Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Maroua and Douala

For one person, living is cheaper in Maroua: $348 a month against $1,334 in Douala, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Maroua, Cameroon
Douala, Cameroon
Maroua
🇨🇲 Cameroon
$348
/mo nomad
Douala
🇨🇲 Cameroon
$1,334
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Maroua and in Douala

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Maroua and in Douala actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $348 per month in Maroua vs $1,334 in Douala, rent included.

  • Maroua $348
  • Douala $1,334

A couple spends around $519 per month in Maroua vs $2,160 in Douala, rent included.

  • Maroua $519
  • Douala $2,160

A family of three spends $690 per month in Maroua vs $2,985 in Douala, rent included.

  • Maroua $690
  • Douala $2,985

Maroua is about 74% cheaper than Douala, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

Both Maroua and Douala are more affordable than the global median – Maroua 74% lower, Douala 2% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Maroua
Douala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
-
$4.37 FCFA 2,558
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$122 FCFA 71.1K
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
-
$6.93 FCFA 4,053
-
Cappuccino
-
$2.13 FCFA 1,246
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.64 FCFA 960
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.76 FCFA 445
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.20 FCFA 704
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.61 FCFA 1,528
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Maroua
Douala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.66 FCFA 972
$2.90 FCFA 1,698
-42.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.84 FCFA 489
$0.41 FCFA 238
104.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.84 FCFA 1,662
$2.18 FCFA 1,277
30.28%
Eggs
$5.62 FCFA 3,290
$1.85 FCFA 1,082
203.78%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.13 FCFA 2,998
$22.34 FCFA 13.1K
-77.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.24 FCFA 3,064
$7.87 FCFA 4,604
-33.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$3.31 FCFA 1,936
$6.18 FCFA 3,614
-46.44%
Apples (1kg)
$1.72 FCFA 1,003
$4.60 FCFA 2,692
-62.61%
Banana (1kg)
$0.87 FCFA 508
$2.03 FCFA 1,185
-57.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.87 FCFA 511
$2.08 FCFA 1,215
-58.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.74 FCFA 1,016
$1.38 FCFA 809
26.09%
Potato (1kg)
$2.60 FCFA 1,519
$3.18 FCFA 1,860
-18.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.71 FCFA 1,000
$2.15 FCFA 1,260
-20.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
-
$0.76 FCFA 443
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82 FCFA 480
$0.67 FCFA 391
22.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.53 FCFA 1,478
-
Wine (Bottle)
$11.12 FCFA 6,504
$8.59 FCFA 5,024
29.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 FCFA 511
$1.40 FCFA 821
-37.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 FCFA 1,022
$1.78 FCFA 1,041
-1.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Maroua
Douala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.66 FCFA 388
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$17.06 FCFA 9,978
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
-
$0.58 FCFA 338
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.81 FCFA 476
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.33 FCFA 4,871
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
-
$1.41 FCFA 824
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$29.4K FCFA 17.2M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$15.6K FCFA 9.1M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maroua
Douala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 FCFA 30.2K
$162 FCFA 94.9K
-68.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.43 FCFA 4,932
$25.14 FCFA 14.7K
-66.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$178 FCFA 103.9K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Maroua
Douala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.99 FCFA 9,937
$41.23 FCFA 24.1K
-58.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$1.69 FCFA 988
-
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$8.77 FCFA 5,129
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Maroua
Douala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$505 FCFA 295.5K
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$3,387 FCFA 2.0M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Maroua
Douala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$80.1 FCFA 46.8K
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$68.1 FCFA 39.8K
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
-
$136 FCFA 79.6K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$147 FCFA 86.0K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Maroua
Douala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$567 FCFA 331.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$83.7 FCFA 48.9K
$313 FCFA 183.0K
-73.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,338 FCFA 782.7K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$154 FCFA 89.9K
$542 FCFA 316.9K
-71.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,976 FCFA 1.2M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$952 FCFA 556.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Maroua
Douala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$222 FCFA 129.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
19.04
-

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

Last update for Maroua: October 27, 2026

Last update for Douala: October 24, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Maroua
–
Douala
$365
Accommodation & Living
Maroua
–
Douala
$313
Groceries & Markets
Maroua
–
Douala
$277
Clothing & Footwear
Maroua
–
Douala
$194
Eating Out
Maroua
–
Douala
$102
Sport & Entertainment
Maroua
–
Douala
$59
Getting Around
Maroua
–
Douala
$24
Good to know
🇨🇲 Maroua
🇨🇲 Douala
🕒 Local time
17:04 5:04 PM
17:04 5:04 PM
Same time as Maroua
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,119,000
2,000,000
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to XAF – Central African CFA Franc Converter

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 585 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 653 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Maroua Douala 890 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Maroua
  • Douala

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Is Maroua cheaper than Douala?
Yes – Douala is pricier by about 283%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in utilities.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $522 per month in Maroua and $2,001 in Douala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Maroua and in Douala?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $348 in Maroua and $1,334 in Douala. That makes Maroua about 74% cheaper.
How do food prices compare in Maroua and in Douala?
Groceries cost about 48% more in Douala, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Maroua or in Douala?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Maroua, where all-in costs run around $348, than in Douala at $1,334. In Maroua it covers expenses comfortably, while in Douala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is it better to live in Maroua or in Douala?
It depends on your priorities. Douala has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $348 in Maroua to $1,334 in Douala. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Maroua vs other spots: cost of living compared

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