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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $357 per month in Maroua vs $1,382 in Douala, rent included.

A couple spends around $528 per month in Maroua vs $2,200 in Douala, rent included.

A family of three spends $699 per month in Maroua vs $3,018 in Douala, rent included.

Maroua is about 74% cheaper than Douala, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Maroua sits 74% below the global median, while Douala is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.35 FCFA 2,486

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$123 FCFA 70.1K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.18 FCFA 4,100

Cappuccino

$2.10 FCFA 1,200

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

$1.72 FCFA 985

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 FCFA 461

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.26 FCFA 720

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 FCFA 1,496

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 FCFA 1,031

$2.96 FCFA 1,693

-39.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 FCFA 496

$0.42 FCFA 239

107.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.01 FCFA 1,721

$2.32 FCFA 1,326

29.74%

Eggs

$5.85 FCFA 3,344

$2.01 FCFA 1,147

191.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.38 FCFA 3,076

$23.14 FCFA 13.2K

-76.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.16 FCFA 2,951

$8.02 FCFA 4,582

-35.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.46 FCFA 1,978

$6.52 FCFA 3,728

-46.93%

Apples (1kg)

$1.81 FCFA 1,035

$4.73 FCFA 2,702

-61.73%

Banana (1kg)

$0.90 FCFA 516

$2.17 FCFA 1,238

-58.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 FCFA 491

$2.15 FCFA 1,227

-60.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 FCFA 1,026

$1.43 FCFA 815

25.87%

Potato (1kg)

$2.58 FCFA 1,473

$3.28 FCFA 1,877

-21.34%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 FCFA 1,030

$2.24 FCFA 1,278

-19.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 FCFA 413

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 FCFA 521

$0.65 FCFA 371

40.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.67 FCFA 1,527

Wine (Bottle)

$11.27 FCFA 6,440

$8.88 FCFA 5,073

26.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 FCFA 478

$1.52 FCFA 870

-44.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.74 FCFA 996

$1.85 FCFA 1,059

-5.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 FCFA 370

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.44 FCFA 9,968

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.59 FCFA 338

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.91 FCFA 521

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.22 FCFA 4,698

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 FCFA 827

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

$30.4K FCFA 17.3M

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

$16.1K FCFA 9.2M

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

$51.9 FCFA 29.6K

$165 FCFA 94.0K

-68.49%

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

$8.68 FCFA 4,961

$26.52 FCFA 15.2K

-67.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$185 FCFA 105.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.66 FCFA 10.1K

$42.26 FCFA 24.1K

-58.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.74 FCFA 995

Cinema Ticket

$9.02 FCFA 5,157

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

$539 FCFA 307.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,461 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.8 FCFA 46.2K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.2 FCFA 39.0K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$145 FCFA 82.8K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$155 FCFA 88.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 FCFA 323.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.8 FCFA 50.7K

$331 FCFA 189.4K

-73.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,385 FCFA 791.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$159 FCFA 90.7K

$560 FCFA 320.1K

-71.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,067 FCFA 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$990 FCFA 565.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$232 FCFA 132.5K

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 12, 2026

Last update for Douala: September 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 Douala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Douala is pricier by about 287%, and the gap shows up most in Monthly Utilities & Internet. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $535 per month in Maroua and $2,073 in Douala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $357 in Maroua and $1,382 in Douala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 48% 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 $357, than in Douala at $1,382. 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.