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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $348 per month in Maroua vs $1,650 in Douala, rent included.

A couple spends around $513 per month in Maroua vs $2,654 in Douala, rent included.

A family of three spends $679 per month in Maroua vs $3,658 in Douala, rent included.

Maroua is about 79% cheaper than Douala, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Maroua sits 74% below the global median, while Douala is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.77 FCFA 4,954

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$125 FCFA 70.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.34 FCFA 3,016

Cappuccino

$1.82 FCFA 1,030

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

$1.64 FCFA 927

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 FCFA 448

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 FCFA 637

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 FCFA 1,456

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 FCFA 1,007

$2.81 FCFA 1,589

-36.65%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 FCFA 484

$0.45 FCFA 251

91.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.09 FCFA 1,744

$2.31 FCFA 1,307

33.77%

Eggs

$2.78 FCFA 1,573

$2.02 FCFA 1,139

37.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.31 FCFA 2,999

$22.79 FCFA 12.9K

-76.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.37 FCFA 3,034

$7.72 FCFA 4,362

-30.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.59 FCFA 2,028

$6.63 FCFA 3,744

-45.85%

Apples (1kg)

$1.71 FCFA 964

$4.86 FCFA 2,742

-64.81%

Banana (1kg)

$0.87 FCFA 490

$2.09 FCFA 1,183

-58.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.85 FCFA 483

$2.16 FCFA 1,217

-60.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 FCFA 970

$1.36 FCFA 767

26.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 FCFA 1,514

$3.33 FCFA 1,879

-19.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 FCFA 970

$2.17 FCFA 1,227

-20.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 FCFA 447

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 FCFA 478

$0.62 FCFA 352

37.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.47 FCFA 1,958

Wine (Bottle)

$11.40 FCFA 6,440

$8.57 FCFA 4,840

33.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 FCFA 521

$1.42 FCFA 800

-35.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 FCFA 1,013

$1.95 FCFA 1,099

-8.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 FCFA 385

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.61 FCFA 9,946

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 FCFA 314

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.75 FCFA 425

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.46 FCFA 4,780

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.44 FCFA 814

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

$30.3K FCFA 17.1M

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

$16.0K FCFA 9.0M

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

$52.0 FCFA 29.4K

$167 FCFA 94.1K

-68.77%

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

$8.97 FCFA 5,067

$26.57 FCFA 15.0K

-66.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$185 FCFA 104.6K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.75 FCFA 10.0K

$23.91 FCFA 13.5K

-25.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.73 FCFA 977

$3.63 FCFA 2,051

-52.34%

Cinema Ticket

$8.71 FCFA 4,921

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

$534 FCFA 301.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,478 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 FCFA 45.9K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.9 FCFA 38.9K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$143 FCFA 80.5K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$155 FCFA 87.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$927 FCFA 523.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.7 FCFA 50.1K

$592 FCFA 334.5K

-85.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,895 FCFA 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$159 FCFA 89.6K

$1,132 FCFA 639.5K

-85.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,065 FCFA 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$988 FCFA 557.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$162 FCFA 91.5K

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Douala: June 8, 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 374%, 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 $522 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 $348 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 55% 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 $348, 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.