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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $346 per month in Maroua vs $1,636 in Douala, rent included.

A couple spends around $518 per month in Maroua vs $2,621 in Douala, rent included.

A family of three spends $689 per month in Maroua vs $3,606 in Douala, rent included.

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

Maroua sits 74% below the global median, while Douala is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.02 FCFA 5,056

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$126 FCFA 70.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.15 FCFA 2,886

Cappuccino

$1.89 FCFA 1,061

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

$1.68 FCFA 940

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 FCFA 466

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 FCFA 659

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 FCFA 1,490

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 FCFA 999

$2.90 FCFA 1,625

-38.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.86 FCFA 484

$0.45 FCFA 250

91.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.97 FCFA 1,666

$2.24 FCFA 1,257

32.59%

Eggs

$2.75 FCFA 1,539

$1.91 FCFA 1,068

43.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.45 FCFA 3,051

$22.75 FCFA 12.7K

-76.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 FCFA 2,913

$7.72 FCFA 4,324

-32.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.45 FCFA 1,931

$6.58 FCFA 3,686

-47.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 FCFA 1,008

$4.94 FCFA 2,770

-63.56%

Banana (1kg)

$0.91 FCFA 511

$2.10 FCFA 1,176

-56.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 FCFA 500

$2.09 FCFA 1,169

-57.42%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 FCFA 966

$1.36 FCFA 761

26.47%

Potato (1kg)

$2.68 FCFA 1,501

$3.38 FCFA 1,894

-20.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.79 FCFA 1,003

$2.24 FCFA 1,255

-20.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 FCFA 407

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 FCFA 505

$0.67 FCFA 375

34.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.59 FCFA 2,009

Wine (Bottle)

$11.73 FCFA 6,573

$8.32 FCFA 4,663

40.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 FCFA 477

$1.35 FCFA 757

-37.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 FCFA 996

$1.95 FCFA 1,091

-8.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 FCFA 362

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.48 FCFA 9,796

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.55 FCFA 306

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 FCFA 426

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.19 FCFA 4,587

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 FCFA 767

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

$31.0K FCFA 17.4M

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 29.2K

$170 FCFA 95.1K

-69.34%

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

$9.05 FCFA 5,068

$25.96 FCFA 14.5K

-65.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$182 FCFA 101.8K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.57 FCFA 9,843

$23.43 FCFA 13.1K

-25.01%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$1.78 FCFA 1,000

$3.47 FCFA 1,946

-48.70%

Cinema Ticket

$8.60 FCFA 4,817

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

$530 FCFA 297.0K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,540 FCFA 2.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.1 FCFA 45.4K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.3 FCFA 39.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$142 FCFA 79.3K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$153 FCFA 85.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$915 FCFA 512.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$87.0 FCFA 48.8K

$585 FCFA 328.0K

-85.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,889 FCFA 1.1M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 FCFA 88.4K

$1,129 FCFA 632.6K

-86.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,108 FCFA 1.2M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,005 FCFA 563.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Douala: April 25, 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 373%, 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 $519 per month in Maroua and $2,454 in Douala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $346 in Maroua and $1,636 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 $346, than in Douala at $1,636. 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.