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: $736 in Yaounde versus $555 in Buea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,190 in Yaounde versus $816 in Buea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,644 in Yaounde versus $1,077 in Buea.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Yaounde 45% lower, Buea 58% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.89 FCFA 2,806

$1.72 FCFA 987

184.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.62 FCFA 25.6K

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 FCFA 3,246

$6.08 FCFA 3,493

-7.07%

Cappuccino

$2.73 FCFA 1,566

$2.17 FCFA 1,243

25.81%

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

$1.43 FCFA 819

$1.21 FCFA 696

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 FCFA 379

$0.49 FCFA 281

34.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.16 FCFA 664

$1.03 FCFA 593

12.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 FCFA 1,005

$1.38 FCFA 791

26.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.86 FCFA 1,641

$3.11 FCFA 1,784

-8.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 FCFA 583

$0.39 FCFA 223

161.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 FCFA 635

$1.59 FCFA 910

-30.19%

Eggs

$1.79 FCFA 1,028

$2.67 FCFA 1,531

-32.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.15 FCFA 8,123

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.11 FCFA 3,510

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.89 FCFA 3,382

$4.48 FCFA 2,570

31.47%

Apples (1kg)

$4.62 FCFA 2,651

$3.62 FCFA 2,078

27.62%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 FCFA 1,192

$1.39 FCFA 798

49.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 FCFA 1,183

$0.86 FCFA 496

139.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.24 FCFA 711

$1.42 FCFA 818

-12.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.67 FCFA 958

$1.73 FCFA 994

-3.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 FCFA 832

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 FCFA 328

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 FCFA 578

$0.73 FCFA 417

38.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.72 FCFA 987

Wine (Bottle)

$8.63 FCFA 4,954

$8.72 FCFA 5,009

-1.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 FCFA 734

$1.27 FCFA 728

0.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 FCFA 891

$1.71 FCFA 980

-9.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.61 FCFA 349

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.38 FCFA 9,981

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.60 FCFA 346

$0.27 FCFA 156

122.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.42 FCFA 240

$0.47 FCFA 267

-10.64%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.78 FCFA 3,319

$5.15 FCFA 2,955

12.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 FCFA 772

$1.23 FCFA 708

8.94%

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

$33.6K FCFA 19.3M

$19.1K FCFA 11.0M

75.73%

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

$15.6K FCFA 9.0M

$21.1K FCFA 12.1M

-26.16%

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

$78.6 FCFA 45.1K

$61.0 FCFA 35.0K

28.78%

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

$21.11 FCFA 12.1K

$17.94 FCFA 10.3K

17.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.48 FCFA 27.3K

$110 FCFA 63.3K

-56.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.58 FCFA 15.3K

$26.41 FCFA 15.2K

0.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.21 FCFA 4,140

$4.30 FCFA 2,467

67.67%

Cinema Ticket

$6.66 FCFA 3,826

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

$335 FCFA 192.4K

$618 FCFA 354.8K

-45.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,827 FCFA 1.0M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.31 FCFA 9,364

$34.64 FCFA 19.9K

-52.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.04 FCFA 13.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.51 FCFA 11.2K

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.0 FCFA 33.3K

$69.4 FCFA 39.8K

-16.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$149 FCFA 85.4K

$69.6 FCFA 40.0K

113.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$121 FCFA 69.4K

$62.5 FCFA 35.9K

93.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 FCFA 285.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 FCFA 144.5K

$208 FCFA 119.2K

21.22%

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

$130 FCFA 74.9K

41.39%

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 Buea: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $149 in Yaounde and $69.6 in Buea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yaounde pays 41% 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 ($736 vs $555 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 41% higher in Yaounde, 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: $149 in Yaounde versus $69.6 in Buea. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $335 in Yaounde versus $618 in Buea. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

All in, you'll spend $736 per month in Yaounde versus $555 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.