Cost of Living Comparison Between Douala and Maroua Cost of Living Comparison Between Douala and Maroua

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,650 per month in Douala vs $348 in Maroua, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,654 per month in Douala vs $513 in Maroua, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,658 per month in Douala vs $679 in Maroua, rent included.

Douala costs about 374% more than Maroua, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Douala sits 23% above the global median, while Maroua is 74% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

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

$1.78 FCFA 1,007

57.87%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 FCFA 251

$0.86 FCFA 484

-47.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 FCFA 1,307

$3.09 FCFA 1,744

-25.24%

Eggs

$2.02 FCFA 1,139

$2.78 FCFA 1,573

-27.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.79 FCFA 12.9K

$5.31 FCFA 2,999

329.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 FCFA 4,362

$5.37 FCFA 3,034

43.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.63 FCFA 3,744

$3.59 FCFA 2,028

84.68%

Apples (1kg)

$4.86 FCFA 2,742

$1.71 FCFA 964

184.21%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 FCFA 1,183

$0.87 FCFA 490

140.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.16 FCFA 1,217

$0.85 FCFA 483

154.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 FCFA 767

$1.72 FCFA 970

-20.93%

Potato (1kg)

$3.33 FCFA 1,879

$2.68 FCFA 1,514

24.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 FCFA 1,227

$1.72 FCFA 970

26.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 FCFA 447

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 FCFA 352

$0.85 FCFA 478

-27.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.47 FCFA 1,958

Wine (Bottle)

$8.57 FCFA 4,840

$11.40 FCFA 6,440

-24.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 FCFA 800

$0.92 FCFA 521

54.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 FCFA 1,099

$1.79 FCFA 1,013

8.94%

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

$52.0 FCFA 29.4K

220.19%

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

$26.57 FCFA 15.0K

$8.97 FCFA 5,067

196.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$185 FCFA 104.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.91 FCFA 13.5K

$17.75 FCFA 10.0K

34.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.63 FCFA 2,051

$1.73 FCFA 977

109.83%

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

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$592 FCFA 334.5K

$88.7 FCFA 50.1K

568.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,895 FCFA 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,132 FCFA 639.5K

$159 FCFA 89.6K

613.74%

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 Maroua: June 9, 2026

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

Yes – Douala is pricier by about 374%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,476 per month in Douala and $522 in Maroua. 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 $348 in Maroua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 55% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maroua, where all-in costs run around $348, than in Douala at $1,650. In Maroua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Douala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Maroua – 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 Maroua. 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.