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: $349 in Maroua versus $555 in Buea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $509 in Maroua versus $816 in Buea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $670 in Maroua versus $1,077 in Buea.

Living in Maroua costs roughly 37% less than in Buea, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Maroua 74% lower, Buea 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 FCFA 987

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.08 FCFA 3,493

Cappuccino

$2.17 FCFA 1,243

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

$1.21 FCFA 696

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 FCFA 281

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.03 FCFA 593

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 FCFA 791

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 FCFA 1,033

$3.11 FCFA 1,784

-42.12%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 FCFA 489

$0.39 FCFA 223

117.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.99 FCFA 1,715

$1.59 FCFA 910

88.05%

Eggs

$2.87 FCFA 1,647

$2.67 FCFA 1,531

7.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.27 FCFA 3,024

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.37 FCFA 3,085

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.46 FCFA 1,984

$4.48 FCFA 2,570

-22.77%

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 FCFA 1,017

$3.62 FCFA 2,078

-51.10%

Banana (1kg)

$0.86 FCFA 494

$1.39 FCFA 798

-38.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 FCFA 523

$0.86 FCFA 496

5.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.79 FCFA 1,027

$1.42 FCFA 818

26.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.61 FCFA 1,496

$1.73 FCFA 994

50.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 FCFA 998

$1.45 FCFA 832

20.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 FCFA 498

$0.73 FCFA 417

19.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.15 FCFA 6,403

$8.72 FCFA 5,009

27.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 FCFA 488

$1.27 FCFA 728

-33.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 FCFA 1,004

$1.71 FCFA 980

2.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.27 FCFA 156

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 FCFA 267

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.15 FCFA 2,955

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.23 FCFA 708

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

$19.1K FCFA 11.0M

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

$21.1K FCFA 12.1M

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

$52.0 FCFA 29.8K

$61.0 FCFA 35.0K

-14.80%

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

$9.04 FCFA 5,190

$17.94 FCFA 10.3K

-49.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$110 FCFA 63.3K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.33 FCFA 9,948

$26.41 FCFA 15.2K

-34.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.81 FCFA 1,038

$4.30 FCFA 2,467

-57.91%

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

$618 FCFA 354.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.64 FCFA 19.9K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.4 FCFA 39.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$69.6 FCFA 40.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.1 FCFA 50.0K

$62.5 FCFA 35.9K

39.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 FCFA 90.1K

$208 FCFA 119.2K

-24.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$130 FCFA 74.9K

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

Last update for Maroua: July 13, 2026

Last update for Buea: July 13, 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 59% in total monthly costs ($349 vs $555 including rent). Maroua is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $523 in Maroua and $833 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.

Shoppers in Buea pay roughly 24% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $349 per month in Maroua versus $555 in Buea – a 59% 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 59% less than in Buea. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.