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: $829 in Yaounde versus $777 in Buea.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,260 in Yaounde versus $1,409 in Buea.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,690 in Yaounde versus $2,041 in Buea.

Living in Yaounde is roughly 7% more expensive than in Buea, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Yaounde 40% lower, Buea 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.61 FCFA 2,033

$1.78 FCFA 1,005

102.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 FCFA 30.3K

$123 FCFA 69.4K

-56.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.25 FCFA 2,959

$6.11 FCFA 3,444

-14.08%

Cappuccino

$2.04 FCFA 1,150

$2.14 FCFA 1,207

-4.67%

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

$1.53 FCFA 860

$1.30 FCFA 733

17.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 FCFA 304

$0.48 FCFA 272

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 FCFA 701

$1.07 FCFA 604

15.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 FCFA 990

$1.57 FCFA 883

12.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.80 FCFA 2,142

$2.97 FCFA 1,673

27.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 FCFA 628

$0.39 FCFA 218

184.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 FCFA 746

$1.66 FCFA 934

-20.48%

Eggs

$2.16 FCFA 1,216

$1.99 FCFA 1,122

8.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.28 FCFA 8,049

$22.80 FCFA 12.8K

-37.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.03 FCFA 3,401

$8.02 FCFA 4,519

-24.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 FCFA 3,818

$4.37 FCFA 2,464

54.92%

Apples (1kg)

$5.26 FCFA 2,964

$3.59 FCFA 2,025

46.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 FCFA 1,189

$1.39 FCFA 781

51.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 FCFA 1,225

$0.87 FCFA 488

149.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 FCFA 828

$1.43 FCFA 807

2.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 FCFA 953

$1.74 FCFA 980

-2.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 FCFA 810

$1.44 FCFA 812

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 FCFA 633

$0.79 FCFA 447

41.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 FCFA 385

$0.69 FCFA 387

-1.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 FCFA 976

$2.61 FCFA 1,472

-33.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.96 FCFA 5,051

$8.94 FCFA 5,039

0.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 FCFA 801

$1.22 FCFA 686

16.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 FCFA 1,152

$1.72 FCFA 968

18.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 FCFA 340

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.94 FCFA 10.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.64 FCFA 359

$0.28 FCFA 159

128.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 FCFA 242

$0.54 FCFA 305

-20.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 FCFA 3,514

$5.23 FCFA 2,950

19.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 FCFA 832

$1.24 FCFA 700

19.35%

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

$33.6K FCFA 18.9M

$19.4K FCFA 11.0M

72.78%

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

$22.3K FCFA 12.6M

$15.7K FCFA 8.9M

41.58%

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

$82.1 FCFA 46.3K

$61.6 FCFA 34.7K

33.44%

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

$18.00 FCFA 10.1K

$17.75 FCFA 10.0K

1.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.9 FCFA 29.8K

$176 FCFA 99.0K

-69.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.24 FCFA 13.7K

$26.36 FCFA 14.9K

-8.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.33 FCFA 4,129

$4.40 FCFA 2,479

66.59%

Cinema Ticket

$8.66 FCFA 4,879

$8.98 FCFA 5,062

-3.56%

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

$642 FCFA 361.9K

$540 FCFA 304.1K

18.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,469 FCFA 1.4M

$3,502 FCFA 2.0M

-29.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.46 FCFA 9,841

$35.55 FCFA 20.0K

-50.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.15 FCFA 15.9K

$69.4 FCFA 39.1K

-59.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.92 FCFA 15.2K

$142 FCFA 80.3K

-81.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.6 FCFA 32.5K

$70.3 FCFA 39.6K

-18.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$147 FCFA 82.6K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 FCFA 107.6K

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

$135 FCFA 76.1K

42.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.04

-31.72%

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

Last update for Yaounde: August 29, 2026

Last update for Buea: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Yaounde pays 42% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $54.0 in Yaounde vs $123 in Buea. Groceries flip the comparison at $261 vs $254, with Buea cheaper for home cooking.

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 7% in total monthly costs ($829 vs $777 including rent). Buea is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 42% higher in Yaounde, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Childcare runs $642 in Yaounde versus $540 in Buea. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Buea – a meal for two runs $123 versus $54.0 in Yaounde. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 7% less than in Yaounde. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.