Cost of Living Comparison Between Douala and Yaounde Cost of Living Comparison Between Douala and Yaounde

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,640 per month in Douala vs $725 in Yaounde, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,621 per month in Douala vs $1,195 in Yaounde, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,603 per month in Douala vs $1,665 in Yaounde, rent included.

Douala costs about 126% more than Yaounde, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Douala sits 22% above the global median, while Yaounde is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.86 FCFA 5,002

$4.87 FCFA 2,747

81.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$124 FCFA 69.8K

$43.99 FCFA 24.8K

181.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 FCFA 3,060

$5.80 FCFA 3,272

-6.55%

Cappuccino

$1.81 FCFA 1,020

$2.59 FCFA 1,463

-30.12%

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

$1.67 FCFA 943

$1.48 FCFA 834

12.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 FCFA 445

$0.69 FCFA 391

14.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 FCFA 662

$1.17 FCFA 661

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 FCFA 1,481

$1.72 FCFA 970

52.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.94 FCFA 1,660

$2.83 FCFA 1,600

3.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.41 FCFA 233

$0.99 FCFA 558

-58.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.26 FCFA 1,273

$1.11 FCFA 624

103.60%

Eggs

$1.93 FCFA 1,088

$1.83 FCFA 1,034

5.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$22.67 FCFA 12.8K

$13.96 FCFA 7,881

62.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.75 FCFA 4,376

$6.32 FCFA 3,567

22.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.40 FCFA 3,611

$5.98 FCFA 3,374

7.02%

Apples (1kg)

$4.76 FCFA 2,688

$4.63 FCFA 2,615

2.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.15 FCFA 1,213

$2.10 FCFA 1,182

2.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 FCFA 1,178

$2.06 FCFA 1,162

1.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 FCFA 764

$1.19 FCFA 672

13.45%

Potato (1kg)

$3.30 FCFA 1,862

$1.61 FCFA 906

104.97%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 FCFA 1,279

$1.46 FCFA 822

55.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 FCFA 442

$0.57 FCFA 324

36.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 FCFA 351

$1.00 FCFA 562

-38.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.50 FCFA 1,976

$1.73 FCFA 978

102.31%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.66 FCFA 4,889

$8.78 FCFA 4,954

-1.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.41 FCFA 795

$1.23 FCFA 695

14.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 FCFA 1,070

$1.60 FCFA 906

18.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 FCFA 388

$0.60 FCFA 337

15.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.73 FCFA 10.0K

$17.76 FCFA 10.0K

-0.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 FCFA 289

$0.65 FCFA 365

-21.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.83 FCFA 468

$0.38 FCFA 215

118.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.22 FCFA 4,639

$5.60 FCFA 3,158

46.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 FCFA 781

$1.35 FCFA 761

2.22%

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

$31.2K FCFA 17.6M

$33.1K FCFA 18.7M

-5.80%

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

$16.2K FCFA 9.1M

0.08%

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

$167 FCFA 94.5K

$79.3 FCFA 44.8K

110.98%

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

$26.28 FCFA 14.8K

$21.48 FCFA 12.1K

22.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$180 FCFA 101.6K

$46.79 FCFA 26.4K

284.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.78 FCFA 13.4K

$26.01 FCFA 14.7K

-8.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.57 FCFA 2,013

$7.26 FCFA 4,095

-50.83%

Cinema Ticket

$8.67 FCFA 4,892

$6.54 FCFA 3,692

32.57%

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

$530 FCFA 298.9K

$346 FCFA 195.2K

53.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,419 FCFA 1.9M

$1,832 FCFA 1.0M

86.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.9 FCFA 46.2K

$16.69 FCFA 9,419

390.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.5 FCFA 38.6K

$23.83 FCFA 13.5K

187.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 FCFA 79.4K

$19.67 FCFA 11.1K

615.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$156 FCFA 88.3K

$58.2 FCFA 32.9K

168.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$917 FCFA 517.4K

$153 FCFA 86.2K

500.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$586 FCFA 331.0K

$118 FCFA 66.5K

397.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,950 FCFA 1.1M

$503 FCFA 283.7K

287.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,097 FCFA 619.1K

$256 FCFA 144.6K

328.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,043 FCFA 1.2M

$887 FCFA 500.5K

130.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$983 FCFA 554.7K

$626 FCFA 353.4K

56.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 FCFA 93.3K

$189 FCFA 106.8K

-12.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.21

220.17%

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

Last update for Douala: May 31, 2026

Last update for Yaounde: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $917 in Douala versus $153 in Yaounde. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 14% higher in Yaounde, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $124 in Douala versus $44.00 in Yaounde. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $281 vs $240 – making Yaounde the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Yaounde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Douala is pricier by about 126%, 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 $2,460 per month in Douala and $1,088 in Yaounde. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Yaounde, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $124 in Douala and $44.00 in Yaounde. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yaounde, where all-in costs run around $725, than in Douala at $1,640. In Yaounde it covers expenses comfortably, while in Douala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Yaounde – 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 Yaounde. 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.