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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,602 per month in Penrith vs $829 in Yaounde, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,761 per month in Penrith vs $1,260 in Yaounde, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,920 per month in Penrith vs $1,690 in Yaounde, rent included.

Penrith costs about 214% more than Yaounde, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Penrith sits 89% above the global median, while Yaounde is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.86 A$27.57
$3.61 FCFA 2,033
450.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$93.9 A$130
$53.7 FCFA 30.3K
74.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.62 A$14.75
$5.25 FCFA 2,959
102.29%
Cappuccino
$2.14 A$2.97
$2.04 FCFA 1,150
4.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 A$4.35
$1.53 FCFA 860
104.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 A$3.84
$0.54 FCFA 304
412.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.76 A$12.16
$1.24 FCFA 701
606.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 A$6.84
$1.76 FCFA 990
180.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.61 A$2.24
$3.80 FCFA 2,142
-57.63%
White Bread (500g)
$3.32 A$4.61
$1.11 FCFA 628
199.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 A$3.76
$1.32 FCFA 746
105.30%
Eggs
$5.33 A$7.40
$2.16 FCFA 1,216
146.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.31 A$19.87
$14.28 FCFA 8,049
0.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.12 A$15.43
$6.03 FCFA 3,401
84.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.19 A$22.47
$6.77 FCFA 3,818
139.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 A$5.51
$5.26 FCFA 2,964
-24.52%
Banana (1kg)
$3.34 A$4.63
$2.11 FCFA 1,189
58.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.51 A$4.87
$2.17 FCFA 1,225
61.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.32 A$7.38
$1.47 FCFA 828
261.90%
Potato (1kg)
$3.14 A$4.36
$1.69 FCFA 953
85.80%
Onion (1kg)
$2.79 A$3.87
$1.44 FCFA 810
93.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.76 A$3.84
$1.12 FCFA 633
146.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 A$2.09
$0.68 FCFA 385
120.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$45.98 A$63.8
$1.73 FCFA 976
2557.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.99 A$20.81
$8.96 FCFA 5,051
67.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.70 A$6.52
$1.42 FCFA 801
230.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.56 A$7.72
$2.04 FCFA 1,152
172.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.70 A$3.75
$0.60 FCFA 340
350.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$75.0 A$104
$17.94 FCFA 10.1K
317.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.21 A$5.85
$0.64 FCFA 359
557.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.67 A$2.32
$0.43 FCFA 242
288.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$43.44 A$60.3
$6.23 FCFA 3,514
597.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 A$1.73
$1.48 FCFA 832
-15.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K A$38.1K
$33.6K FCFA 18.9M
-18.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2K A$43.3K
$22.3K FCFA 12.6M
40.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$190 A$264
$82.1 FCFA 46.3K
131.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.35 A$37.97
$18.00 FCFA 10.1K
51.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.0 A$80.5
$52.9 FCFA 29.8K
9.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 A$72.5
$24.24 FCFA 13.7K
115.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.26 A$26.73
$7.33 FCFA 4,129
162.76%
Cinema Ticket
$16.72 A$23.20
$8.66 FCFA 4,879
93.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,432 A$3,377
$642 FCFA 361.9K
278.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$21.0K A$29.1K
$2,469 FCFA 1.4M
748.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.0 A$108
$17.46 FCFA 9,841
346.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 A$80.5
$28.15 FCFA 15.9K
106.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 A$174
$26.92 FCFA 15.2K
365.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136 A$188
$57.6 FCFA 32.5K
135.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,461 A$2,029
$147 FCFA 82.6K
896.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,345 A$1,867
$191 FCFA 107.6K
604.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,580 A$3,582
$411 FCFA 231.5K
528.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,876 A$2,604
$217 FCFA 122.3K
764.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,012 A$9,735
$888 FCFA 500.8K
689.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,650 A$7,843
$621 FCFA 349.9K
810.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Penrith
Yaounde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$192 FCFA 108.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.95
13
-54.23%

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

Last update for Penrith: August 30, 2026

Last update for Yaounde: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,461 in Penrith versus $147 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 $94.0 in Penrith versus $54.0 in Yaounde. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $418 vs $261 – 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 214% 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 $3,903 per month in Penrith and $1,243 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 318% 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 $2,432 per month in Penrith and $642 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 $829, than in Penrith at $2,602. 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.

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