Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Guangzhou (Canton) and Yaounde

For one person, living is cheaper in Yaounde: $782 a month against $924 in Guangzhou (Canton), rent and utilities included – about $1,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Guangzhou (Canton)
🇨🇳 China
$924
/mo nomad
Yaounde
🇨🇲 Cameroon
$782
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Guangzhou (Canton) and in Yaounde

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Guangzhou (Canton) and in Yaounde actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $924 per month in Guangzhou (Canton) vs $782 in Yaounde, rent included.

  • Guangzhou (Canton) $924
  • Yaounde $782

A couple spends around $1,433 per month in Guangzhou (Canton) vs $1,206 in Yaounde, rent included.

  • Guangzhou (Canton) $1,433
  • Yaounde $1,206

A family of three spends $1,942 per month in Guangzhou (Canton) vs $1,629 in Yaounde, rent included.

  • Guangzhou (Canton) $1,942
  • Yaounde $1,629

Guangzhou (Canton) costs about 18% more than Yaounde, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Guangzhou (Canton) and Yaounde are more affordable than the global median – Guangzhou (Canton) 32% lower, Yaounde 42% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Guangzhou (Canton)
Yaounde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.01 ¥20.15
$3.50 FCFA 2,040
-14.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.30 ¥203
$50.7 FCFA 29.6K
-40.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.08 ¥33.94
$4.97 FCFA 2,896
2.21%
Cappuccino
$3.11 ¥20.77
$1.87 FCFA 1,089
66.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ¥3.57
$1.46 FCFA 854
-63.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.41
$0.56 FCFA 324
-35.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.38 ¥9.23
$1.20 FCFA 698
15.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 ¥17.46
$1.68 FCFA 980
55.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Guangzhou (Canton)
Yaounde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 ¥12.04
$3.62 FCFA 2,109
-50.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 ¥12.60
$1.03 FCFA 602
82.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 ¥7.68
$1.27 FCFA 743
-9.45%
Eggs
$1.52 ¥10.15
$2.02 FCFA 1,179
-24.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.43 ¥110
$13.86 FCFA 8,080
18.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.20 ¥34.78
$6.02 FCFA 3,509
-13.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.31 ¥82.3
$6.42 FCFA 3,744
91.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.22 ¥14.87
$4.97 FCFA 2,899
-55.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 ¥8.27
$1.95 FCFA 1,139
-36.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 ¥9.62
$1.99 FCFA 1,159
-27.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.72 ¥11.48
$1.35 FCFA 786
27.41%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 ¥6.63
$1.63 FCFA 952
-39.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.23 ¥8.21
$1.39 FCFA 813
-11.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 ¥5.29
$1.12 FCFA 654
-29.46%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65 ¥4.34
$0.65 FCFA 381
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.71 ¥24.83
$1.68 FCFA 982
120.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.53 ¥70.4
$8.25 FCFA 4,808
27.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02 ¥6.84
$1.32 FCFA 772
-22.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 ¥12.78
$1.94 FCFA 1,132
-1.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Guangzhou (Canton)
Yaounde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.43 ¥2.86
$0.52 FCFA 305
-17.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.03 ¥147
$17.19 FCFA 10.0K
28.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.82 ¥12.20
$0.62 FCFA 363
193.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.41 ¥2.71
$0.45 FCFA 261
-8.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.01 ¥46.90
$5.87 FCFA 3,422
19.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.38 ¥9.24
$1.46 FCFA 848
-5.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2K ¥128.4K
$32.6K FCFA 19.0M
-41.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.9K ¥119.4K
$21.2K FCFA 12.4M
-15.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guangzhou (Canton)
Yaounde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.5 ¥411
$80.1 FCFA 46.7K
-23.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.36 ¥109
$17.16 FCFA 10.0K
-4.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.69 ¥98.2
$51.3 FCFA 29.9K
-71.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Guangzhou (Canton)
Yaounde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.1 ¥468
$23.85 FCFA 13.9K
193.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.38 ¥82.8
$6.93 FCFA 4,041
78.64%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61 ¥44.22
$8.32 FCFA 4,849
-20.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Guangzhou (Canton)
Yaounde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,506 ¥10.1K
$615 FCFA 358.4K
144.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.1K ¥161.0K
$2,333 FCFA 1.4M
932.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Guangzhou (Canton)
Yaounde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.95 ¥334
$16.75 FCFA 9,767
198.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.83 ¥280
$27.41 FCFA 16.0K
52.61%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.3 ¥557
$25.17 FCFA 14.7K
231.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.3 ¥477
$55.8 FCFA 32.6K
27.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Guangzhou (Canton)
Yaounde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$539 ¥3,602
$142 FCFA 83.0K
278.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 ¥1,858
$183 FCFA 106.7K
51.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,321 ¥8,832
$408 FCFA 238.1K
223.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$466 ¥3,113
$208 FCFA 121.2K
124.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,749 ¥58.5K
$855 FCFA 498.8K
922.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,420 ¥22.9K
$589 FCFA 343.7K
480.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Guangzhou (Canton)
Yaounde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,280 ¥8,558
$185 FCFA 107.8K
592.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.38
13
-74.00%

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

Last update for Guangzhou (Canton): October 12, 2026

Last update for Yaounde: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Guangzhou (Canton)
$278
Yaounde
$183 34.1% $95
Groceries & Markets
Guangzhou (Canton)
$239
Yaounde
$249 4.1% $9.8
Clothing & Footwear
Guangzhou (Canton)
$111
Yaounde
$56 49.2% $55
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Guangzhou (Canton)
$93
Yaounde
$149 60.5% $56
Eating Out
Guangzhou (Canton)
$92
Yaounde
$83 10.4% $9.6
Sport & Entertainment
Guangzhou (Canton)
$83
Yaounde
$40 51.4% $43
Getting Around
Guangzhou (Canton)
$28
Yaounde
$22 19.7% $5.5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $539 in Guangzhou (Canton) versus $142 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 592% higher in Guangzhou (Canton), which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $30.00 in Guangzhou (Canton) versus $51.0 in Yaounde. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $239 vs $249 – making Guangzhou (Canton) the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Guangzhou (Canton)
🇨🇲 Yaounde
🕒 Local time
07:19 7:19 AM
00:19 12:19 AM
7 h behind Guangzhou (Canton)
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
14,043,500
1,817,524 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

XAF, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 6.69 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.52 CNY (1 CNY = 0.133 EUR).

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 583 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Guangzhou (Canton) Yaounde 11,030 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Guangzhou (Canton)
  • Yaounde

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Guangzhou (Canton) vs Yaounde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Guangzhou (Canton) and in Yaounde compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $924 in Guangzhou (Canton), $782 in Yaounde – roughly 18% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in clothing.
What salary covers living expenses in Guangzhou (Canton) compared to Yaounde?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,385 per month in Guangzhou (Canton) and $1,173 in Yaounde. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Guangzhou (Canton) and Yaounde?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Guangzhou (Canton) or Yaounde?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $924 in Guangzhou (Canton) and $782 in Yaounde. That's a gap of about 18%.
How do commuting costs compare in Guangzhou (Canton) and in Yaounde?
Public transport costs about 28% less in Yaounde. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yaounde, where all-in costs run around $782, than in Guangzhou (Canton) at $924. In Yaounde it covers expenses comfortably, while in Guangzhou (Canton) it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Guangzhou (Canton) or Yaounde?
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.
How do I decide between Guangzhou (Canton) and Yaounde?
If budget matters most, go with Yaounde. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Guangzhou (Canton) makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Guangzhou (Canton) vs other spots: cost of living compared

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