Cost of Living Comparison Between Yaounde and Bamenda Cost of Living Comparison Between Yaounde and Bamenda

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $736 per month in Yaounde vs $345 in Bamenda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,190 per month in Yaounde vs $521 in Bamenda, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,644 per month in Yaounde vs $698 in Bamenda, rent included.

Yaounde costs about 114% more than Bamenda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Yaounde and Bamenda are more affordable than the global median – Yaounde 45% lower, Bamenda 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.89 FCFA 2,806

$1.72 FCFA 988

184.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.62 FCFA 25.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 FCFA 3,246

$6.11 FCFA 3,509

-7.53%

Cappuccino

$2.73 FCFA 1,566

$0.92 FCFA 528

196.74%

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

$1.43 FCFA 819

$0.54 FCFA 310

164.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 FCFA 379

$0.36 FCFA 208

83.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 FCFA 664

$1.32 FCFA 757

-12.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 FCFA 1,005

$1.79 FCFA 1,029

-2.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.86 FCFA 1,641

$2.57 FCFA 1,476

11.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 FCFA 583

$0.60 FCFA 342

70.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 FCFA 635

$1.00 FCFA 577

11.00%

Eggs

$1.79 FCFA 1,028

$3.17 FCFA 1,822

-43.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.15 FCFA 8,123

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.11 FCFA 3,510

$4.40 FCFA 2,525

38.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.89 FCFA 3,382

$5.23 FCFA 3,005

12.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.62 FCFA 2,651

$2.71 FCFA 1,555

70.48%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 FCFA 1,192

$0.92 FCFA 530

126.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 FCFA 1,183

$0.69 FCFA 394

198.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 FCFA 711

$0.85 FCFA 486

45.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 FCFA 958

$1.37 FCFA 787

21.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 FCFA 832

$1.04 FCFA 600

39.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 FCFA 328

$0.56 FCFA 320

1.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 FCFA 578

$0.73 FCFA 417

38.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.72 FCFA 987

$1.40 FCFA 801

22.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.63 FCFA 4,954

$8.51 FCFA 4,886

1.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 FCFA 734

$1.34 FCFA 770

-4.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 FCFA 891

$1.38 FCFA 792

12.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 FCFA 349

$1.79 FCFA 1,029

-65.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.38 FCFA 9,981

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 FCFA 346

$0.46 FCFA 262

30.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 FCFA 240

$0.31 FCFA 178

35.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 FCFA 3,319

$6.26 FCFA 3,593

-7.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 FCFA 772

$1.28 FCFA 737

4.69%

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

$33.6K FCFA 19.3M

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

$15.6K FCFA 9.0M

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

$78.6 FCFA 45.1K

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

$21.11 FCFA 12.1K

$17.37 FCFA 9,975

21.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.48 FCFA 27.3K

$33.81 FCFA 19.4K

40.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.58 FCFA 15.3K

$8.86 FCFA 5,085

200.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.21 FCFA 4,140

Cinema Ticket

$6.66 FCFA 3,826

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

$335 FCFA 192.4K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,827 FCFA 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.31 FCFA 9,364

$26.91 FCFA 15.5K

-39.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.04 FCFA 13.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.51 FCFA 11.2K

$44.15 FCFA 25.3K

-55.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.0 FCFA 33.3K

$60.8 FCFA 34.9K

-4.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 FCFA 85.4K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$121 FCFA 69.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 FCFA 285.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 FCFA 144.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$866 FCFA 497.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$614 FCFA 352.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 FCFA 105.9K

$102 FCFA 58.6K

80.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Yaounde: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bamenda: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 81% higher in Yaounde, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

Yaounde vs Bamenda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $736 in Yaounde, $345 in Bamenda – roughly 114% apart. Yaounde costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,104 per month in Yaounde and $517 in Bamenda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $736 in Yaounde and $345 in Bamenda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 54% more in Yaounde, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $736 in Yaounde and $345 in Bamenda, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Bamenda – 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 Bamenda. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Yaounde makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.