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 $355 in Maroua, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,687 per month in Douala vs $517 in Maroua, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,723 per month in Douala vs $679 in Maroua, rent included.

Douala costs about 365% more than Maroua, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Douala sits 24% above the global median, while Maroua is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.94 FCFA 5,077

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$126 FCFA 71.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 FCFA 3,012

Cappuccino

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

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

$1.72 FCFA 978

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 FCFA 474

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 FCFA 663

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 FCFA 1,491

Milk (1 liter)

$2.84 FCFA 1,615

$1.80 FCFA 1,025

57.78%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 FCFA 255

$0.84 FCFA 475

-46.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 FCFA 1,330

$2.97 FCFA 1,689

-21.21%

Eggs

$2.01 FCFA 1,139

$2.83 FCFA 1,609

-28.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$23.23 FCFA 13.2K

$5.34 FCFA 3,034

335.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 FCFA 4,383

$5.16 FCFA 2,932

49.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.62 FCFA 3,757

$3.52 FCFA 1,998

88.07%

Apples (1kg)

$4.89 FCFA 2,775

$1.79 FCFA 1,017

173.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 FCFA 1,197

$0.85 FCFA 483

148.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 FCFA 1,177

$0.85 FCFA 482

143.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 FCFA 801

$1.78 FCFA 1,008

-20.79%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 FCFA 1,873

$2.66 FCFA 1,512

24.06%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 FCFA 1,291

$1.72 FCFA 975

31.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 FCFA 440

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 FCFA 353

$0.91 FCFA 517

-31.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 FCFA 1,953

Wine (Bottle)

$8.70 FCFA 4,941

$11.35 FCFA 6,442

-23.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 FCFA 808

$0.87 FCFA 492

63.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 FCFA 1,074

$1.80 FCFA 1,023

5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 FCFA 363

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.56 FCFA 9,967

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 FCFA 310

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 FCFA 465

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.51 FCFA 4,832

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 FCFA 803

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

$53.2 FCFA 30.2K

215.16%

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

$26.17 FCFA 14.9K

$8.92 FCFA 5,063

193.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$183 FCFA 104.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.46 FCFA 13.3K

$17.39 FCFA 9,872

34.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.46 FCFA 1,966

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

91.16%

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

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.6 FCFA 39.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 FCFA 82.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$154 FCFA 87.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 FCFA 511.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$594 FCFA 337.2K

$89.8 FCFA 51.0K

561.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,908 FCFA 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 FCFA 632.5K

$158 FCFA 89.5K

606.94%

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

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 Maroua: July 26, 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 365%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $532 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 $355 in Maroua. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 57% 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 $355, 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.