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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $725 per month in Yaounde vs $1,640 in Douala, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,195 per month in Yaounde vs $2,621 in Douala, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,665 per month in Yaounde vs $3,603 in Douala, rent included.

Yaounde is about 56% cheaper than Douala, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Yaounde sits 46% below the global median, while Douala is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.87 FCFA 2,747

$8.86 FCFA 5,002

-45.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.99 FCFA 24.8K

$124 FCFA 69.8K

-64.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.80 FCFA 3,272

$5.42 FCFA 3,060

7.01%

Cappuccino

$2.59 FCFA 1,463

$1.81 FCFA 1,020

43.09%

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

$1.48 FCFA 834

$1.67 FCFA 943

-11.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 FCFA 391

$0.79 FCFA 445

-12.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 FCFA 661

$1.17 FCFA 662

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.72 FCFA 970

$2.62 FCFA 1,481

-34.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.83 FCFA 1,600

$2.94 FCFA 1,660

-3.74%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 FCFA 558

$0.41 FCFA 233

141.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.11 FCFA 624

$2.26 FCFA 1,273

-50.88%

Eggs

$1.83 FCFA 1,034

$1.93 FCFA 1,088

-5.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.96 FCFA 7,881

$22.67 FCFA 12.8K

-38.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 FCFA 3,567

$7.75 FCFA 4,376

-18.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.98 FCFA 3,374

$6.40 FCFA 3,611

-6.56%

Apples (1kg)

$4.63 FCFA 2,615

$4.76 FCFA 2,688

-2.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 FCFA 1,182

$2.15 FCFA 1,213

-2.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 FCFA 1,162

$2.09 FCFA 1,178

-1.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 FCFA 672

$1.35 FCFA 764

-11.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 FCFA 906

$3.30 FCFA 1,862

-51.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 FCFA 822

$2.27 FCFA 1,279

-35.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.57 FCFA 324

$0.78 FCFA 442

-26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 FCFA 562

$0.62 FCFA 351

61.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 FCFA 978

$3.50 FCFA 1,976

-50.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.78 FCFA 4,954

$8.66 FCFA 4,889

1.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 FCFA 695

$1.41 FCFA 795

-12.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 FCFA 906

$1.90 FCFA 1,070

-15.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 FCFA 337

$0.69 FCFA 388

-13.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.76 FCFA 10.0K

$17.73 FCFA 10.0K

0.17%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 FCFA 365

$0.51 FCFA 289

27.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 FCFA 215

$0.83 FCFA 468

-54.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 FCFA 3,158

$8.22 FCFA 4,639

-31.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 FCFA 761

$1.38 FCFA 781

-2.17%

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

$33.1K FCFA 18.7M

$31.2K FCFA 17.6M

6.16%

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

$16.2K FCFA 9.1M

-0.08%

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

$79.3 FCFA 44.8K

$167 FCFA 94.5K

-52.60%

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

$21.48 FCFA 12.1K

$26.28 FCFA 14.8K

-18.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.79 FCFA 26.4K

$180 FCFA 101.6K

-74.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.01 FCFA 14.7K

$23.78 FCFA 13.4K

9.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.26 FCFA 4,095

$3.57 FCFA 2,013

103.36%

Cinema Ticket

$6.54 FCFA 3,692

$8.67 FCFA 4,892

-24.57%

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

$346 FCFA 195.2K

$530 FCFA 298.9K

-34.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,832 FCFA 1.0M

$3,419 FCFA 1.9M

-46.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$16.69 FCFA 9,419

$81.9 FCFA 46.2K

-79.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.83 FCFA 13.5K

$68.5 FCFA 38.6K

-65.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$19.67 FCFA 11.1K

$141 FCFA 79.4K

-86.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.2 FCFA 32.9K

$156 FCFA 88.3K

-62.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$153 FCFA 86.2K

$917 FCFA 517.4K

-83.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$118 FCFA 66.5K

$586 FCFA 331.0K

-79.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$503 FCFA 283.7K

$1,950 FCFA 1.1M

-74.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$256 FCFA 144.6K

$1,097 FCFA 619.1K

-76.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$887 FCFA 500.5K

$2,043 FCFA 1.2M

-56.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$626 FCFA 353.4K

$983 FCFA 554.7K

-36.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$189 FCFA 106.8K

$165 FCFA 93.3K

14.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

19.21

-68.77%

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

Last update for Yaounde: June 1, 2026

Last update for Douala: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $153 in Yaounde versus $917 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 14% higher in Yaounde, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Yaounde versus $124 in Douala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $281 – 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 126%, 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 $1,088 per month in Yaounde and $2,460 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 17% 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 $44.00 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 $725, than in Douala at $1,640. 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.