Cost of Living Comparison Between Maroua and Douala Cost of Living Comparison Between Maroua and Douala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $355 per month in Maroua vs $1,650 in Douala, rent included.

A couple spends around $517 per month in Maroua vs $2,687 in Douala, rent included.

A family of three spends $679 per month in Maroua vs $3,723 in Douala, rent included.

Maroua is about 79% cheaper than Douala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Maroua sits 73% below the global median, while Douala is 24% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.94 FCFA 5,077

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$126 FCFA 71.4K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.31 FCFA 3,012

Cappuccino

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

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

$1.72 FCFA 978

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 FCFA 474

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 FCFA 663

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 FCFA 1,491

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 FCFA 1,025

$2.84 FCFA 1,615

-36.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 FCFA 475

$0.45 FCFA 255

86.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 FCFA 1,689

$2.34 FCFA 1,330

26.92%

Eggs

$2.83 FCFA 1,609

$2.01 FCFA 1,139

40.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.34 FCFA 3,034

$23.23 FCFA 13.2K

-77.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 FCFA 2,932

$7.72 FCFA 4,383

-33.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.52 FCFA 1,998

$6.62 FCFA 3,757

-46.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.79 FCFA 1,017

$4.89 FCFA 2,775

-63.39%

Banana (1kg)

$0.85 FCFA 483

$2.11 FCFA 1,197

-59.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 FCFA 482

$2.07 FCFA 1,177

-58.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.78 FCFA 1,008

$1.41 FCFA 801

26.24%

Potato (1kg)

$2.66 FCFA 1,512

$3.30 FCFA 1,873

-19.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 FCFA 975

$2.27 FCFA 1,291

-24.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 FCFA 440

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 FCFA 517

$0.62 FCFA 353

46.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.44 FCFA 1,953

Wine (Bottle)

$11.35 FCFA 6,442

$8.70 FCFA 4,941

30.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.87 FCFA 492

$1.42 FCFA 808

-38.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 FCFA 1,023

$1.89 FCFA 1,074

-4.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 FCFA 363

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.56 FCFA 9,967

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 FCFA 310

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 FCFA 465

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.51 FCFA 4,832

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 FCFA 803

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

$30.9K FCFA 17.6M

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)

$53.2 FCFA 30.2K

$168 FCFA 95.2K

-68.27%

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

$8.92 FCFA 5,063

$26.17 FCFA 14.9K

-65.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$183 FCFA 104.0K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.39 FCFA 9,872

$23.46 FCFA 13.3K

-25.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.81 FCFA 1,028

$3.46 FCFA 1,966

-47.69%

Cinema Ticket

$8.65 FCFA 4,911

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

$541 FCFA 307.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,435 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.0 FCFA 46.5K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.6 FCFA 39.5K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 FCFA 82.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$154 FCFA 87.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 FCFA 511.2K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$89.8 FCFA 51.0K

$594 FCFA 337.2K

-84.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,908 FCFA 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 FCFA 89.5K

$1,114 FCFA 632.5K

-85.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,048 FCFA 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$978 FCFA 555.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$211 FCFA 119.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.21

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

Last update for Maroua: July 26, 2026

Last update for Douala: July 28, 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 Douala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Douala is pricier by about 365%, 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 $532 per month in Maroua and $2,476 in Douala. 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 $1,650 in Douala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 57% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maroua, where all-in costs run around $355, than in Douala at $1,650. In Maroua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Douala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Maroua – 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 Maroua. 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.