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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $829 per month in Yaounde vs $685 in Bamenda, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,260 per month in Yaounde vs $911 in Bamenda, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,690 per month in Yaounde vs $1,137 in Bamenda, rent included.

Yaounde costs about 21% more than Bamenda, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Yaounde and Bamenda are more affordable than the global median – Yaounde 40% lower, Bamenda 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.61 FCFA 2,033

$5.20 FCFA 2,932

-30.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 FCFA 30.3K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.25 FCFA 2,959

$6.80 FCFA 3,832

-22.79%

Cappuccino

$2.04 FCFA 1,150

$1.17 FCFA 658

74.36%

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

$1.53 FCFA 860

$1.75 FCFA 986

-12.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 FCFA 304

$0.63 FCFA 354

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 FCFA 701

$1.63 FCFA 920

-23.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 FCFA 990

$1.82 FCFA 1,026

-3.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.80 FCFA 2,142

$2.97 FCFA 1,673

27.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 FCFA 628

$0.79 FCFA 447

40.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 FCFA 746

$2.01 FCFA 1,135

-34.33%

Eggs

$2.16 FCFA 1,216

$2.99 FCFA 1,686

-27.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.28 FCFA 8,049

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.03 FCFA 3,401

$3.77 FCFA 2,125

59.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 FCFA 3,818

$5.00 FCFA 2,816

35.40%

Apples (1kg)

$5.26 FCFA 2,964

$2.67 FCFA 1,505

97.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 FCFA 1,189

$0.88 FCFA 494

139.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 FCFA 1,225

$1.21 FCFA 683

79.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 FCFA 828

$1.39 FCFA 785

5.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 FCFA 953

$3.19 FCFA 1,797

-47.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 FCFA 810

$1.56 FCFA 881

-7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 FCFA 633

$0.80 FCFA 453

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 FCFA 385

$0.80 FCFA 452

-15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 FCFA 976

$1.72 FCFA 971

0.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.96 FCFA 5,051

$10.09 FCFA 5,685

-11.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 FCFA 801

$1.45 FCFA 817

-2.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 FCFA 1,152

$1.75 FCFA 986

16.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 FCFA 340

$1.32 FCFA 743

-54.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.94 FCFA 10.1K

$9.37 FCFA 5,283

91.46%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.64 FCFA 359

$0.63 FCFA 356

1.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 FCFA 242

$0.61 FCFA 342

-29.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 FCFA 3,514

$5.65 FCFA 3,185

10.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 FCFA 832

$1.43 FCFA 808

3.50%

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

$33.6K FCFA 18.9M

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

$22.3K FCFA 12.6M

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

$82.1 FCFA 46.3K

$175 FCFA 98.8K

-53.14%

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

$18.00 FCFA 10.1K

$31.29 FCFA 17.6K

-42.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.9 FCFA 29.8K

$37.31 FCFA 21.0K

41.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.24 FCFA 13.7K

$17.61 FCFA 9,923

37.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.33 FCFA 4,129

Cinema Ticket

$8.66 FCFA 4,879

$8.68 FCFA 4,895

-0.23%

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

$642 FCFA 361.9K

$177 FCFA 99.9K

262.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,469 FCFA 1.4M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.46 FCFA 9,841

$26.44 FCFA 14.9K

-33.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.15 FCFA 15.9K

$44.47 FCFA 25.1K

-36.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.92 FCFA 15.2K

$48.49 FCFA 27.3K

-44.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.6 FCFA 32.5K

$53.6 FCFA 30.2K

7.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$147 FCFA 82.6K

$71.1 FCFA 40.1K

106.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 FCFA 107.6K

$35.23 FCFA 19.9K

441.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 FCFA 231.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 FCFA 122.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$888 FCFA 500.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$621 FCFA 349.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 FCFA 108.4K

$101 FCFA 57.0K

90.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Yaounde: August 29, 2026

Last update for Bamenda: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $147 in Yaounde versus $71.1 in Bamenda. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 90% 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: $829 in Yaounde, $685 in Bamenda – roughly 21% apart. Yaounde costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,243 per month in Yaounde and $1,028 in Bamenda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bamenda, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $829 in Yaounde and $685 in Bamenda. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $642 per month in Yaounde and $177 in Bamenda. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $829 in Yaounde and $685 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.