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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,636 per month in Douala vs $346 in Maroua, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,621 per month in Douala vs $518 in Maroua, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,606 per month in Douala vs $689 in Maroua, rent included.

Douala costs about 373% more than Maroua, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Douala sits 22% above the global median, while Maroua is 74% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.02 FCFA 5,062

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$126 FCFA 70.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.15 FCFA 2,890

Cappuccino

$1.89 FCFA 1,062

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

$1.68 FCFA 941

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 FCFA 467

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 FCFA 660

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 FCFA 1,492

Milk (1 liter)

$2.90 FCFA 1,627

$1.78 FCFA 1,001

62.92%

White Bread (500g)

$0.45 FCFA 250

$0.86 FCFA 484

-47.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.24 FCFA 1,258

$2.97 FCFA 1,668

-24.58%

Eggs

$1.91 FCFA 1,069

$2.75 FCFA 1,541

-30.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.75 FCFA 12.8K

$5.45 FCFA 3,054

317.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.72 FCFA 4,329

$5.20 FCFA 2,916

48.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.58 FCFA 3,690

$3.45 FCFA 1,933

90.72%

Apples (1kg)

$4.94 FCFA 2,773

$1.80 FCFA 1,009

174.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 FCFA 1,177

$0.91 FCFA 512

130.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 FCFA 1,171

$0.89 FCFA 500

134.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 FCFA 762

$1.72 FCFA 967

-20.93%

Potato (1kg)

$3.38 FCFA 1,897

$2.68 FCFA 1,503

26.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 FCFA 1,256

$1.79 FCFA 1,005

25.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 FCFA 408

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 FCFA 375

$0.90 FCFA 506

-25.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.59 FCFA 2,011

Wine (Bottle)

$8.32 FCFA 4,669

$11.73 FCFA 6,580

-29.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 FCFA 758

$0.85 FCFA 477

58.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.95 FCFA 1,092

$1.78 FCFA 997

9.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 FCFA 362

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.48 FCFA 9,807

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 FCFA 306

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 FCFA 426

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.19 FCFA 4,592

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 FCFA 768

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

$31.0K FCFA 17.4M

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)

$170 FCFA 95.2K

$52.0 FCFA 29.2K

226.12%

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

$25.96 FCFA 14.6K

$9.05 FCFA 5,073

186.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$182 FCFA 101.9K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.43 FCFA 13.1K

$17.57 FCFA 9,855

33.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.47 FCFA 1,948

$1.78 FCFA 1,001

94.94%

Cinema Ticket

$8.60 FCFA 4,822

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

$530 FCFA 297.3K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,540 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.1 FCFA 45.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.3 FCFA 39.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 FCFA 79.4K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 FCFA 86.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 FCFA 513.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$585 FCFA 328.3K

$87.0 FCFA 48.8K

572.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,889 FCFA 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,129 FCFA 633.3K

$158 FCFA 88.5K

615.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,108 FCFA 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,005 FCFA 563.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 FCFA 91.6K

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: April 25, 2026

Last update for Maroua: April 27, 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 373%, 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 $2,454 per month in Douala and $519 in Maroua. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,636 in Douala and $346 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 $346, than in Douala at $1,636. 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.