Cost of Living Comparison Between Maroua and Buea Cost of Living Comparison Between Maroua and Buea

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $371 in Maroua versus $777 in Buea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $542 in Maroua versus $1,409 in Buea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $714 in Maroua versus $2,041 in Buea.

Living in Maroua costs roughly 52% less than in Buea, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maroua 73% lower, Buea 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.78 FCFA 1,005

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$123 FCFA 69.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.11 FCFA 3,444

Cappuccino

$2.14 FCFA 1,207

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

$1.30 FCFA 733

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 FCFA 272

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 FCFA 604

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 FCFA 883

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 FCFA 1,006

$2.97 FCFA 1,673

-40.07%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 FCFA 477

$0.39 FCFA 218

117.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.95 FCFA 1,664

$1.66 FCFA 934

77.71%

Eggs

$5.92 FCFA 3,334

$1.99 FCFA 1,122

197.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.43 FCFA 3,060

$22.80 FCFA 12.8K

-76.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 FCFA 3,006

$8.02 FCFA 4,519

-33.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.50 FCFA 1,973

$4.37 FCFA 2,464

-19.91%

Apples (1kg)

$1.76 FCFA 991

$3.59 FCFA 2,025

-50.97%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 FCFA 484

$1.39 FCFA 781

-38.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 FCFA 483

$0.87 FCFA 488

-1.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 FCFA 1,022

$1.43 FCFA 807

26.57%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 FCFA 1,506

$1.74 FCFA 980

53.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 FCFA 983

$1.44 FCFA 812

20.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 FCFA 447

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 FCFA 488

$0.69 FCFA 387

26.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.61 FCFA 1,472

Wine (Bottle)

$11.28 FCFA 6,359

$8.94 FCFA 5,039

26.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 FCFA 508

$1.22 FCFA 686

-26.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.81 FCFA 1,019

$1.72 FCFA 968

5.23%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.28 FCFA 159

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 FCFA 305

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.23 FCFA 2,950

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 FCFA 700

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

$19.4K FCFA 11.0M

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)

$53.0 FCFA 29.9K

$61.6 FCFA 34.7K

-13.84%

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

$8.66 FCFA 4,881

$17.75 FCFA 10.0K

-51.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$176 FCFA 99.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.96 FCFA 10.1K

$26.36 FCFA 14.9K

-31.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.80 FCFA 1,015

$4.40 FCFA 2,479

-59.09%

Cinema Ticket

$8.98 FCFA 5,062

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

$540 FCFA 304.1K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,502 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.55 FCFA 20.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.4 FCFA 39.1K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 FCFA 80.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.3 FCFA 39.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.3 FCFA 50.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 FCFA 90.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$135 FCFA 76.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.04

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

Last update for Maroua: September 1, 2026

Last update for Buea: August 31, 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 Buea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maroua and Buea differ by about 110% in total monthly costs ($371 vs $777 including rent). Maroua is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $556 in Maroua and $1,165 in Buea to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Buea. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $371 per month in Maroua versus $777 in Buea – a 110% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Maroua gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Maroua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Buea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.