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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,382 per month in Douala vs $357 in Maroua, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,200 per month in Douala vs $528 in Maroua, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,018 per month in Douala vs $699 in Maroua, rent included.

Douala costs about 287% more than Maroua, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Douala sits 1% above the global median, while Maroua is 74% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 FCFA 2,486

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$123 FCFA 70.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 FCFA 4,100

Cappuccino

$2.10 FCFA 1,200

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

$1.72 FCFA 985

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 FCFA 461

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 FCFA 720

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 FCFA 1,496

Milk (1 liter)

$2.96 FCFA 1,693

$1.80 FCFA 1,031

64.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 FCFA 239

$0.87 FCFA 496

-51.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 FCFA 1,326

$3.01 FCFA 1,721

-22.92%

Eggs

$2.01 FCFA 1,147

$5.85 FCFA 3,344

-65.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.14 FCFA 13.2K

$5.38 FCFA 3,076

330.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.02 FCFA 4,582

$5.16 FCFA 2,951

55.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.52 FCFA 3,728

$3.46 FCFA 1,978

88.44%

Apples (1kg)

$4.73 FCFA 2,702

$1.81 FCFA 1,035

161.33%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 FCFA 1,238

$0.90 FCFA 516

141.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 FCFA 1,227

$0.86 FCFA 491

150.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 FCFA 815

$1.80 FCFA 1,026

-20.56%

Potato (1kg)

$3.28 FCFA 1,877

$2.58 FCFA 1,473

27.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 FCFA 1,278

$1.80 FCFA 1,030

24.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 FCFA 413

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.65 FCFA 371

$0.91 FCFA 521

-28.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.67 FCFA 1,527

Wine (Bottle)

$8.88 FCFA 5,073

$11.27 FCFA 6,440

-21.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 FCFA 870

$0.84 FCFA 478

80.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 FCFA 1,059

$1.74 FCFA 996

6.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 FCFA 370

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.44 FCFA 9,968

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.59 FCFA 338

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 FCFA 521

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.22 FCFA 4,698

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 FCFA 827

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

$30.4K FCFA 17.3M

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

$16.1K FCFA 9.2M

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

$165 FCFA 94.0K

$51.9 FCFA 29.6K

217.35%

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

$26.52 FCFA 15.2K

$8.68 FCFA 4,961

205.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$185 FCFA 105.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.26 FCFA 24.1K

$17.66 FCFA 10.1K

139.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.74 FCFA 995

Cinema Ticket

$9.02 FCFA 5,157

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

$539 FCFA 307.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,461 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.8 FCFA 46.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.2 FCFA 39.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 FCFA 82.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$155 FCFA 88.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 FCFA 323.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$331 FCFA 189.4K

$88.8 FCFA 50.7K

273.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,385 FCFA 791.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$560 FCFA 320.1K

$159 FCFA 90.7K

252.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,067 FCFA 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$990 FCFA 565.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$232 FCFA 132.5K

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 13, 2026

Last update for Maroua: September 12, 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 287%, 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 $2,073 per month in Douala and $535 in Maroua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,382 in Douala and $357 in Maroua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 48% 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 $357, than in Douala at $1,382. 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.