Cost of Living Comparison Between Penrith and Yaounde Cost of Living Comparison Between Penrith and Yaounde

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,196 per month in Penrith vs $736 in Yaounde, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,214 per month in Penrith vs $1,190 in Yaounde, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,232 per month in Penrith vs $1,644 in Yaounde, rent included.

Penrith costs about 198% more than Yaounde, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Penrith sits 64% above the global median, while Yaounde is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 A$15.50
$4.89 FCFA 2,806
122.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$87.4 A$125
$44.62 FCFA 25.6K
95.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.71 A$13.86
$5.65 FCFA 3,246
71.86%
Cappuccino
$2.54 A$3.63
$2.73 FCFA 1,566
-6.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 A$3.71
$1.43 FCFA 819
81.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 A$3.34
$0.66 FCFA 379
254.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.52 A$9.32
$1.16 FCFA 664
462.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57 A$6.52
$1.75 FCFA 1,005
161.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.37 A$1.95
$2.86 FCFA 1,641
-52.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 A$3.17
$1.02 FCFA 583
117.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 A$1.26
$1.11 FCFA 635
-20.72%
Eggs
$3.35 A$4.78
$1.79 FCFA 1,028
87.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.85 A$14.06
$14.15 FCFA 8,123
-30.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.28 A$11.83
$6.11 FCFA 3,510
35.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.46 A$20.65
$5.89 FCFA 3,382
145.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.33 A$3.33
$4.62 FCFA 2,651
-49.57%
Banana (1kg)
$2.95 A$4.21
$2.08 FCFA 1,192
41.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.98 A$4.26
$2.06 FCFA 1,183
44.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.79 A$6.84
$1.24 FCFA 711
286.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.32 A$3.31
$1.67 FCFA 958
38.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 A$2.76
$1.45 FCFA 832
33.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.35 A$3.36
$0.57 FCFA 328
312.28%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 A$1.05
$1.01 FCFA 578
-26.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$30.46 A$43.50
$1.72 FCFA 987
1670.93%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.58 A$20.81
$8.63 FCFA 4,954
68.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.99 A$7.13
$1.28 FCFA 734
289.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81 A$8.30
$1.55 FCFA 891
274.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.62 A$3.74
$0.61 FCFA 349
329.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.3 A$91.8
$17.38 FCFA 9,981
269.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.11 A$5.86
$0.60 FCFA 346
585.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.80 A$2.57
$0.42 FCFA 240
328.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$41.08 A$58.7
$5.78 FCFA 3,319
610.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 A$1.65
$1.34 FCFA 772
-14.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.0K A$41.5K
$33.6K FCFA 19.3M
-13.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K A$32.2K
$15.6K FCFA 9.0M
44.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$160 A$229
$78.6 FCFA 45.1K
103.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.40 A$41.99
$21.11 FCFA 12.1K
39.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.4 A$74.8
$47.48 FCFA 27.3K
10.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.06 A$68.6
$26.58 FCFA 15.3K
80.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.79 A$22.55
$7.21 FCFA 4,140
119.00%
Cinema Ticket
$13.49 A$19.26
$6.66 FCFA 3,826
102.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,780 A$2,541
$335 FCFA 192.4K
431.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K A$19.0K
$1,827 FCFA 1.0M
628.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.8 A$103
$16.31 FCFA 9,364
340.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0 A$81.5
$24.04 FCFA 13.8K
137.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 A$141
$19.51 FCFA 11.2K
404.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 A$165
$58.0 FCFA 33.3K
98.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 A$1,595
$149 FCFA 85.4K
651.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,068 A$1,525
$121 FCFA 69.4K
783.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,003 A$2,860
$498 FCFA 285.7K
302.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,696 A$2,423
$252 FCFA 144.5K
574.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,908 A$9,864
$866 FCFA 497.3K
697.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,569 A$6,525
$614 FCFA 352.5K
644.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$184 FCFA 105.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.29
6
4.83%

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

Last update for Penrith: July 12, 2026

Last update for Yaounde: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Penrith versus $149 in Yaounde. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $87.0 in Penrith versus $45.00 in Yaounde. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $327 vs $240 – making Yaounde the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Penrith vs Yaounde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Penrith or Yaounde?
Penrith costs about 198% more than Yaounde, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Penrith and in Yaounde?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,294 per month in Penrith and $1,104 in Yaounde. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Penrith or Yaounde?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yaounde, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Penrith compared to Yaounde?
Public transport costs about 270% less in Yaounde. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Penrith and in Yaounde?
Kindergarten costs $1,780 per month in Penrith and $335 in Yaounde. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Penrith or in Yaounde?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yaounde, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Penrith at $2,196. In Yaounde it covers expenses comfortably, while in Penrith it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Yaounde – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Penrith compared to Yaounde?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Penrith or to Yaounde?
If budget matters most, go with Yaounde. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Penrith makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Penrith vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities