Cost of Living Comparison Between Yaounde and Buea Cost of Living Comparison Between Yaounde and Buea

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $725 in Yaounde versus $545 in Buea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,195 in Yaounde versus $795 in Buea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,665 in Yaounde versus $1,045 in Buea.

Living in Yaounde is roughly 33% more expensive than Buea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Yaounde 46% lower, Buea 59% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 FCFA 2,745

$1.81 FCFA 1,020

169.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.99 FCFA 24.8K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.80 FCFA 3,270

$6.09 FCFA 3,436

-4.76%

Cappuccino

$2.59 FCFA 1,461

$2.13 FCFA 1,199

21.60%

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

$1.48 FCFA 833

$1.27 FCFA 715

16.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 FCFA 390

$0.50 FCFA 281

38.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 FCFA 661

$1.04 FCFA 587

12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 FCFA 970

$1.40 FCFA 787

22.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.83 FCFA 1,598

$3.03 FCFA 1,710

-6.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 FCFA 558

$0.38 FCFA 216

160.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 FCFA 623

$1.58 FCFA 890

-29.75%

Eggs

$1.83 FCFA 1,033

$2.58 FCFA 1,455

-29.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 FCFA 7,875

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 FCFA 3,565

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.98 FCFA 3,371

$4.38 FCFA 2,472

36.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 FCFA 2,613

$3.44 FCFA 1,937

34.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 FCFA 1,182

$1.39 FCFA 786

51.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 FCFA 1,161

$0.86 FCFA 485

139.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 FCFA 671

$1.44 FCFA 813

-17.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 FCFA 905

$1.80 FCFA 1,018

-10.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 FCFA 822

$1.40 FCFA 788

4.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 FCFA 324

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 FCFA 562

$0.72 FCFA 407

38.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 FCFA 977

Wine (Bottle)

$8.78 FCFA 4,950

$8.89 FCFA 5,013

-1.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 FCFA 694

$1.27 FCFA 718

-3.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 FCFA 905

$1.73 FCFA 976

-7.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 FCFA 336

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 FCFA 10.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 FCFA 365

$0.27 FCFA 154

140.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 FCFA 215

$0.46 FCFA 260

-17.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 FCFA 3,156

$5.16 FCFA 2,910

8.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 FCFA 760

$1.21 FCFA 680

11.57%

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

$33.1K FCFA 18.7M

$19.3K FCFA 10.9M

71.59%

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

$16.2K FCFA 9.1M

$21.3K FCFA 12.0M

-24.22%

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

$79.3 FCFA 44.7K

$60.8 FCFA 34.3K

30.54%

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

$21.48 FCFA 12.1K

$17.66 FCFA 9,959

21.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.79 FCFA 26.4K

$109 FCFA 61.5K

-57.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.01 FCFA 14.7K

$26.32 FCFA 14.8K

-1.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.26 FCFA 4,092

$4.30 FCFA 2,425

68.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 FCFA 3,689

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

$346 FCFA 195.1K

$613 FCFA 345.9K

-43.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,832 FCFA 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.69 FCFA 9,412

$35.45 FCFA 20.0K

-52.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.83 FCFA 13.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.67 FCFA 11.1K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.2 FCFA 32.8K

$69.4 FCFA 39.2K

-16.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 FCFA 86.1K

$71.9 FCFA 40.5K

112.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 FCFA 66.5K

$61.7 FCFA 34.8K

90.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 FCFA 283.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 FCFA 144.5K

$213 FCFA 120.2K

20.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$887 FCFA 500.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$626 FCFA 353.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$189 FCFA 106.7K

$132 FCFA 74.3K

43.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Yaounde: June 1, 2026

Last update for Buea: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $153 in Yaounde and $71.9 in Buea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yaounde pays 44% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 Buea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yaounde and Buea differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($725 vs $545 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Yaounde pays 44% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $153 in Yaounde versus $71.9 in Buea. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $346 in Yaounde versus $613 in Buea. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $725 per month in Yaounde versus $545 in Buea – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Buea gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Buea gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Yaounde. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.