Cost of Living Comparison Between Yaounde and Douala Cost of Living Comparison Between Yaounde and Douala

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $829 per month in Yaounde vs $1,378 in Douala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,260 per month in Yaounde vs $2,258 in Douala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,690 per month in Yaounde vs $3,138 in Douala, rent included.

Yaounde is about 40% cheaper than Douala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Yaounde sits 40% below the global median, while Douala is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.61 FCFA 2,033

$4.32 FCFA 2,438

-16.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 FCFA 30.3K

$124 FCFA 70.0K

-56.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.25 FCFA 2,959

$7.14 FCFA 4,023

-26.47%

Cappuccino

$2.04 FCFA 1,150

$2.15 FCFA 1,212

-5.12%

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

$1.53 FCFA 860

$1.66 FCFA 934

-7.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 FCFA 304

$0.86 FCFA 483

-37.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.24 FCFA 701

$1.26 FCFA 710

-1.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 FCFA 990

$2.73 FCFA 1,537

-35.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.80 FCFA 2,142

$3.02 FCFA 1,699

25.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 FCFA 628

$0.44 FCFA 250

152.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 FCFA 746

$2.28 FCFA 1,285

-42.11%

Eggs

$2.16 FCFA 1,216

$1.92 FCFA 1,084

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.28 FCFA 8,049

$23.46 FCFA 13.2K

-39.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.03 FCFA 3,401

$8.05 FCFA 4,534

-25.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.77 FCFA 3,818

$6.32 FCFA 3,560

7.12%

Apples (1kg)

$5.26 FCFA 2,964

$4.92 FCFA 2,771

6.91%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 FCFA 1,189

$2.19 FCFA 1,234

-3.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 FCFA 1,225

$2.17 FCFA 1,221

Tomato (1kg)

$1.47 FCFA 828

$1.37 FCFA 775

7.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.69 FCFA 953

$3.40 FCFA 1,918

-50.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 FCFA 810

$2.15 FCFA 1,214

-33.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 FCFA 633

$0.80 FCFA 453

40.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 FCFA 385

$0.69 FCFA 390

-1.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 FCFA 976

$2.59 FCFA 1,457

-33.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.96 FCFA 5,051

$8.80 FCFA 4,959

1.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 FCFA 801

$1.49 FCFA 840

-4.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 FCFA 1,152

$1.78 FCFA 1,001

14.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 FCFA 340

$0.68 FCFA 385

-11.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.94 FCFA 10.1K

$17.92 FCFA 10.1K

0.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.64 FCFA 359

$0.59 FCFA 334

8.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 FCFA 242

$0.92 FCFA 518

-53.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.23 FCFA 3,514

$8.64 FCFA 4,872

-27.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.48 FCFA 832

$1.46 FCFA 825

1.37%

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

$33.6K FCFA 18.9M

$30.7K FCFA 17.3M

9.28%

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

$22.3K FCFA 12.6M

$16.0K FCFA 9.0M

38.86%

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

$82.1 FCFA 46.3K

$171 FCFA 96.4K

-51.98%

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

$18.00 FCFA 10.1K

$26.15 FCFA 14.7K

-31.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$52.9 FCFA 29.8K

$186 FCFA 104.9K

-71.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.24 FCFA 13.7K

$41.33 FCFA 23.3K

-41.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.33 FCFA 4,129

Cinema Ticket

$8.66 FCFA 4,879

$8.64 FCFA 4,871

0.23%

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

$642 FCFA 361.9K

$536 FCFA 302.3K

19.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,469 FCFA 1.4M

$3,540 FCFA 2.0M

-30.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.46 FCFA 9,841

$83.8 FCFA 47.2K

-79.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.15 FCFA 15.9K

$68.5 FCFA 38.6K

-58.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$26.92 FCFA 15.2K

$141 FCFA 79.7K

-80.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.6 FCFA 32.5K

$154 FCFA 86.9K

-62.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$147 FCFA 82.6K

$583 FCFA 328.8K

-74.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$191 FCFA 107.6K

$328 FCFA 184.9K

-41.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$411 FCFA 231.5K

$1,367 FCFA 770.3K

-69.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$217 FCFA 122.3K

$568 FCFA 320.1K

-61.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$888 FCFA 500.8K

$2,067 FCFA 1.2M

-57.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$621 FCFA 349.9K

$1,001 FCFA 564.4K

-38.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 FCFA 108.4K

$230 FCFA 129.6K

-16.40%

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 Douala: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $147 in Yaounde versus $583 in Douala. 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 20% higher in Douala, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Yaounde versus $124 in Douala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $261 vs $289 – making Yaounde the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Douala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Douala is pricier by about 66%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,243 per month in Yaounde and $2,068 in Douala. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 11% more in Douala, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Yaounde and $124 in Douala. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Yaounde, where all-in costs run around $829, than in Douala at $1,378. In Yaounde it covers expenses comfortably, while in Douala it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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