maroua
–
Good to know
🇨🇲 Douala
🇨🇲 Maroua
🕒 Local time
17:04 5:04 PM
17:04 5:04 PM
Same time as Douala
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,000,000
3,119,000
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to XAF – Central African CFA Franc Converter

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 585 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 653 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Douala Maroua 890 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Douala
  • Maroua

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Maroua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maroua cheaper than Douala?
Yes – Douala is pricier by about 283%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,001 per month in Douala and $522 in Maroua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Douala and in Maroua?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,334 in Douala and $348 in Maroua. That makes Maroua about 74% cheaper.
How do food prices compare in Douala and in Maroua?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Douala, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Douala or in Maroua?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Maroua, where all-in costs run around $348, than in Douala at $1,334. In Maroua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Douala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Douala or in Maroua?
It depends on your priorities. Douala has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $348 in Maroua to $1,334 in Douala. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Douala vs other spots: cost of living compared

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