Cost of Living Comparison Between Maroua and Bamenda Cost of Living Comparison Between Maroua and Bamenda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $355 per month in Maroua vs $351 in Bamenda, rent included.

A couple spends around $517 per month in Maroua vs $534 in Bamenda, rent included.

A family of three spends $679 per month in Maroua vs $716 in Bamenda, rent included.

Maroua costs about 1% more than Bamenda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Maroua and Bamenda are more affordable than the global median – Maroua 73% lower, Bamenda 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 FCFA 976

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.20 FCFA 3,522

Cappuccino

$0.85 FCFA 483

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

$0.55 FCFA 311

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 FCFA 206

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.32 FCFA 748

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 FCFA 993

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 FCFA 1,025

$2.67 FCFA 1,515

-32.58%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 FCFA 475

$0.60 FCFA 339

40.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 FCFA 1,689

$0.95 FCFA 538

212.63%

Eggs

$2.83 FCFA 1,609

$3.19 FCFA 1,813

-11.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.34 FCFA 3,034

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 FCFA 2,932

$4.39 FCFA 2,495

17.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.52 FCFA 1,998

$5.44 FCFA 3,089

-35.29%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 FCFA 1,017

$2.72 FCFA 1,545

-34.19%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 FCFA 483

$0.85 FCFA 481

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 FCFA 482

$0.70 FCFA 395

21.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 FCFA 1,008

$0.90 FCFA 511

97.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 FCFA 1,512

$1.37 FCFA 777

94.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 FCFA 975

$1.09 FCFA 618

57.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 FCFA 330

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 FCFA 517

$0.72 FCFA 410

26.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.42 FCFA 807

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 FCFA 6,442

$10.18 FCFA 5,780

11.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 FCFA 492

$1.29 FCFA 731

-32.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 FCFA 1,023

$1.37 FCFA 779

31.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.79 FCFA 1,015

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 FCFA 258

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 FCFA 175

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 FCFA 3,457

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 FCFA 724

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

$53.2 FCFA 30.2K

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

$8.92 FCFA 5,063

$17.76 FCFA 10.1K

-49.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.77 FCFA 19.2K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.39 FCFA 9,872

$8.87 FCFA 5,036

96.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.91 FCFA 15.3K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.93 FCFA 25.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.7 FCFA 34.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.8 FCFA 51.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 FCFA 89.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$98.9 FCFA 56.2K

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

Last update for Maroua: July 26, 2026

Last update for Bamenda: July 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

Maroua vs Bamenda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $355 in Maroua, $351 in Bamenda – roughly 1% apart. Maroua costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $532 per month in Maroua and $527 in Bamenda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $355 in Maroua and $351 in Bamenda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 13% more in Maroua, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $355 in Maroua and $351 in Bamenda, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Bamenda – 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 Bamenda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Maroua makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.